By Bryanna SantosIn this story:
- Get your team energized with NYC cooking classes
- Inspire workplace creativity with painting classes
- Unwind after a long workday with a pottery
- Experience aromatherapy in a candle-making class
- Connect with nature and your team in a terrarium class
- Discover signature scents in a perfume-making class
- Get creative with a rug tufting workshop
In bustling New York City, finding ways to lower stress and support employee well-being can make all the difference in creating a healthy work environment. Boost team spirit and bring some creativity to your next corporate event with hands-on team building activities in NYC!
Our wellness team building activities and experiences promote creativity and positivity, providing the ideal environment for some much-needed R&R with your team. At ClassBento, we believe supporting creativity, work/life balance, and employee well-being can have a meaningful impact both inside and outside the workplace. We’re also proud to support organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) through our experiences, helping encourage conversations around mental health and wellness. Taking your workplace wellness seriously makes all the difference.
From a beginner's cooking class to throwing down on the pottery wheel, there is something for every team. Whether you're in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, or a remote team, here are some of the best wellness-boosting workshops in NYC that will help refocus and inspire your team!
1. Get your team energized with NYC cooking classes
Cooking classes are a fantastic way to promote teamwork and wellness. New York City is home to a wide range of culinary schools and workshops where your team can learn to prepare healthy and delicious meals together. These team building events in NYC not only encourage collaboration but also teach valuable nutrition tips that can be incorporated into everyday life.
Add an interactive twist to your next pizza party with pizza making classses across New York City! Cooking classes, like this Neopolitan pizza making class with wine in the Financial District, are perfect for foodie teams looking to connect over a shared meal. If you’re searching for activities for team building that feel fun and social, beginner cooking classes create the ideal atmosphere for coworkers to relax, bond, and recharge together.
What teams had to say:
“Highly recommend this pizza-making class! Exceeded expectations. Eduardo and Jose were so funny and entertaining, and we made delicious, cute pizzas. Our group of 7 went on a team-building activity, and we would do it again! Everything was delicious, and the unlimited wine was a fun touch!”
- Maria R.
2. Inspire workplace creativity with painting classes
Whether your team is full of experienced creatives or complete beginners, painting classes in NYC make it easy for everyone to relax and have fun together. These laid-back workshops combine painting with a social atmosphere, making them a popular choice for fun team outings in NYC, celebrations, and corporate gatherings across the city. Relax with a watercolor painting class in Williamsburg, get social at a glow-in-the-dark slime paint-and-sip party in Long Island City, or create art on any surface with a paint a room experience in Midtown.
These experiences are some of the most approachable activities for team building because they encourage coworkers to let go of perfection and simply enjoy the creative process together. Teams can chat, laugh, and connect while working on their own unique pieces in a welcoming environment. Painting workshops are also excellent wellness team-building activities for teams looking to reduce stress and bring more creativity into the workday.
What teams had to say:
“We had so much fun in this class! Good price point for a smaller team, and you can get the whole room to yourself. We booked the art room, which was a great time. Brian was our teacher, and he was so sweet and helpful! He offered to take lots of pictures of us painting, and we have some great memories. We will definitely be returning!”
- Janna Z.
3. Unwind after a long workday with a pottery
Pottery classes in NYC offer a great hands-on way to reduce stress and foster creativity. We offer team-building pottery workshops where you and your coworkers can learn the basics of pottery-making in just one lesson. Try wheel throwing in Hell’s Kitchen for a creative adventure or relax with a clay hand-building class in Chelsea.
Working with clay can be incredibly therapeutic. Think of your ball of clay as a stress ball! This medium invites you to let loose, step out of your comfort zone, and even get a little messy. If you’re looking for activities for team building that encourage a little child-like playtime, shaping clay in your hands is a fantastic way to do so. Nothing boosts the mood more than remembering what it was like to get messy!
What teams had to say:
“This was a fantastic experience - highly recommended for any reason (we did team building, but I'd happily also bring the family). The instructor was patient and helpful, and we all made something cool!”
- Elena F.
4. Experience aromatherapy in a candle-making class
Explore aromatherapy with your team in an NYC candle-making workshop. In these calming workshops, you will create a custom scent using essential oils to include in your handmade candle.
Studies show that essential oils are known to have properties to enhance or change your mood. From a relaxing lavender to an energy-boosting peppermint, you can find the perfect blend for you. Each team member will create their own scent, which is also a fantastic way to learn more about each other.
The process of candle making can also help you feel more relaxed, from the peaceful environment to the warm and slow pour of melted wax. These workshops can be held in various locations across the NYC boroughs, providing a sensory experience that can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being. For companies planning team building in NYC, a candle-making workshop, like this one on the Upper West Side, offers a low-pressure environment that encourages conversation and connection.
What teams had to say:
“Such a fun experience! We were creating, experimenting, and connecting. I would recommend this for a corporate team building event or a night out with friends.”
- Jessica E.
5. Connect with nature and your team in a terrarium class
Bring some greenery to your space with a terrarium workshop in NYC! Plants can boost your well-being for a number of reasons. Not only do they bring clean air into your home, but the act of taking care of a living thing can bring you happiness and fulfillment.
Even the act of building a terrarium can bring you a little slice of peace! You’ll learn how to layer rocks, soil, and moss for optimal growth. Using miniature shovels and rakes, you’ll landscape your tiny garden into your own oasis.
These classes are great team-building wellness activities because they encourage teams to slow down and focus on something tactile and restorative together. Request a class just for your team with a terrarium workshop in Midtown! Your team can bring your terrariums back to the office and brighten the space with inspiring and tranquil plant life.
Runs regularly
Williamsburg
1 to 50 guests
$20 - $25
16 years in business
9k followers
What teams had to say:
“Our instructor, Iris, was kind and helpful, and answered all of our questions. It was a great opportunity to unwind, get creative, and bond with my team!”
- Nancy O.
6. Discover signature scents in a perfume-making class
Enjoy a sensory experience with perfume making classes in NYC. These immersive workshops invite you to blend custom fragrances using a variety of notes — think jasmine, sandalwood, citrus, or amber — while learning the basics of scent composition.
Fragrance is closely tied to memory and emotion, which makes these workshops especially meaningful for groups looking to strengthen workplace connections. Team members will leave with a custom perfume that reflects their personality and reminds them of the shared experience they had with your work besties.
If you’re brainstorming NYC team building ideas for something a little more unique, a perfume making class in Williamsburg supports creativity and conversation in a calming and scent-filled environment.
What teams had to say:
“Michelle was absolutely awesome. We had a corporate event that she curated. It was perfect as was her presentation. She’s also very helpful (despite all the scents) to provide advice on evening out the scent you make. Would highly recommend booking with Bio!”
- Marisa P.
7. Get creative with a rug tufting workshop
For a trendy and hands-on experience, try rug tufting classes in NYC with your team! In these beginner-friendly workshops, you and the team can design and create custom rugs using colorful yarn and tufting machines. From bold abstract patterns to playful designs, rug tufting gives everyone the chance to express themselves while learning a completely new skill together. Since tufting requires focus and creativity, it naturally encourages teams to stay present and collaborate throughout the process.
Make a custom rug with this custom rug tufting workshop near Bryant Park, and participate in one of the most exciting team building activities for adults in NYC you can book. It works well as fun wellbeing activities for team meetings where teams want to recharge together in a casual setting!
What teams had to say:
“This workshop was selected as a team activity, and everyone loved it. The instructors, Colby and Iris, are very knowledgeable, helpful, and talented (in explaining the process and helping to draw everyone's designs). Best part is everyone walked away with a unique item that they were able to easily take home with them to different parts of the world.”
- Taylor R.
In the fast-paced environment of the city, prioritizing your team's well-being is important. By incorporating these wellness team building activities, you can help your team manage stress and foster stronger relationships. From candle making to cooking classes, we offer a diverse range of activities that can be tailored to suit any team's needs. Make space for your team to relax, recharge, and have a little fun together along the way!
