How to Create an Inclusive Wellness Program That Works for Everyone

Did you know that wellness programs designed with DEIB in mind see 50% higher engagement and help reduce workplace stress by 30%? By creating a space where every voice matters, you can build a program that supports real well-being and connection. Curious about how to get started? Let’s dive into seven steps that can make your wellness program truly inclusive.

Assess Current DEIB Gaps in Wellness Programs

As a wellness coach, you know how important it is to make every participant feel seen and supported. But even with the best intentions, some voices can get left behind. For example, 40% of employees from underrepresented groups say they feel disconnected from wellness initiatives, often because programs don’t fully address their needs or experiences. If your program isn’t reaching everyone equally, it’s time to take a closer look.

How to fix this?

• Start with honest conversations. Use anonymous surveys to ask participants if they feel the program reflects their needs — questions about accessibility, inclusivity, or relevance are a great start. 
• Create space for focus groups where participants can openly share feedback, especially those whose voices might be missing in larger discussions. 
• Conduct a DEIB audit to discover blind spots, like resources that don’t reflect cultural diversity or barriers for individuals with disabilities. 
• Look at participation trends: Are certain groups consistently underrepresented? If so, ask why and dig deeper.

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Outcomes to expect

Getting to the root of these gaps helps you ensure everyone feels they belong. When participants see their needs and perspectives reflected, engagement and trust naturally grow. As a coach, this is your chance to create a wellness program that connects with people on a deeper level and makes a meaningful difference in their lives.

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Involve Diverse Voices in Program Planning

A program that truly makes an impact is the one shaped by the people they serve. Yet, research shows that 60% of wellness programs fail to engage all demographics effectively, often because critical voices are left out during planning. When diverse perspectives are included, decision-making improves by 87%, creating programs that are both inclusive and effective.

How to achieve this?

• Start by creating an advisory board. Take your practitioners, representatives from different demographics — varying ages, cultural backgrounds, genders, and abilities. Facilitate brainstorming sessions with your team to find unique challenges and opportunities, focusing on practical adjustments like flexible scheduling for caregivers or culturally relevant activities. 
• Examine participation data and ask: Who’s missing, and why? Dive into specifics, such as language barriers or program features that may exclude individuals with disabilities.

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Outcomes to expect

The result is a program that resonates with more participants and fosters genuine belonging. Programs developed with diverse input show up to 20% higher engagement and greater trust from participants. For your coaching team, it means building a program that supports well-being and reflects the unique needs of every individual, ensuring no one is left out.

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Offer Culturally Sensitive Wellness Resources

You’ve probably seen how personal and cultural values influence the way people approach their health. When programs don’t reflect those differences, participants can feel left out. For example, 41% of employees say their wellness initiatives don’t meet their cultural or personal needs.

How to fix this?

• Break down language barriers with multilingual materials — this simple step can make a big difference for the 22% of clients. 
• Include activities tied to cultural traditions, like tai chi, yoga, or mindfulness practices, to make sessions feel more relevant. 
• Ensure dietary plans account for preferences like kosher, halal, or vegetarian diets, so no one feels excluded. 
• Offer alternative practices, such as acupuncture or Ayurveda, to show participants that you value their traditions. 

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Outcomes to expect

When wellness programs reflect cultural sensitivities, participation can increase by up to 25%, and the trust participants have in the program grows exponentially. It's a way to connect on a deeper level, showing your clients that their beliefs and needs matter.

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Integrate Mental Health Support

Mental health is often the missing piece in wellness programs, yet it’s critical for meaningful, lasting engagement. Marginalized groups face unique barriers, including higher rates of stress and limited access to mental health care. For example, studies show that Hispanic employees are 50% less likely to access workplace mental health resources, even when they’re available. Ignoring this need excludes participants and undermines the effectiveness of the entire program.

How to fix this?

• Offer mental health counseling through both in-person and telehealth channels to ensure accessibility for all participants. 
• Organize stress management workshops that focus on practical tools like mindfulness, guided meditation, or emotional regulation techniques. 
• Establish peer support groups to foster a sense of community and shared understanding. 
• Partner with culturally competent mental health professionals who understand the specific challenges faced by diverse groups, such as cultural stigma or historical barriers to care. 
• Address affordability by including low-cost or free resources like meditation apps or self-help guides tailored to different demographics. 

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Outcomes to expect

When mental health is integrated as a core component, participation and trust in the program improve significantly. Programs with robust mental health resources see higher engagement, and participants report feeling more supported and valued. By focusing on mental health, you equip your participants with the tools they need to succeed both inside and outside the program.

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Train Your Practitioners on DEIB Principles

For wellness programs to succeed, practitioners need to do more than just guide exercises or host workshops — they must create spaces where every participant feels seen, respected, and safe. This requires a deep understanding of cultural nuances, historical inequities, and individual experiences. Without proper training, even well-meaning practitioners can unintentionally perpetuate biases, such as assuming everyone has equal access to time, resources, or support systems.

How to fix this?

• Provide focused DEIB training sessions that cover cultural awareness, inclusive language, and recognizing unconscious biases in wellness practices. 
• Schedule annual refreshers to ensure DEIB practices stay relevant and evolve with societal and participant needs. 
• Equip your team with DEIB resource kits that offer checklists for inclusive activities and guides for addressing accessibility issues. 
• Consider bringing in guest speakers or facilitators from diverse backgrounds to share firsthand insights and actionable strategies. 

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Outcomes to expect

Practitioners who are thoroughly trained in DEIB principles transform how participants experience your program. For example, participants in programs led by DEIB-trained practitioners report feeling 45% more confident in their ability to meet wellness goals. Coaches who invest in this training see stronger retention rates and more authentic participant relationships because the program addresses people’s needs at a deeper level. 

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Streamline Program Creation

Creating a DEIB-friendly wellness program is rewarding, but it can feel overwhelming to juggle resources, schedules, and participant needs. Platforms like Profi.io take the guesswork out of managing these complexities, giving wellness coaches more time to focus on what they do best — supporting people. By centralizing tools and processes, you can spend less time on logistics and more time connecting with participants in meaningful ways.

How to achieve this?With Profi.io, you can bring everything into one place: training materials, participant data,  scheduling and program (course) creation. This health coach software allows to build program content with videos, reading materials, forms, questions, and even sessions. You can also manage client progress and boost sales with a conversion-optimized landing page.

Profi also provides branded client portals to reflect each participant’s needs, offering features like preferred languages or culturally relevant resources. You can track DEIB progress with built-in analytics — see who’s engaging, where gaps exist, and how well your program is reaching diverse groups. Profi simplifies running virtual or in-person sessions and helps you hear directly from participants and adjust offerings to make sure your program stays relevant.

Outcomes to expectFor wellness coaches opting for Profi.io, it’s easier to build versatile DEIB-friendly programs at a fraction of the cost and time. By streamlining workflows and providing actionable insights, you’ll have more capacity to focus on building a program that truly supports diverse participants and drives revenue. 

Want to see how it works firsthand? Schedule a personalized demo with one of our specialists or use a Free Trial if you’re a Solo.