Taekwondo + Yoga: Movement-Based Wellness That Sparks Community ResilienceWhat If Wellness Was a Team Sport?

In trauma-affected and resource-constrained communities, wellness programs often fall short not for lack of intention, but because they treat health as an individual journey. Ne Taba International (NTI), a social-impact consulting firm headquartered in Rochester, believes collective care demands collective motion. That's why, starting in March 2025, NTI began piloting a movement-based wellness model that fuses Taekwondo and Yoga to build physical health, emotional regulation, and social cohesion simultaneously.

Why This Combo? Why Now?

In partnership with local mental health providers, refugee organizations, and martial arts instructors, NTI designed these hybrid sessions to meet people where they are physically, culturally, and emotionally. Each class blends high-energy Taekwondo drills that sharpen focus and self-confidence with restorative yoga sequences that reduce cortisol levels and improve interoception.

The fusion works because it taps into dual regulatory mechanisms: sympathetic activation through martial arts, followed by parasympathetic grounding through yoga. For populations managing PTSD, chronic stress, or displacement trauma, this sequencing isn't a luxury it's a lifeline.

"We wanted to create a model where movement builds not just individual resilience, but relational resilience. Where a deep exhale on the mat echoes into how you show up for your family, your team, your block." - Halimah S. Ouedraogo, CEO, NTI

The NTI Format: Trauma-Aware, Community-Rooted

Each 90-minute session is co-led by a certified Taekwondo black belts and a certified global practice practitioner. The sessions are designed around four core pillars:

Participants attend once monthly, with pre- and post-program photography and videography measuring shifts in physical energy, emotional regulation, and perceived community belonging.

Early Outcomes: Movement as a Multiplier

With more than 40 duplicated participants, individuals shared that the classes were "amazing, fun, and invigorating," "helped to relax and reduce stress," and "they’re coming back next month."

Four Practices That Made It Stick

1. Healing-Centered Design: Instructors use pre-briefing to create supportive spaces and respond with care during moments of stress.

2. Local Talent Pipeline: NTI supports community members to apprentice under certified instructors, building a self-sustaining model.

3. No Tech, No Talk: Phones off. Full presence.

4. Shared Meals = Shared Momentum: Monthly potlucks deepen relationships beyond the mat.

   
   

Ready to Energize Your Team? Corporate Wellness That Actually Works

What if your next team retreat didn't involve trust falls and icebreakers, but instead built genuine connection through movement, breath, and shared challenge? The same model that's transforming communities can revolutionize how your organization approaches employee wellness and team cohesion.

Why Corporate Teams Are Choosing Movement-Based Wellness

Modern workplaces are battling burnout, disconnection, and stress-related productivity losses. Traditional wellness programs gym memberships, meditation apps, lunch-and-learns often fall flat because they treat wellness as an individual responsibility rather than a collective practice.

Our Taekwondo + Yoga fusion creates something different: shared resilience building that strengthens both individual capacity and team dynamics. When your people move together, breathe together, and face challenges together, they return to work with:

• Enhanced focus and decision-making

• Improved stress regulation

• Stronger interpersonal trust

• Increased energy and engagement

Perfect for Corporate Retreats & Team Development

Half-Day Format (3 hours):

• 90-minute movement session

• 30-minute reflection circle

• Light meal and integration discussion

Full-Day Retreat (6 hours):

• Morning energizing session (Taekwondo focus)

• Afternoon restorative session (Yoga focus)

• Team meals and processing time

• Takeaway practices for the workplace

Multi-Session Programs (4-8 weeks):

• Weekly sessions building cumulative impact

• Leadership development through movement

• Measurable outcomes for wellness ROI

What Makes This Different from Other Corporate Wellness?

✓ No expertise required, accessible to all fitness levels

✓ Builds actual relationships, not just individual health metrics

✓ Trauma-informed approach, safe for everyone, including those with PTSD or anxiety

✓ Measurable impact, pre/post assessments show real productivity gains

✓ Culturally responsive, adapts to diverse team compositions

Ready to Move Your Team Forward?

Companies investing in movement-based wellness aren't just checking a benefits box they're building more resilient, connected, and productive teams. Whether you're planning a quarterly retreat, launching a wellness initiative, or looking to strengthen team dynamics, this model meets teams where they are and moves them where they need to go.

Schedule Your Corporate Wellness Consultation

NTI offers a 45-minute consultation to help you design the perfect program for your team whether that's a one-time retreat experience, ongoing wellness programming, or leadership development intensive. We handle everything from instructor coordination to outcome measurement.

Book your consultation here

to discover how movement can transform your team's energy, focus, and connection.

Ready to invest in wellness that actually works? Your team's best performance starts with their best selves.

Ne Taba International building high-performing social-impact teams that change lives, sustainably.