FAQs For Corporate and Organizational Clients
About the Programs
What makes SAWY different from other corporate wellness or training programs?
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Most corporate programs teach frameworks or techniques. SAWY's Eastern Practice Series works differently: it offers experiences rooted in 3,000 years of Chinese philosophy, art, and medicine — addressing perception, presence, self-knowledge, and vitality as a whole. The result is something your team will actually remember, talk about, and carry with them. It is not a workshop you sit through. It is an experience you participate in.
Do we need to know anything about Chinese culture or Eastern philosophy to participate?
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Not at all. Every program is designed for participants with no prior knowledge. Yuan brings the cultural context — your team just needs to show up curious.
Yes, all programs are facilitated in English. Bilingual facilitation (English and Mandarin) is available on request.
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Are these programs in English?
Can the programs be customized for our organization?
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Yes. Yuan works with clients to tailor content, themes, and format to your team's specific context, whether that's a particular industry, a cultural moment your organization is navigating, or a specific outcome you want to achieve. Get in touch to discuss.
Logistics
Where are the programs held?
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SAWY programs can be held at your office, an offsite venue of your choice, or virtually. Yuan is based in Boston and available to travel for in-person engagements. All four programs are available virtually; the Tea Ceremony and Self & Others workshops are best experienced in person.
How far in advance do we need to book?
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We recommend booking at least three to four weeks in advance for standard programs. For custom series or large-scale engagements, six to eight weeks is preferred. Last-minute bookings may be possible depending on availability, please reach out and we will do our best.
What is the minimum and maximum group size?
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It varies by program. Most in-person programs are suitable for 10-40 people, hybrid and virtual programs can accommodate more people. please get in touch and discuss your need if you have larger audiences.
How long are the sessions?
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Each program has flexible duration options ranging from 60 minutes to a full day. The right length depends on your goals and the program. Yuan will recommend the best format during your consultation.
Do you offer series or ongoing programming?
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Yes. Many clients find that a single session is a powerful introduction, but the real impact comes from a series over time. Yuan offers monthly, quarterly, and annual programming partnerships. Ask about the SAWY Cultural Calendar — a curated series designed for organizations that want to build a consistent culture of depth and reflection throughout the year.
The Tea Ceremony Specifically
Can the Tea Ceremony really work virtually?
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Yes, with some adaptation. Virtual sessions focus on guided meditation, the philosophy and ritual of tea, and a structured presence practice. For the fullest sensory experience, we recommend mailing a curated tea kit to each participant in advance so they can brew along in real time. In-person is always the first choice, but virtual sessions have their own quiet power.
What if some team members don't drink tea?
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The Tea Ceremony is about the practice of presence, not the tea itself. Participants who prefer not to drink tea are welcome to simply hold the cup, observe, and participate in the meditation and conversation. No one has ever felt excluded.
The Workshops
Is the Banana Game™ appropriate for senior leadership?
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Yes — in fact, it often lands most powerfully with senior teams, because the questions it raises about performance and identity are most acute for people in positions of power. The game is designed to be playful and psychologically safe, while still being genuinely revelatory.
Is the Personal Boundaries workshop a therapy session?
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No. It is an experiential workshop using role-play and facilitated conversation. Yuan is not a therapist and does not provide clinical support. The session is designed to be thought-provoking and practically useful, not therapeutic. Participants are encouraged to bring their own reflection to the experience, but nothing is required to be shared publicly.
Our team is multicultural — will these workshops resonate across different backgrounds?
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Yes, and in fact multicultural teams often get the most out of these sessions. The tension between Eastern and Western approaches to work, identity, and relationships is exactly what these workshops explore. Having people with different backgrounds in the room enriches the conversation considerably.
Pricing and booking
Fill out the inquiry form, email yuan@saturday-afternoons.com or through Wechat: sawy-tea. Yuan will follow up within 48 hours to schedule a brief consultation call. Pricing is based on program type, duration, group size, and any customization required.
How do I get a quote?
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Do you require a deposit?
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Yes. A deposit is required to confirm your booking. Full payment terms will be outlined in your program agreement.
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What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellations made more than two weeks before the session date are eligible for a full refund of the deposit. Cancellations within two weeks are non-refundable, but the session can be rescheduled within three months at no additional charge.
Can we book multiple programs at once?
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Yes, and we encourage it. Clients who book two or more programs in a series receive priority scheduling and preferred rates. Ask about SAWY's annual programming partnerships.
A Question We Get Asked a Lot
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Is this a cultural competency training?
Not exactly — though it will almost certainly improve your team's cultural fluency. SAWY's programs are not primarily about teaching people what Oriental culture is. They are about offering a set of experiences through which Eastern philosophy and practice can change how people think, work, and relate to one another. The distinction matters: one is information, the other is transformation.