Wellness Evolved

Mindfulness is a state of present-centered awareness.  Challenges to feeling centered and focused arise from constant external stimulation and stress in our lives. 

The body scan meditation helps us to distance our thoughts from our busy worlds and re-center ourselves. With this special breathing technique, we scan different areas of our bodies and release tension from our muscles.  Take 3-4 minutes and join Dr. Romie's guided body scan anytime during the day when you feel out or control or tense.

This is a bonus meditation created for Evolution Hospitality as a part of our Power of Pause corporate mindfulness program.

We are responsible for the energy we bring in the room. We cannot control negative situations in our lives, but we can learn to control how we respond with our thoughts, words, and actions.  In this brief guided meditation, Dr. Romie leads you through the process of facing and processing negative emotions.  By using this breath and movement technique, we release stress from our minds, bodies and our schedules.  By releasing negative energy, we become responsible for shifting our energy to a calm consciousness.

This is a bonus meditation created for Evolution Hospitality as a part of our Power of Pause corporate mindfulness program.

At Evolution Hospitality, one of our guiding principles is to do everything with gratitude and humility.  An attitude of gratitude shifts our minds, moods, and perspective.  How can we pause and shift our mindset to one of gratitude?  Join Dr. Romie in this brief guided meditation to take a journey to a moment of gratitude and learn how to carry this feeling throughout your day.

This recording is a bonus meditation created for Evolution Hospitality as a part of our Power of Pause corporate mindfulness program.

The Loving-Kindness Meditation (also known as Meta Bhavana) is recited to help foster compassion. It helps to foster kindness and compassion towards ourselves and others.  In this guided meditation, Dr. Romie leads you through the practice of reciting the loving-kindness meditation for oneself, towards loved ones, and the entire team.  Psychology studies have shown that when one recites the loving-kindness meditation, it helps to decrease negative and self-limiting beliefs.  Recite the loving-kindness meditation daily to help shift your perception of yourself and others towards positivity, kindness, and peace.

This is a bonus meditation created for Evolution Hospitality as a part of our Power of Pause corporate mindfulness program.

There is a critical moment in every high-stakes conversation, that we must pause, self reflect, and take control before we become emotionally hijacked, the "wig snatch" moment.  The Power of Pause is Evolution Hospitality's corporate mindfulness program designed to help foster self-awareness, wellness, & communication skills.

Evo's Corporate Director of Talent, Bulmaro Farias joins Evo's Chief Wellness Officer, Dr. Romie, for an honest conversation about creating and growing a corporate mindfulness program.   The Power of Pause helps to create a solid foundation for "Crucial Conversations" - the communication training program used at Evo for our leaders and managers.

In a fast-paced environment of hospitality, difficult conversations are inevitable, but Crucial conversations can help people with presence, self-awareness, self-regulation, to give the best speech you will ever regret or stop the wig-snatch.

Show Notes

• [02:22] We have been bringing the power of pause to life. Bulmaro's advice was to spend time with all of the different teams. Everyone is hungry for a little centering.
• [03:31] We want our team members to feel that it's not just corporate embracing mindfulness. We want to do this for the whole company.
• [03:51] With the housekeeping team, awkward uncomfortable laughter soon shifted into belly laughter full of joy.
• [03:56] When we all pause together, we find the joy in our bellies.
• [04:59] The power of pause feels great. Many of us have to work though some things before we get comfortable and realize that we love it.
• [05:47] We trained 57 champions as our Evo Mindfulness Guides.
• [06:06] Bulmaro has been by my side helping train others in mindfulness.
• [06:36] One of the gifts of the power of pause and the Evo culture is having a person as your center
• [07:22] One of Bulmaro's key takeaway was the amount of growth that happened in the first four hours of training.
• [08:18] At first, people felt uncomfortable. Something exciting happens at the other side of that pain.
• [09:14] Evolution hospitality is a differentiator, because we focus on growing from within. We grow our leaders in their emotional development.
• [10:05] Evolution has a deep level of commitment to mindfulness.
• [10:57] Bulmaro is a strong advocate for human resources and the brainchild behind Crucial Conversations coming to Evolution Hospitality.
• [11:45] Crucial Conversations as a model for communicating in difficult scenarios. The model relies on a deep sense of self-awareness and reflection. We first have to understand what is going on in our heads.
• [13:36] You are responsible for the energy you bring into the room.
• [15:10] One of the first benefits of a pause is putting yourself in a position to be present. You will be less likely to be emotionally hijacked.
• [18:32] The pause has been especially beneficial for the sales team under high pressure situations.
• [20:57] The HR team was the first to adapt the power of pause.
• [22:14] Soft skills are the most predictive qualities of successful managers. Top business and law schools prioritize personal development over all other classes.
• [23:10] Behavioral skills permeate both work life and home life.
• [24:27] Bulmaro takes a pause when it serves him the most. He has guided meditations. He also has the Peloton app. Guided meditation will do the trick. He also prays.
• [27:04] Test it don't be afraid to fail. Serves him most. It starts with courage.

Links and Resources:

• Bulmaro Farias
• @DrRomie on Twitter
• Dr. Romie Mushtaq MD on Instagram
• Crucial Conversations

This week, we're rewinding to bring you an episode from earlier this year. Please enjoy!

Emotions and behaviors are contagious like the flu virus- especially the workplace. The behavioral contagion effect is a well-documented effect in brain science that refers to the propensity for certain behavior exhibited by one person to be copied by others. This is also true of the workplace, the perceived leader's actions and emotions are felt by the entire team. Are you really the perceived leader in the room? Brain science shows that just because you have the title or seniority, it does not mean you are the perceived leader. In this episode of the Evolution Hospitality's Wellness Evolved podcast, you will learn how the behavioral contagion effect plays out in the workplace. Learn how our custom mindfulness program called, "The Power of Pause", is a solution to center yourself back into a calm mindset, control your emotions, and positively impact the collective emotions and behaviors of all of your team members.

Have you had your pause today? Today, we are going to hit the pause button and rewind. This is the first season called the power of pause. Whether you are part of Evo or you're listening from outside of the company, the power of pause is Evolution Hospitality’s mindfulness program. I am Dr. Romie, Evo's Chief Wellness Officer.

When I stepped into this role last year, we decided to start our workplace wellness journey with mindfulness. And that's known as the power of pause. This rewind episode takes us on a journey of the last 12 episodes. Our mindfulness journey is based on the latest research and brain science, medical evidence, and organizational psychology. The team that pauses together moves forward and is successful together.

Show Notes

• [02:42] We launched the power of pause initiative one year ago. We gathered our strongest leaders and trained mindfulness Evo guides and champions.
• [03:06] All of our teams are in various places in the movement.
• [03:35] Today is going to be a reminder of why we should take a pause, and it will help us navigate through some of the past episodes of this podcast.
• [04:04] We have over 6000 employees, and we wanted an innovative way to communicate with you. That is why we launched this podcast.
• [05:02] We are going to answer questions, bring experts in, and highlight other leaders.
• [05:18] You can learn more about me in episode 4.
• [06:03] Episode 1 will really help you understand who Evo is and why we not only hire for skills but also for culture.
• [07:20] Our episode on embracing mindfulness at work will help you implement the power of pause in your life and with your team.
• [09:16] If you are wondering what to do next listen to our inspiring episode how to grow the power of pause with Michael Kapoulis.
• [11:15] Find some quiet time and listen to the short interviews.
• [12:14] There are also bonus issues that take your through the meditations.
• [13:02] We all have busy brains. Taking a pause will convert that brain into a calm consciousness. Listen to our 3 minute personal mediation for this.
• [14:12] There is also a 10 minute at home guided meditation. Find a moment to take a pause. If you are doing this than email me how you and your team take a team pause.
• [17:20] We will be wrapping up our power of pause season and traveling around the wellness triangle.
• [17:36] This is my strategic plan on how to grow and foster wellness for our team of over 6000.
• [18:02] Season 2 starts in May and it's going to be about nourishing and nutrition.
• [18:25] We also have seasons coming up on sleep, finding your calling, and other important wellness initiatives.

Links and Resources:

• Why Workplace Wellness & Mindfulness is Important for Leaders & Culture: Interview with Evo's President John Murphy
• Evo’s Foundation for Workplace Well-being: Understanding and Implementing The Wellness Triangle
• Embrace Mindfulness at Work: How to Start & Implement the Power of Pause
• How to Grow the Power of Pause With Michael Kapoulis
• Bonus Episode: Home 10 Minute Guided Meditation: Power of Pause
• Bonus Episode: Personal Pause 3 Minute Guided Meditation: Power of Pause
• Bonus Episode: Team Pause 3 Minute Guided Meditation: Power of Pause
• What is & Who is your Chief Wellness Officer? Dr. Romie Pauses to Share Her Story, Vision & Mission as Evo’s CWO
• [email protected]

Rejuvenating our mindfulness power of pause program is a current goal. I am so proud of our mindfulness team of 57 Evo guides. These are people who have dedicated a full day of training on the power of pause and who are going through monthly classes on how to be mindfulness advocates and practice stress reduction. This episode is a quick recap on what the power of pause is and the benefits on a team level.

Then I have an interview with Michael Kapoulis the 2018 general manager of the year from the Hyatt Centric Fisherman's Wharf.  His entire team has beautifully and openly embraced the power of pause. We talk about how this helps teams on a business level and each individual on a personal level. We also talk about implementing different techniques for different sectors such as engineering, housekeeping, and the front desk.

Show Notes

• [03:34] The power of pause at Evolution Hospitality is our custom created program that brings together brain science, psychology, and mindfulness to help every evolutionary live up to their full potential.
• [04:18] The best way to help the power of pause to grow organically is to recruit other people into the movement as power of pause champions.
• [05:02] Ask enthusiastic group members if they would like to be champions and just ask for volunteers.
• [05:28] To train other power of pause champions work with them over the phone or in private. Have them read the script and practice with you before they are in a team setting.
• [06:00] You can also empower them using the voice recordings. Consistency is key so ask that person to lead the pause every day.
• [07:30] Taking a moment to pause can diffuse a sticky situation with guests.
• [08:47] Ask employees to take a personal pause before they come to meetings.
• [11:50] Michael was the general manager at Hotel Adagio and now he's the general manager at Hyatt Centric. Both of these properties are busy tourist destinations in a union stronghold. Michael still found time to embody the culture and embrace the power of pause.
• [12:58] The guiding principles really helped things at the hotel Adagio. It also solidified the relationship with the team at the Hyatt Centric.
• [13:40] Michael believes if you take care of your people, they will be there for you.
• [13:56] Starting the power of pause just takes a couple moments first thing in the morning. It also creates a cohesive team energy.
• [15:14] The housekeepers are the hardest-working evolutionaries. There was a joy when we all found calm together.
• [16:20] Michael has a pause with the team, and it helps unite them and lets them know that they are not on their own.
• [16:55] Michael is all about the team and treating people with respect.
• [17:23] It's the one-year anniversary of launching the power of pause. We are also training Evo Revolution guides.
• [18:27] Michael and his partner do something like play a game before bed that doesn't involve screens. This enables Michael to sleep a full 8 hours soundly. The digital detox is very beneficial.
• [19:30] One of our guiding principles is leading by example. Michael embodies this.
• [20:14] Michael thinks of the happiest place on earth, Disney, when he takes a pause. This is his happy place.
• [22:14] Michael's favorite guiding principle is make it better than it was before.
• [23:20] Michael's advice for new leaders is to truly get to know the people you are working with.

Links and Resources:

• Embrace Mindfulness at Work: How to Start & Implement the Power of Pause
• Bonus Episode: Team Pause 3 Minute Guided Meditation: Power of Pause
• Bonus Episode: Personal Pause 3 Minute Guided Meditation: Power of Pause

Are you ready to embrace Evolution Hospitality's mindfulness program, "The Power of Pause?"  In this episode, Evo's Chief Wellness Officer, Dr. Romie, helps you fast forward on implementing Evo's mindful program, "The Power of Pause."  How do you involve your team members and family in the Team Pause ritual?  This episode covers the basics of our mindfulness-based program, how you can get to start with your entire team or family, and what to do when colleagues express objections.  

How can you grow a movement as a team of one?   Learn from General Manager Mike Lerman how he built his team on the strength of Evo's guiding principles and the Power of Pause.   Mike was just awarded the 2018 General Manager of the Year for an Acquisition or New Hotel, and he openly shares how the Power of Pause helped him during construction of a new property and getting through a successful grand opening of the AC Sunnyvale Hotel.