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 t

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.

How does meditation actually change the function, structure, and health of our brains? Whether you are a skeptic or believer in mindfulness, this episode walks you through how meditation improves brain and mental function. Evolution Hospitality's Chief Wellness Officer, Dr. Romie, takes you through the latest research studies on the impact of meditation in brain diseases such as depression and memory decline. Meditation also improves how your mind processes information, analytical skills, creativity, and the ability to manage stress.  

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 t

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

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.   

Conflict in the workplace amongst team members rarely has to do with the day to day operations, but rather a breakdown in one of three areas- empathy, compassion, and communication. A conversation mismatch occurs when one person speaks processes through the lens of a data-driven mindset, and the other from an emotional mindset. In this episode, Evo’s Chief Wellness Officer, Dr. Romie, talks about how the Power of Pause can bring teams together through mindful communication. Take a moment to pause and reflect what your communication style – are you a pressure cooker, silent volcano, or all out-blurt out type of communicator? When we use the Power of Pause to see how others communicate during times of high emotions or stress, the mindfulness-based techniques will help prevent conflict in team meetings and conversations.

What are the secrets of starting and sticking to a personal meditation practice?  Is there a right way to meditate? And, does it count if we are using a smartphone app to meditate?  Evo's Chief Wellness Officer, Dr. Romie, breaks down all of your answers on how to start a personal meditation and mindfulness practice.  You will not be asked to "empty your brain of all thoughts." Instead, let's discuss the "RPM" method to schedule meditation, correct breathing and posture techniques, and why meditating for 5 to 20 minutes daily will change your brain and shift your outlook on your day.   We will all start with a five-step meditation program: 1) controlled breathing, 2) waterfall moment, 3) the thought bubble, 4) repeating a mantra or phrase while sitting in silence,  5) and then set an intention or goal for the day. You got this Evolutionaries, let's work together to take our "Power of Pause" program into our personal lives.  Our "Power of Pause" champions known as our "Evo Mindful Guides" will be there to guid

In order to improve sleep, reduce stress, and feel energized, we promote digital detox before bedtime at Evolution Hospitality. Thirty to sixty minutes before bedtime shut down your digital devices, get yourself organized for bedtime, and use this 10-minute meditation to help clear your mind and welcome sleep. This recorded guided meditation by Dr. Romie is based in mindfulness techniques and can be used anytime during the day when you need to find your center and connect to calm. The Power of Pause is Evolution Hospitality's corporate mindful movement, and the program based in neuroscience, organizational psychology, and mindfulness.

Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed or having difficulty focusing during your workday? Use this guided meditation recorded by Dr. Romie before you send an email, enter a meeting, or make a telephone call. Take three minutes to pause with this controlled breathing exercise to help quiet the busy brain, connect to calm, and feel focused. The Power of Pause is Evolution Hospitality's corporate mindful movement, and the program based in neuroscience, organizational psychology, and mindfulness.

Use this guided meditation recorded by Dr. Romie before a team meeting, stand-up or huddle. Take three minutes to pause with this controlled breathing exercise to help quiet the busy brain, connect to calm, and feel focused. The Power of Pause is Evolution Hospitality's corporate mindful movement, and the program based in neuroscience, organizational psychology, and mindfulness.

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.

What is a Chief Wellness Officer, and why did Evolution Hospitality decide to create this role? In this episode, the interview hot seat is turned on Dr. Romie Mushtaq, Evolution Hospitality’s CWO- as she candidly shares her personal story and vision as Evo’s very first Chief Wellness Officer. You’ll learn why wellness was a priority for Evo's culture promoting the whole person. Dr. Romie's mission in promoting brain & mental wellbeing in the workplace is in alignment with Evo's dedication to workplace wellness, guiding principles, and culture.

Corporate mindfulness and meditation programs are gaining popularity in the United States, but do they really work? In this episode, Evolution Hospitality’s Chief Wellness Officer, Dr. Romie, reviews corporate mindfulness programs in the US that were successfully implemented with results. We also discuss Evo’s custom mindful program called “The Power of Pause, that is based in neuroscience and organizational psychology, a first in industry program in hospitality. The Power of Pause encourages Evo team members at corporate headquarters and our hotel properties to take a 3-5 minutes to pause as a team to connect to quiet our busy brains and connect to calm consciousness.

Before implementing a successful company-wide wellness and mindfulness program, establishing a foundation or road map to employee well-being is crucial. At Evolution Hospitality (Evo), the company was founded with the idea that we believe in developing the whole person, and Evo's roadmap is the Wellness Triangle.  In this episode, Chief Wellness Officer and host, Dr. Romie, explains the elements of Evo's Wellness Triangle. You'll also hear advice on where to start on mapping out your wellness journey as well as the workplace wellness and mindfulness programs being launched at Evo in 2019.

Evolution Hospitality (Evo) was founded in 2011 as a hospitality management company that hires for both highly skilled employees as well as a culture based on our values and guiding principles.  Dr. Romie has a candid and down-to-Earth conversation with Evo's President and CEO John Murphy who discusses why so much attention was paid to building wellness and mindfulness into our culture. In this episode, you'll learn first hand what it means to be an Evolutionary,  practicing servant leadership, and how the Power of Pause program brings together the best of brain science, mindfulness, and Evo's guiding principles.