Every year, the month of June is marked as Wellness Month. Renate Hermes, Group Spa Director, planned the “Mindfulness at Work” wellness program for the staff this month, which will take place every Monday at 8:00 a.m. and will be facilitated by Renate herself.

The program is designed for the entire team, giving resort employees the option to participate in wellness programs and encourage them to adopt proactive measures for enhanced physical, mental, and emotional well-being at work.

Renate is passionate to promote and increase awareness about the benefits of a healthy team, stressing the link between employee health, employee productivity, and corporate success.

About the mindfulness & well-being program

It is a 30-minute session aimed to introduce powerful mindful micro practice that can be applied anywhere from the office work setting to moments when you want to find a restful sleep.

It’s about learning practical skills that can be used in daily life and at work to relax the mind, successfully cope with stress, and nurture oneself. Giving them a better understanding of the significance of self-care.

The program will assist participants in developing greater peace of mind, resilience, and compassion for themselves and those around them. They will be able to determine the program's success through reflective inquiry and questionnaires. It also allows team members to support and co-elevate one another and assists them in developing a mindset that is geared toward resilience and agility.

This is accessible via an online interactive zoom link shared with all Duniye Spa, Crown, and Champa Resorts, as well as Dive team members.

“The mindfulness & well-being program is very important to our spa team members. They are wellness service providers who work every day to provide our guests with a wellness experience that leaves them with a sense of peace, calm, joy, and relaxation. How can they do so if they don't have it within themselves? The pandemic's effects, along with their distance from their homes and family, have a significant impact. As a Mindful Leader and Conscious Business, it's vital to provide an employee program that prioritizes the mental wellness of the team,” the group spa director cum health coach noted.

“In fact, we've begun to provide programs that focus on the power of a mindful approach to wellbeing in smaller events like sound healing sessions, meditations, and Yoga. After this event, I'd like to consider whether we could offer something similar to our guest on a larger scale, with the goal of bringing the peaceful island energy into their homes,” Renate added.

Renate elaborated on her pre-class preparations, saying, "Before each session, I have my own mindfulness practice in order to bring myself into the right state of mind from which I can serve. I prepare the session by selecting specific meditation forms and inspiring quotes, and I have a clear idea of what I want the outcome to be, however it depends on each participant what they take out.” 

The health coach highlights that employee’s wellbeing is very important to her, and she considers it to be absolutely critical and vital. She believes that as a company leader, she has a responsibility to serve something greater than ourselves. Her vision is to contribute to a kinder, happier and healthier world by serving to our esteemed guests. A happy, healthy team and a wellbeing corporate culture may contribute to that vision. Together, they’ll create a ripple effect of health and wellbeing. 

At the end of the interview when asked if there is anything she can recommend to help the staff finish the program effectively. “My hope is that they will begin to use what they learned in class and realize how it might help them in their daily lives and at work”, says Renate.  

The Monday Morning sessions are intended to lead into an ongoing, regular program to support the team in their mindfulness practice. The spa team has already started to integrate some of the tools learned into the services given to our guests. Some also started to practice on a regular basis before, during, after work.

Around a more personal note, the group spa director shared her workout or training routine that helps her increase her mental well being as part of her mindful lifestyle, as she enjoys daily meditation, running barefoot on the island and stopping to embrace the palm trees every now and then. Her exercise interests include running, swimming, yoga, and beach workouts, and when off the islands hiking and horseback riding.

Renate’s Recommendation: “The power of mindfulness lies in day to day practice, and living it. Micro practices form micro habits which over time lead to substantial health and wellbeing benefits. Just start practicing!”

Duniye Spa was founded upon a vision to provide and create a special place to experience holistic well-being. Founded in 2002 by a group of international hotel owners, Duniye Spa has become a leading spa management and consultancy company in The Maldives and Indian Ocean region.