Q: Do you prefer to work with the top executives of a company, or with middle management, or groups of employees?
A: You can specify any group or several groups within your company to receive this training, though it is recommended that top executives receive it prior to the others if possible. You might choose to focus a Spiritual Tune-up, for instance, on just one specific executive team or group that needs to work on its powers of focus and creativity. You could also choose to offer a full-day or two-day program for a large group of employees who need rejuvenation after a period of unusually high stress levels.

Q: How can we determine which departments or groups are most in need of this training and what time is best to schedule it for?
A: It depends on the nature and size of your company, its recent history, current situation, and future plans. Often management or the personnel department will know which groups to recommend the training to. If needed, Mr. Pollack can help you to make a preliminary determination during an informational call.

Q: It may be hard to know which individuals and groups within our company will be receptive to this training. Do you suggest a particular way to measure levels of interest?
A: In some companies there are just a few departments or managers interested in introducing spirituality at work; in others the CEO is encouraging the entire company in this direction. Mr. Pollack will help you to present news of the training in a way that ensures maximum receptivity on the part of all the participants. Oftentimes, some of the people who seem most uninterested are the ones who benefit the most.

Q: This kind of training used to be just for stressed workers, and not for the higher-ups who are believed to have more important things to attend to-does this still hold true?
A: Not anymore. Now it is even more important for the higher-ups to benefit from this kind of training because they set an example and the overall tone in the workplace. With the powerful "two" energies of the new millennium now in effect, simply training the workers will no longer be effective. It's a matter of all levels of management and employees cooperating together. When employees see managers and managers see employees learning the same principles, people feel more motivated to help each other walk the walk. The levels of mutual respect and understanding are greatly enhanced.

Q: Can we have all levels of management and employees sit in together on a training?
A: Yes, as long as the size of the group does not become so large that it loses the essential sense of unity and closeness required for maximum benefit. This may also depend on the room and training facilities available. Ideally a group would include 25 or less. If facilities are designed for larger groups, however, as many as 50 can be included in a training without any problem.

Q: Why are so many more companies trying to bring spirituality into the workplace nowadays when, for so long it was considered out of the question?
A: The short answer is that more people on all levels want to enjoy a sense of fulfillment from their work and career. A unifying spiritual philosophy-a company vision statement--helps tremendously toward this end. In addition, the new millennium's "two" energies are challenging us to become more harmonious, cooperative, creative and receptive to new ways to attract prosperity and abundance at work. Companies are turning inward in search of a "soul" as a way to foster creativity and motivate leaders. The spirituality movement in the corporation is an attempt to create a sense of tribe, of group meaning and purpose at work and a more caring connection between the company and its people. Of course, employee health and well-being are essential to true success, and crucial to minimizing health care costs.

Q: Is there any proof of results from the kind of training you provide?
A: Yes. Anecdotally, the evidence that it helps individuals and the company as a whole is undeniable. According to researchers from the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, yoga in conjunction with meditation can indeed relieve stress and improve work performance. The Stress Reduction Clinic is the oldest and largest hospital-based mind/body center of its kind in the United States. It has treated more than 10,000 patients since opening in 1979. (See March/April 1999 issue of Yoga Journal for more in-depth information.)

Q: How can we determine what would be the most appropriate program for us?
A: As mentioned earlier, that would depend on the size and nature of your company. For mid-size companies, the full-day program setup is more effective. For smaller companies, a Spiritual Tune-up is recommended for starters and to assess any further need. For larger companies, a two-day program setup would allow you to fit more groups of people into the training sessions. You may want to discuss this during an informational call.

Q: If our company's physical location is very far away from you, can you do a consultation by speakerphone rather than to have you travel to our workplace?
A: Yes, this can be arranged and handouts and other materials can be sent in advance. Clients often prefer an in-person consultation in the actual workplace for the more personal touch it provides. Yet a good deal of benefit can be had by using electronic communication modes.

Q: After a consultation with you, can our company expect a noticeable change or improvement in the "people culture" of our workplace, in the kind of attitudes and behaviors of our people? How long are the effects usually good for?
A: A consultation is comparable to planting seeds for an enhanced, positive people culture. If the seeds are watered and cared for on a regular basis, they will in fact grow. You will immediately begin to see some results in the work environment such as an increase in mutual respect, trust and support, teamwork, personal development, openness to continuous learning, and a caring environment. This is especially so if you use the audiotape on a regular basis according to instructions. The improvements will be even more noticeable in the long-term if you provide spiritually oriented yoga classes (as opposed to high-stress power yoga, etc.) at the workplace and encourage people to attend on an ongoing basis.

Q: How do we proceed to schedule a consultation with you?
A: You would fill out a form that provides the basic information Mr. Pollack needs to prepare for your consultation. You can request this form from Mr. Pollack, or Polaris Business Guides, at the same time you provide payment/credit card information.