Miscellaneous Ramblings « The Inspiration Nation

February 21, 2008

I just discovered Amrit Yoga

Filed under: Events, Gratitude, Miscellaneous Ramblings — tshombe @ 5:00 pm

Yoga Instructor James Dewar and me; Beaver Lake Lodge; Sammamish, WA; 2/17/2008My first yoga experience (I vaguely remember doing something akin to yoga years ago, but clearly it doesn’t hold a significant place in my mind) was awesome. So relaxing (Though definitely challenging. The stretches and poses were by no means easy.) and affirming.

I stumbled upon an advertisement for the Amrit Yoga Retreat, and though it was several miles away from where I live, I was drawn to it and to the facilitator, James Dewar. He was assisted by Brandy Ritts, who was the one who actually led us through the Amrit Yoga (the breathing, stretching, and posing).

The second portion of the program was led by James. It was called Yoga Nidra, sometimes referred to as psychic sleep or yoga sleep.

Though I did actually go in and out of sleep (oops!), the intent is deep, deep relaxation of mind and body while remaining alert.

The Yoga Nidra very much reminded me of the meditations I’ve experienced that Dr. Dov Baron leads at his personal development programs. I really found the two practices, the Amrit Yoga and the Yoga Nidra, very complementary to the work I’ve been doing with Dov in his programs over the past year.
My new yoga friends and me; Beaver Lake Lodge

I like the deliberate intention-making aspect of the yoga practices, and the focus on the breath and the body. It is so great its emphasis on remaining present in the moment, by regularly coming back to the breath and how you’re feeling in the body.

Isn’t that what life is about? Balance, being in the body, breath, and presence of mind?

Yoga reminds me of what it’s like being a life coach. Being present, conscious of mind and body, and deliberately creating life experience with clear intention is what we model and teach our clients.

I remember James instructing us just before ‘ohm-ing’ (that was pretty fun, too!) to make a specific intention for what we personally wanted to get out of the yogic experience. He clarified that what he meant not an end, as in what we wanted to gain as a result of the yoga at the end of the day. No, the intention was to be all about the experience. What we wanted to experience in the moment as we were executing the yoga practices.

I really had a good time. What a gift!

I know Bellingham has different types of yoga going on every week. I’m hoping they have a practitioner of Amrit Yoga and Amrit Method Yoga Nidra.

Comments (2)

February 6, 2008

To tip or not to tip?

Filed under: Miscellaneous Ramblings — tshombe @ 6:46 pm

I was reading Donald Trump’s article, To Tip or Not to Tip?, and before I give my comments, in the interests of full disclosure, I was in the food-and-beverage industry for much of my working life, several of those years as a server in different restaurants and as banquets/catering staff.

I find it surprising that the question is asked at all, or that some people refused to tip (or tip poorly) because "They get their wage," or as a matter of principle because the service was less than stellar.

I can’t imagine a customer refusing to pay for their meal because they didn’t like it (except in very rare instances) or deciding they are going to pay less for the meal because it wasn’t up to par. Why then would anyone not pay for service?

I say this, and I am one of the worse critics there is, when it comes to quality service. Yet, I consistently tip 20% regardless of service, and more than 20% if the service is exceptional.

I also know that many times, clients — particularly the less-than-observant or those unfamiliar with the service industry — live in a bubble and are unaware of the other factors beyond a waitperson’s control that affect the quality of service. So they punish the server.

Uncontrollable circumstances can be any number of things, including mistakes in the kitchen, an overworked "slammed" bar, other employees that didn’t show up for work, an unexpected large party, a needy customer that sucks up the server’s time or finds something wrong with everything, or the server is just having a bad day.

Does your employer withhold your paycheck or decide to reduce your pay because you were having a bad day?

Mr. Trump was writing in response to a Money Magazine article where the customer wanted to stiff a waitperson because they had bad service. The magazine said the customer was correct, since tipping is an option and not a requirement. What is more, the magazine said the customer should leave one dollar to indicate to the server that they had been stiffed.

Well, to the first point, I have to disagree. Tipping is not an option. If people have a challenge with tipping, they should order dinner to-go, or else go to a smorgasbord or buffet.

Furthermore, servers are dependent on their tips — not their wages — to make their living. I live in Washington State, which has the highest minimum wage in the country, currently at $8.07 per hour. Believe me, that wage doesn’t go very far and that’s the highest wage in the country! In the rest of the country, the minimum wage is much less.

And, to the second point, I think leaving a dollar (or the spare change in your pocket) is mean-spirited. It’s worse than leaving nothing at all. Rather than communicate to the server than you were frustrated with your experience, it insults them and makes the customer look cheap and unappreciative.

So "to tip or not to tip" is not the question. I think the discussion should be around how much to leave as a standard, and then optionally add to the standard if the server is stellar.

Or else, get up and serve your own food!