Shutdown doesn’t get in the way of Rep. Ryan’s meditation sessions

Ryan added of the meditation meet-ups, “These bipartisan sessions get Democrats and Republicans in the same room and offer staffers the same opportunity that major corporations, the military, schools, veterans, hospitals, and winning professional sports teams offer their own organizations to make better decisions, reduce stress, and increase performance … why would we not want to use every method available to improve the success and productivity of the United States government at a time like this?”

We hear the congressional meditation sessions have consistently been attracting about 25 to 30 people a week, but the congressman’s office is expecting to see a decline in attendance because of the large number of staffers who’ve been furloughed. Like the mediation sessions, other congressional briefings are also still taking place despite the shutdown.

A Ryan spokesman notes that the sessions were organized before the shutdown and no congressional funds are being used to run them, with the rooms used for them available free of charge and guest hosts volunteering their time.