Monday, December 15, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-13 Ohio, showed the nation last night how the practice of mindfulness is related to health and education policy, pointing to initiatives he’s funded to treat veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and help Youngstown and Warren school children benefit from social and emotional learning.
The five-term Democrat was featured Sunday on the CBS program 60 Minutes as part of a segment on mindfulness reported by Anderson Cooper (WATCH VIDEO, READ TRANSCRIPT). Cooper's journey to the meditational practice began at the same place as Ryan’s -- a retreat conducted by Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Ryan details his personal transformation and how mindfulness provides practical public policy solutions in his book, “A Mindful Nation,” published in April 2012. His advocacy of mindfulness, first detailed by The Business Journal (READ STORY) and expanded upon with stories about its practice in Mahoning Valley schools (READ STORY), has been featured before by national news organizations but never by a broadcast network program with the huge ratings enjoyed by 60 Minutes.
Ryan secured a $3.6 million grant in September from the National Institutes of Health to fund a study by researcher at Kent State University and the University of Pennsyvanis that looks at home mindfulness can reduce high blood pressure (READ STORY).
In addition to showing Ryan at a retreat conducted by Kabat-Zinn, the 60 Minutes segment showed his “Quiet Caucus” on Capitol Hill, a weekly event where legislators and their staff members gather for meditation.
"I applaud Anderson Cooper and 60 Minutes for bringing attention to the important work being done in this field. It can transform our country into a calmer and kinder place for our children and all of our citizens," Ryan said.
Here is the text of Ryan’s statement in response to the 60 Minutes program:
“I was honored to be featured on 60 Minutes this week and have the opportunity to share how the practice of mindfulness has helped me personally and professionally. I am grateful that this segment highlights the work I am doing in Congress. These types of practices are helping veterans heal from the unbearable traumas of war, Marines increase their resiliency, and students increasing their focus and improving their behavior through more mental discipline and less stress," said Congressman Ryan. “There has been nothing more rewarding than seeing Veterans who were taking 10 or 12 prescription drugs and not sleeping through the night start a meditation practice. Many of them dramatically reduce their medication to one or two pills and start sleeping through the night. With 22 Veterans taking their own life each day in America, I am passionate about getting more of them access to these types of techniques.
"Scientific research of mindfulness meditation has shown that after just eight weeks of practice it can reduce stress, depression and anxiety, while increasing awareness and focus. These benefits are why it has been used by professional sports teams like the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and the multiple NBA champions Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls. These types of Integrative Health/Mind Body techniques are successfully being used in world renowned institutions like the Cleveland Clinic, The Ohio State University and Yale University. We also see these practices being taught in many Fortune 500 companies around the country from Silicon Valley to Wall Street. I am convinced that we can shift the current state of our country if we start developing the fundamentals necessary for success: mental discipline, resiliency, grit and high levels of awareness of ourselves and others. Mindfulness practice cultivates all of these qualities. I applaud Anderson Cooper and 60 Minutes for bringing attention to the important work being done in this field. It can transform our country into a calmer and kinder place for our children and all of our citizens."
Pictured: Tim Ryan works with students at Williamson Elementary School in Youngstown.
Copyright 2014 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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