Bank Of England Runs Meditation Classes For Staff Mindfulness

BoE Staff Taught To Meditate In Special Classes
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Bank of England Governor Mark Carney during the bank's quarterly inflation report news conference at the Bank of England in London.
Toby Melville/PA Wire

Mark Carney would be forgiven for feeling a bit stressed at the Bank of England, as he took over with the weight of huge expectations as the man to keep Britain's economic recovery on track.

The Bank has clearly recognised the importance of its staff's wellbeing as meditation classes have been held to help staff manage their hectic working lives and get a better sense of mindfulness.

After a Freedom of Information Request by the Huffington Post UK, the Bank revealed that it had run two meditation "taster" sessions for staff over the last year - on 28 November and 12 December 2012 as part of a series of "Working Lives" seminars.

Thirty staff attended the first session and 36 people went to the second with both sessions costing £880 to put on.

The Bank also offered a self-funded six-week meditation course, which ran from 30 January 2013 and cost £90 per person. Twenty-three staff attended this course, which was run by an outside company.

Of course, Carney's stress levels may have relaxed as the economy shows signs of recovery, telling reporters last week: "For the first time in a long time, you don't have to be an optimist to see the glass as half full. The recovery has finally taken hold."

It's not just central bankers who need their mindfulness. Here are seven professional athletes (and one college basketball team) who meditate to improve their game.