Tag: private national parks

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How to Stay Centered in an Off-Kilter World? Observe.

It may not help you levitate, but the number of people meditating these days is soaring. According to the Washington Post, apps like Headspace saw a huge spike in usage during the first half of the year. On the very likely chance that trend will continue, we thought we’d learn more about meditation from Paws Up’s resident expert on the subject, Spa and Wellness Director Laura Russell-Nygard.

As she tells us, “The human mind is undeniably a powerful tool. Not only can it control our internal world but also our external world. And so, the purpose of meditation is simple:  to carefully observe one’s mind.” The benefits are almost a side effect.

Meditation brings about lots of benefits, in fact, such as the ability to lower stress levels, better feelings of connection with yourself and loved ones, improve focus and reduce brain chatter (all those voices in our head need a break, too). It can also help us achieve a better understanding of pain, which can be both mental and physical.

One of the most helpful benefits of meditation in times like ours is an improved ability to acknowledge and deal with anxiety. “And that’s something you’ll find in all areas of your life, whether it’s worrying about what to make for dinner or the current state of the world. We all deal with anxiety in different ways and on different levels,”  explains Russell-Nygard.

Meditation helps reduce anxiety by allowing you to slow down and view the world (and yourself) without judgment, which makes it possible to reduce worrying thoughts and bring about a feeling of balance, calm and focus. “All it takes is a five- or 30-minute practice. The whole idea is to give yourself time to quiet your mind while you focus on getting into a space where you can greet the day with a more positive and open-minded outlook,” she says. And you can do it anywhere and also any time. Anyone, at any age or stage in life, can do it.

Whether you’re sitting in a comfortable chair at home or finding a place out among the 37,000 acres here at Paws Up, there’s no better time than the present to begin. All that matters is that you’ve found a space where you can focus your mind and bring your attention to your daily purpose.

Through mindfulness, your meditation practice can develop into a deeper experience, purposely bringing your attention to an experience occurring in the present moment.

Get started by downloading one of the many apps available online, by playing a guided meditation video or simply by following a few steps on your own:

  1. Find a comfortable place to sit.
  2. Close your eyes.
  3. Try to make no effort to control your breath, just breathe naturally.
  4. Focus your attention on the breath and on how the body moves with each inhalation and exhalation. Notice the movement of your body as your breathe. Observe your chest and shoulders, rib cage and belly. Focus your attention on your breath without controlling its pace or intensity. If your mind wanders, return your focus back to your breath.

Forest bathing, a type of meditation, and yoga meditation are two ways to begin your practice—or take it to the next level—while you’re at Paws Up.

Learn more about all our spa and wellness services at pawsup.com/spa.

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10 Reasons Paws Up Feels Like Your Own Private National Park

With 37,000 acres of pristine and undeveloped land, 100 miles of trails and 10 miles of the Blackfoot River, Paws Up may not be a national park, but it sure feels like one. Our Montana landscape is big enough for everyone to rush outside to enjoy it. In fact, you may even see more bison than bipeds. You’ll find ample opportunities to soak in the sun and drink in the fresh air. Here are 10 reasons why Paws Up feels like your own national park.

1. Knee-buckling views

From Yellowstone to Glacier and beyond, national parks share one thing in common: iconic and expansive landscapes that are simply unforgettable. The 37,000 acres at Paws Up qualify, big-time.   

2. Wildlife in abundant supply

Whether it’s hundreds of wild elk, herds of deer, a grizzly bear chewing on huckleberries or an eagle feasting on a creek-side snack, Paws Up teems with the hustle and bustle of local wildlife. 

 

3. Watery wonderlands

Few rivers are as revered, as canoe-friendly, as scenic and as full of trout as the Blackfoot River, which cuts through mile after mile of Paws Up. The Island Lodge at Salmon Lake and the Lake House at Seeley Lake further expand water recreation possibilities.  

 

4. Trees for all seasons

Coniferous trees dominate much of the landscape, with Douglas firs towering 80 feet skyward and shading alongside Ponderosa pines and western larch, whose needles actually take on a golden hue each fall.  

 

5. Trails that transcend the ordinary

After spending time on trails through nature’s living room, it’s hard not to be inspired in one way or another. Whether striking out on foot or on horseback, communing with the wilderness begins right off of your back deck.   

 

6. Accommodations rising to the spectacular

After the last s’more has come off the campfire, friends and families can return to accommodations that are every bit as distinctive as the best of the national park lodges and quite a bit more luxurious.   

7. A historical perspective

National parks typically have a story to tell. At Paws Up, at first blush it’s about cattle—the rich history of cowboys and ranching is everywhere. But it’s also easy to imagine yourself following in the footsteps or paddle strokes of Meriwether Lewis as he explored this region in 1806.  

 

8. Knowledgeable folks serving your needs

From camping butlers who provide insight into local flora, fauna and the Blackfoot River to a Wilderness Workshop leader demonstrating primitive skills unchanged for hundreds of years, you’ll sense an ongoing reverence for the land.   

9. Long lines of cars. Well, maybe not.

Okay, so Paws Up isn’t totally like a national park. Because here, the only cars you’re likely to encounter are the Lexus luxury SUVs that guests get to use during their stay. This is a place of natural beauty you won’t be sharing with more than about a few hundred other guests. Ever.  

10. Easy access to Montana’s wilderness

Creating your very own national park experience doesn’t take an act of Congress—just a call to The Resort at Paws Up Reservations at 877-580-6343.