What Is Palouse Mindfulness?

Overwhelming thoughts can make it seem like the world is against you, which might lead to feeling frazzled, stressed out, or depressed. Practicing mindfulness may keep you centered without feeling you are spiraling out of control. 

While mindfulness is a commonly cited topic in popular psychology, it can be beneficial to note that mindfulness is commonly used as an umbrella term to encompass several practices and techniques. Each type of mindfulness may benefit you in different ways. Palouse Mindfulness is one of these mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) techniques. Palouse mindfulness aims to make mindfulness more readily available, regardless of financial or logistical constraints. However, it can be beneficial to investigate this course more in-depth before deciding on your path.

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a state of being in the present and practicing sensory awareness. In mindfulness practice, you can learn to accept and let your thoughts pass without judgment, without focusing on the future or the past. In addition, your senses are focused on your environment. 

For example, when walking outside in the park, you may hear leaves rustling and see the dark green of the grass. You might be aware of the breeze on your skin, the sun on your face, or the colors of the foliage around you. This purposeful awareness is one strategy to move out unwanted thoughts. 

Mindfulness is more than a popular trend. It can have significant health benefits if you practice regularly. In 2012, a study found that 8% of US adults used meditation to focus their attention. Another study found that mindfulness was associated with a significant reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression. 

What is Palouse mindfulness?

Palouse Mindfulness is a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course. Palouse is the name of the northwest region of the US. For those familiar with this term, Idaho or Washington may come to mind when hearing or thinking of Palouse.

Palouse is often known for its rolling hills, described as gentle. The hills can change and adjust to the world around them with the seasons. The nature of the Palouse area has given birth to the name Palouse Mindfulness. Palouse Mindfulness is a free course for those learning about mindfulness. 

How long is the Palouse course? 

The Palouse course is about eight weeks long and can be taken by anyone at any stage of mindfulness. You don't need to be a mindfulness master to understand the courses. The course provides you with new information and guides for practicing mindfulness at home every week. 

Do you need to be religious to practice mindfulness? 

Westernized mindfulness can be secular. You can be Christian, Jewish, Pagan, or any other religion and reap the benefits of mindfulness. Instead of a religious belief, mindfulness is focused on thoughts, sensations, and connection with yourself.

How is yoga connected to mindfulness in the Palouse course? 

Yoga is commonly mentioned in the Palouse course. There are different "assignments" you can work on throughout. These include body scanning, meditation, controlled breathing, and yoga. Yoga and mindfulness may involve subtle introspections into the inside of your body. Many yoga asana stances require you to be aware of your body and the sensations you feel as you're moving.

Is Palouse mindfulness easy to learn? 

Mindfulness is a lifestyle instead of a quick fix to your challenges. You can use mindfulness daily and continue it throughout your life. As mindfulness is a term to describe any form of mindful thinking and behavior, you can also practice mindfulness in daily life. For example, you can focus on the tastes of your food or spend extra time on a morning walk to appreciate your surroundings. 

The benefits of mindfulness

You might keep a few benefits of mindfulness in mind as you develop a mindfulness practice unique to you, including the following. 

Increased empathy 

When you're mindful, you're focused on the world around you. You may feel better equipped to help people in the present instead of worrying about judgments. When you care for your body and mind, you might feel better prepared to care for the bodies and minds of others. 

Enhanced sensory awareness 

Regular mindfulness may help you feel more aware of the sights, feelings, smells, and other surrounding senses. You can practice sensory awareness by taking a moment each day to focus on areas of your environment or how your body feels when you sit or lie down. 

Focus on the present 

Reduced stress, anxiety, and depression

While it's not a replacement for therapy or other mental health treatments, being mindful can impact how you feel about the world and may reduce symptoms of mental illness. You can also practice mindfulness in therapy by meeting with a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) provider.  

Choice in reactions 

Reactions seem to be a conscious choice, but some people react without thinking. Mindfulness allows you to react in the present without letting past or future ideas cause you to make judgments. If you're unsure about a situation, you can use mindfulness to reflect on your experience before reacting. 

Happiness

Many people believe happiness is an achievable state that lasts forever. For example, someone might believe that if they win the lottery, they will never feel unhappy again. However, happiness is a temporary emotion. Mindfulness allows people to focus on the emotions they're feeling when the emotions arise instead of hoping for a different outcome in the future. 

Other ways to integrate mindfulness into your daily life

Practicing Palouse mindfulness is not the only way to practice mindfulness. Below are several other daily practices that might allow you to integrate mindfulness into your daily routine. 

Journaling 

You can benefit physically and emotionally by writing in a journal. This practice may help you express yourself on paper, which can cause emotional relief. It can also release painful thoughts that might arise during meditation, so you can focus more on your breathing and well-being when you close the journal. 

Set daily goals

Setting daily goals can help you break down more significant long-term goals. Daily goals might involve brushing your teeth, showering, taking out the trash, or telling someone you care about them. Create a schedule that makes sense for you, and try not to judge your list of priorities. 

Exercise

Exercise releases endorphins that can improve mental health while also helping you stay physically healthy. Focusing on how you feel while exercising can help you stay in the present and let go of other distractions.

Disconnect

Intentionally disconnecting from your smart device, TV, or unhealthy news outlets may help you enjoy the present moment and interact with your environment and those around you without interruption. Stress is often linked to social media, so reducing your time on social media each day may improve your well-being. 

Talk to a professional 

Palouse Mindfulness and other forms of mindfulness may offer relief to specific mental health symptoms. While it is possible to practice mindfulness independently, getting help from a therapist can help you reap the full benefits of mindfulness, particularly if you're new to the practice or don't know how to use it in a way that benefits you. 

If you're looking for ways to be more mindful, you might also live a busy life. Daily life can make scheduling (and keeping) an appointment with a therapist challenging. Online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp can be a more convenient alternative. Through online therapy, you can pick an appointment outside of standard business hours and attend your session from home. 

Online mindfulness therapy has been proven as effective as in-person therapy. A study by the University of New South Wales found that online, mindfulness-based therapy resulted in symptom reduction in all participants, whether experiencing anxiety, depression, physical pain, OCD, social phobia, or another mental illness. Furthermore, three months post-treatment, 78.6% of participants no longer met the criteria to be diagnosed with their original condition. 

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