“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”
Meister Eckhart
Meditations on Expanding Gratitude for Ourselves and Others
Gratitude for the Body and Doshas - Week 1 Fall 2021
Gratitude for Nature and Its Calming Effect to Our Mind - Week 2 Fall 2021
Gratitude for Nature and Its Calming Effect to Our Mind - Week 2 Fall 2021
Meditation for November 5, 2021
Week One Centering Thought: Vata, Pitta and Kapha support my well-being every day through movement, transformation, structure and cohesion. I am thankful.
Week One Sanskrit Mantra: Om Dhanyavad Namah (humble salutation) - means
I am thankful for all the universe offers.
Week One Intention: May you reflect for 5 minutes each day and express gratitude for three specific actions, sensations or processes of your bodymind, your sacred vessel for health and happiness.
Week One Closing Quote:
“You yourself, as much as anybody else in this entire Universe, deserve your love and affection” -- Buddha
Gratitude for Nature and Its Calming Effect to Our Mind - Week 2 Fall 2021
Gratitude for Nature and Its Calming Effect to Our Mind - Week 2 Fall 2021
Gratitude for Nature and Its Calming Effect to Our Mind - Week 2 Fall 2021
Meditation for November 12, 2021
Week Two Centering Thought: In nature, I am calm and grounded. I am thankful.
Week Two Sanskrit Mantra: So Hum translates as "I am (that)." "I am one with the Universe and all of its creation.” This mantra reinforces the connection with our Source where we are protected, safe and unconditionally supported.
Week Two Intention: May you spend 15 minutes each day in nature expressing gratitude for nature’s influence on your well-being, appreciating nature’s ability to calm, ground and support.
Week Two Closing Quote: “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” -- Meister Eckhart
Gratitude for Peace through Acceptance and Presence - WEek 3 Fall 2021
Gratitude for Peace through Acceptance and Presence - WEek 3 Fall 2021
Gratitude for Peace through Acceptance and Presence - WEek 3 Fall 2021
Meditation for November 19, 2021
Week Three Centering Thought: Thanksgiving lasts all year when we live in the NOW.
Week Three Sanskrit Mantra: Samprati Hum
reminds us that our true self is ever-present awareness. Simply being awake in the Now is the natural state of gratitude. This presence of grace is your essential nature.
Week Three Intention: May you be accepting to what is and grateful for all the relationships you share by being in the moment and surrendering to what is NOW.
Week Three Closing Quote: “Surrender is surrender to this moment, not to a story through which you interpret this moment and then try to resign yourself to it.” -- Eckhart Tolle
Gratitude for our Creative spirit - week 4 Fall 2021
Gratitude for Peace through Acceptance and Presence - WEek 3 Fall 2021
Gratitude for Peace through Acceptance and Presence - WEek 3 Fall 2021
Meditation for November 26, 2021
Week Four Centering Thought: I celebrate all creative expression with gratitude.
Week Four Sanskrit Mantra: Om Kleem Shreem
As learned through the gratitude teachings of Deepak Chopra, this Sanskrit mantra affirms that you deserve the fulfillment of all your deepest desires. Shreem is the mantra associated with nature’s beauty, love, and abundance. Kleem is the sound that attracts those qualities to you. This mantra cultivates a feeling of appreciation and gratitude for the abundance in life.
Week Four Intention: May you practice saying “thank you” in the language of Non-violent Communication. Make expressing your appreciation a celebration and include descriptive words about what was done by another, what you felt, and what need of yours was met.
Week Four Closing Quote: "You can't use up creativity. The more you use the more you have." -- Maya Angelou
Meditations on Expanding Love
Expanding Love First for Self - February 11, 2022
Expanding Love First for Self - February 11, 2022
Expanding Love First for Self - February 11, 2022
Meditation for February 11, 2022
Expanding Love: First for Self
Centering Thought: My true nature is unlimited love and joy.
Sanskrit Mantra: Aham Prema [Ah-hum Pray-mah]
This Sanskrit mantra translates as “I am love”. Through its silent repetition, the heart opens, heals and awakens with unconditional love and acceptance towards oneself and others.
Intention: May you spend time each day in stillness remembering your true essence radiates unlimited love for yourself and others.
Closing Quote:
"You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserves your love and affection.” -- Buddah
Expanding Love for Community- February 25, 2022
Expanding Love First for Self - February 11, 2022
Expanding Love First for Self - February 11, 2022
Meditation for February 25, 2022
Expanding Love: then for Community
Centering Thought: Through expanded awareness, I feel a divine connection to every living thing.
Sanskrit Mantra: Vasu Deva Kutum Bakam
This Sanskrit mantra translates as “The whole world is my family. From expanded awareness, I feel my connection to everyone.”
Intention: With a sense of adventure, may you fearlessly explore opportunities to connect with others in a community that allows joy and fulfillment to grow among each of its members.
Closing Quote: “There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about." -- Margaret J. Wheatley
Meditate with me in Nature
Our hiking society embraced the weather wearing the right clothing to appreciate the meditative qualities of water. When you need a few moments in nature to find your center but cannot get away, watch, listen and calm with this short video. All images taken by JoEtta Heck on May 11, 2023. After watching the video, click on the end image to learn more about how to CALM with our program.
The Sounds of Nature for Meditation
Frisky Frolicking Frogs in May
Expanding your personal awareness includes noticing with all your senses what surrounds you in nature. This video was recorded along the Poudre River Trail on May 1, 2023 of frolicking frogs living along the water's edge. As you listen for about one minute, notice when your mind drifts away from the sound, then return your attention to listening to the sound. This listening, noticing when you drift and listening again is a practice of mindfulness and a form of meditation.
Discover Your CALM Supporting Literature
Discover your CALM WITH breath and meditation
In this four-week program, we discuss and practice the benefits of breathwork and meditation. You will be taught how to integrate the principles of breathwork and meditation into a daily practice, experiment with the basic types of meditation to find a form that works for you and explore six breathing techniques that will help you in daily life.
Some supporting literature for these mindful practices as a calming intervention are listed in the PDF file below.
This program is available through AIMS Community College - Continuing Education.
DIET for Balanced Health
This website uses cookies.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.