Meet the Teachers

Aimee Eckhardt

Voraciously curious about the shared human experience across cultures and circumstances, I have spent much of my personal life exploring themes of belonging and connectedness, resilience amidst adversity, and the power to self-determine. My mindfulness practice has illuminated my way, and it was the rigors of parenthood (and wise counsel by caring mentors) that ultimately prompted me to add a dedicated self-compassion practice into the mix.

After my first MSC course ended, I recognized that I was at the beginning of a longer journey. Hearing the same need for continued practice echoed among many MSC colleagues and peers, I conceived the Community for Deepening Practice (CDP). In partnership with Bal de Buitlear and with the support and guidance of the CMSC senior training team, I offered the pilot program in 2016.

In addition to my involvement in the mindfulness community via my independent web development work (I built and administer the CDP website, among others.), I am also on the 2017 Program Committee for Bridging the Hearts and Minds of Youth conference as well as the creator of the Mindful Kids Kansas City Facebook page.

In service of the CDP’s Creative Invitations, I bring a lifelong love of art-making and writing; beyond that, I have a deeply earned respect for the process of creative expression. I experience it as a powerful way to bypass the noise in the mind and come into direct communion with the heart, and I hope to offer the same opportunity to participants of the CDP through the invitations. To my teaching, I bring a spirit of curiosity, playfulness, and a deeply earned respect for the power of self-compassion.