WEEKLY MEDITATION
SIMC warmly welcomes everyone. These weekly meditations (or sits) are inclusive and open to all levels of practitioners - whether it's your first time meditating or a practice you've been exploring for decades. Each session includes 30-35 minutes of silent meditation, creating space for stillness, reflection, and connection. Each meditation session is led by different volunteers with their own unique tone and approach. There are a variety of seating options available, including cushions (bolsters and zafus), blankets, and chairs.
Sundays: 5:00pm – 6:00pm
This meditation often includes chanting of the refuges, a 35-minute silent meditation, a thoughtful reading or poem, and possibly discussion after. On the first Sunday of the month, we offer a Sunday Tea after the sit where some stay to enjoy tea and cookies, which adds a nice element of community.
Tuesdays: 12:00pm – 12:45pm
This meditation often includes a simple and relevant teaching, a thoughtful reading or poem, a 30-minute meditation (sometimes lightly guided), and possibly a short metta practice after meditation. This sit is usually available via Zoom. Click here for the Zoom Link. Please note that the Zoom option may not be available when Denise is not leading the sit.
Thursdays: 12:00pm - 12:30pm
This meditation is a straightforward format, where a volunteer rings the bell for a 30-minute meditation.
Our Friday morning meditations are on pause for the summer.
We will evaluate attendance and talk to the sit leaders to see if this is something they wish to continue.
This is a quiet, silent meditation period. You are welcome to quietly drop in at any point during the hour or sit for the full session.
Throughout the year, we may offer additional meditations for special events. Please check our calendar or newsletter for these. All meditations are offered in-person at the sangha house, located at 248 D Street in Salida, Colorado. Please enter through the back door by the prayer wheels.
The door on D Street has an Access Ramp if needed. Please knock and someone will open the door.
If you're new to meditation, please feel free to read our simple guide by clicking the link below.
MEDITATION RETREATS
WHEN IS THE NEXT RETREAT?
The Salida Insight Meditation Community strives to offer multiple retreats each year, thanks to the generous dana from our sangha community.
We typically offer non-residential retreats, each led by recognized Buddhist teachers. We are looking into possible residential retreats in the future.
Retreats with Brian Lesage are generally held in the spring and in the fall. Denise Ackert often offers a few half-day and daylong retreats throughout the year.
These retreats tend to fill up fast, so we recommend subscribing to our newsletter or checking back here for updates on upcoming retreats.
Embodying Simplicity
A weekend non-residential retreat with Brian Lesage
Saturday September 12th 9:00am - 4:00pm
Sunday September 13th 9:00am - 3:30pm
The Buddha’s teachings on simplicity offer an essential foundation for living a life of contentment and freedom. During this retreat, we will gather to explore the many facets of simplicity through continuous mindfulness in silence, both in sitting and walking meditation. Meditation instruction and opportunities to ask questions about the practice will be offered throughout the retreat. Both beginners and experienced practitioners are warmly welcome.
See Brian's Bio here.
Retreats with Denise
Day-Long Silent Nature Retreat: Letting Go
Saturday, August 8th, 2026
9am-3:30pm
Salida Location (you will the receive the location once registered)
Touching the Earth
Denise Ackert, Liz Powell & Kate Siber
August 10-16, 2026
Rocky Mountain Eco-Dharma Center
Teton Sangha Retreat
Denise Ackert and Adam Stonebreaker
Swan Valley, Idaho
Sept 26-Oct 2, 2026
Half-day Retreat - The Art of Cooling Out
Saturday, October 10th
SIMC House at 248 D ST
9:00am to 1:00pm
CLASSES
Informational Meeting:
Connecting to Freedom - a year-long course
Tuesday, September 1st, 5:00-6:00pm via zoom
Denise is considering offering the Year-Long Connecting to Freedom Course in 2027. The course would run approximately from January through December 2027. Meeting dates and times will be determined based on the needs of the group and will take place twice each month.
“The critical element in meditation practice is beginning again. Everyone loses focus at times, everyone loses interest at times, and everyone gets distracted over and over again. What is essential, and also incredibly transforming, is realizing that we have the ability to begin again, without blaming or judging ourselves, without thinking we have failed, without losing heart, we can, and need to, constantly be beginning again.”
–Sharon Salzberg