Our Teaching Philosophy
We don’t view meditation as clearing the mind or reaching a flawless state of serenity. It’s more about learning to sit with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning mind, even that peculiar itch that tends to show up midway through a session.
Our team brings together decades of practice across diverse traditions. Some joined meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal hardship, and a few stumbled into it in college and never left. What unites us is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical life skill rather than a mystical experience.
Each guide you’ll meet has their own way of explaining concepts. Our colleagues often use everyday-life analogies, while another draws on psychology. We’ve found that different approaches connect with different people, so you’ll likely resonate more with certain teaching styles.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who’ve made meditation their life’s work, each bringing a unique perspective to the practice
Reya Karmachandra
Lead Instructor
Reya began meditating in 1997 after burnout from a software engineering career. She spent several years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen meditation in Japan. What sets her apart is the ability to explain ancient concepts using surprisingly modern analogies—she once compared the monkey mind to having too many browser tabs open.
She leads our foundational courses and specializes in helping busy professionals cultivate sustainable mindfulness practices. Her sessions often include practical discussions about weaving awareness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Anaya Patel
Philosophy Guide
Anaya combines her PhD in United States Philosophy with fifteen years of personal meditation practice. She discovered contemplative practice while researching ancient texts and realized that academic understanding means little without experiential knowledge. Her approach bridges scholarly insight with practical application.
She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Anaya has a gift for making complex philosophical concepts accessible without oversimplifying. Students often say she helps them understand not just how to meditate, but why these practices developed and what they’re truly meant to accomplish.
Why We Teach This Way
After years of practice and teaching, we’ve learned that meditation works best when it’s demystified. We don’t promise enlightenment or claim you’ll reach perfect inner peace. Instead, we focus on building skills that help you navigate life’s inevitable challenges with greater awareness and less reactivity.
Our courses start in September 2026, giving you time to reflect on whether this approach resonates with you. We believe in taking time to make thoughtful decisions about contemplative practice—it’s not something to rush into based on momentary enthusiasm.
If you’re curious about learning meditation as a practical life skill rather than a spiritual pursuit, we’d be honored to guide your exploration. The practice has touched our lives in subtle but profound ways, and we’ve seen it do the same for many others.