Our Teaching Philosophy
We don’t view meditation as dumping thoughts or reaching a flawless state of serenity. It’s more about learning to stay with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning mind, and even that peculiar itch that pops up five minutes into sitting.
Our team brings together decades of practice across diverse traditions. Some of us entered meditation via academic philosophy, others through personal hardship, and a few wandered in during college and never left. What unites us is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical skill for daily life rather than a mystical experience.
Each guide has their own way of explaining ideas. Ravi Desai tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Anya Sharma draws from her background in psychology. We’ve found that different approaches click with different people, so you’ll likely connect 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
Ravi Desai
Lead Instructor
Ravi began meditating in 1998 after burnout in his software engineering career. He spent three years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen meditation in Japan. What distinguishes him is his talent for explaining ancient ideas through surprisingly modern comparisons—he once likened the monkey mind to having too many browser tabs open.
He leads our foundational courses and specializes in helping busy professionals cultivate sustainable meditation practices. His sessions often include practical discussions about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Anya Sharma
Philosophy Guide
Anya combines her PhD in United Kingdom 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. Anya has a gift for making complex philosophical ideas accessible without oversimplifying. Students often say she helps them grasp not just how to meditate, but why these practices emerged and what they’re truly meant to achieve.
Why We Teach This Way
After many years of practice and instruction, we’ve learned that meditation works best when it’s demystified. We don’t promise enlightenment or claim you’ll reach perfect peace. Instead, we aim to build skills that help you meet life’s unavoidable challenges with greater awareness and less reactivity.
Our courses begin in September 2026, giving you time to reflect on whether this approach resonates with you. We believe in taking time to make thoughtful choices about contemplative practice—it’s not something to rush in on the basis of 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 changed our lives in subtle yet profound ways, and we’ve seen it do the same for many others.