Our Teaching Philosophy
We see meditation not as clearing your mind or reaching an unattainable state of calm. Instead, it’s about learning to sit with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning mind, and even that odd itch that shows up a few minutes into sitting.
Our team brings together decades of practice from diverse traditions. Some joined meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal challenges, and a few discovered it during 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. Alex Carter tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Mira Kapoor draws from her background in psychology. We’ve found that different approaches resonate with different people, so you’ll likely connect more with certain teaching styles.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who’ve made meditation their lifelong work, each offering a unique perspective on the practice
Alex Carter
Lead Instructor
Alex began meditating in 1998 after burning out from a software engineering career. He spent three years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen meditation in Japan. What sets him apart is his knack for explaining ancient concepts with surprisingly modern analogies—he once compared the monkey mind to having too many browser tabs open.
He leads our foundational courses and specializes in helping busy professionals cultivate sustainable meditation habits. His sessions often include practical conversations about weaving mindfulness into work life and handling stress without spiritual bypassing.
Mira Kapoor
Philosophy Guide
Mira 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. Mira has a gift for making complex philosophical ideas 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 attain perfect peace. Instead, we focus on building skills that help you navigate life’s inevitable challenges with greater awareness and less reactivity.
Our courses begin in September 2025, giving you time to reflect on whether this approach resonates with you. We value taking time to thoughtfully decide about contemplative practice—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 subtly but profoundly changed our lives, and we’ve seen it do the same for many others.