Our Teaching Philosophy
We don’t view meditation as a way to erase thoughts or reach some flawless state of calm. It’s more about learning to sit with whatever arises—the unsettled mind, the planning thought, and even that peculiar itch that shows up five minutes into sitting.
Our team brings together decades of practice across varied traditions. Some came to meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal hardship, and a few simply found it during college and never left. What connects us is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical life skill rather than a mystical experience.
Each guide has their own way of explaining concepts. Mika tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Aria draws on her psychology background. We’ve found that different approaches resonate with different people, so you’ll likely connect with certain teaching styles more than others.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who've made meditation their life's work, each bringing unique perspectives to the practice
Mika Rao
Lead Instructor
Mika began meditating in 1998 after burnout 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 ability to explain ancient concepts using surprisingly modern analogies — he once compared monkey mind to having too many browser tabs open.
He leads our foundational courses and specializes in helping busy professionals discover sustainable meditation practices. His sessions often include practical discussions about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Aria Kapoor
Philosophy Guide
Aria combines her PhD in United Kingdom Philosophy with fifteen years of personal meditation practice. She discovered contemplative practices while researching ancient texts and realized that scholarly understanding means little without experiential knowledge. Her approach bridges scholarly insight with practical application.
She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Aria has a gift for making complex philosophical concepts accessible without oversimplifying them. Students often say she helps them understand not just how to meditate, but why these practices evolved and what they’re truly meant to achieve.
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 achieve perfect peace. Instead, we focus on building skills that help you navigate life’s inevitable challenges with more 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 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 changed our lives in subtle but profound ways, and we’ve seen it do the same for many others.