Our Teaching Philosophy
We believe meditation isn’t about clearing your mind or attaining a flawless state of zen. It’s more like learning to sit with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning mind, and even that peculiar itch that appears five minutes into practice.
Our team brings together decades of practice across diverse traditions. Some of us arrived at meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal crisis, and a few simply stumbled into 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 has their own way of presenting concepts. Alex tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Priya draws from her background in psychology. We’ve found that different approaches resonate with different people, so you’re likely to connect more with certain teaching styles.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who’ve made meditation a life's work, each bringing a unique perspective to the practice
Alex Carter
Lead Instructor
Alex Carter began meditating in 1998 after burnout from his software engineering career. He spent three years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen meditation in Japan. What distinguishes him is the 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.
Priya Sharma
Philosophy Guide
Priya Sharma combines her PhD in United Kingdom Philosophy with fifteen years of personal meditation practice. She discovered contemplative work while researching ancient texts and realized that academic understanding means little without experiential insight. Her approach bridges scholarly inquiry with practical application.
She leads our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Priya has a talent for making complex philosophical ideas accessible without oversimplifying them. Students often say she helps them understand not just how to meditate, but why these practices developed and what they’re really 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 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 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 subtly but profoundly changed our lives, and we’ve seen it do the same for many others.