Our Teaching Philosophy
We view meditation not as clearing the mind or reaching some flawless state of calm. It’s more like learning to sit with whatever arises—our restless thoughts, the planning mind, even that peculiar itch that shows up five minutes into sitting.
Our team blends decades of practice across diverse traditions. Some of us entered meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal upheaval, 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 encounter has their own way of explaining ideas. Kai Rao tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Mira Kapoor draws from her psychology background. 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 their life's work, each bringing a distinct perspective to the practice
Kai Rao
Lead Instructor
Kai began practicing meditation 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 sets him apart is his knack for explaining ancient concepts through surprisingly modern analogies—he once likened monkey mind to having too many browser tabs open.
He leads our foundational courses and specializes in helping busy professionals cultivate sustainable mindfulness practices. His sessions often include practical discussions on weaving mindfulness into work life and managing 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 work while researching ancient texts and realized that academic understanding means little without experiential knowledge. Her approach bridges scholarly insight with practical application.
She leads our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Mira has a gift for making complex philosophical ideas accessible without oversimplifying them. Students often say she helps them grasp not just how to meditate, but why these practices arose and what they truly aim 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 reach 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 2025, 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.