Our Teaching Philosophy
We believe meditation isn’t about emptying your mind or attaining some flawless state of serenity. It’s more like learning to sit with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning mind, even that peculiar itch that shows up five minutes into sitting.
Our team combines decades of practice across diverse traditions. Some arrived at meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal crises, and a few stumbled upon it during college and never left. What unites us is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical skill for everyday life, not a mystical experience.
Each guide you’ll meet has their own way of explaining concepts. Ravi Desai tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Anaya Sharma draws from her background in psychology. We’ve found that different approaches resonate with different people, so you’ll likely feel a stronger connection to particular teaching styles.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who have made meditation their life’s work, each bringing a unique perspective to the practice
Ravi Desai
Lead Instructor
Ravi Desai began his meditation journey in the early 2000s after burnout from his software engineering career. He spent several years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen meditation in Japan. What distinguishes him is the ability to explain ancient concepts with surprisingly contemporary 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 practices. His sessions often include practical discussions about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Anaya Sharma
Philosophy Guide
Anaya Sharma combines her PhD in Germany 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. Anaya 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 developed and what they’re really intended 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 achieve 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 changed our lives in subtle but profound ways, and we’ve seen it do the same for many others.