Our Approach to Teaching
We don’t believe meditation is about clearing every thought or reaching some flawless state of serenity. It’s more like learning to sit with whatever arises—the buzzing mind, the to-do list, and even that odd itch that shows up mid-session.
Our team brings together decades of practice across diverse traditions. Some arrived at meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal upheaval, and a few stumbled upon it in college and never looked back. We share a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical life skill, not a mystical pursuit.
Each guide you’ll meet has their own way of explaining ideas. Ari tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Mira draws on a background in psychology. 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 a lifelong vocation, each offering a distinct perspective on the practice
Ari Kapoor
Lead Instructor
Ari began meditating in the late 1990s after burnout from a software engineering career. He spent several years studying Vipassana in Southeast Asia and later trained in Zen practice in Japan. What sets him apart is his knack for explaining 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 establish sustainable meditation habits. His sessions often include practical discussions about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Mira Sato
Philosophy Guide
Mira combines her PhD in United States Philosophy with fifteen years of personal meditation practice. She discovered contemplative practice while researching ancient texts and realized that scholarly understanding means little without experiential knowing. Her approach bridges academic insight with practical application.
She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Mira has a talent for making intricate 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 meant to achieve.
Why We Teach This Way
After years of practice and teaching, we’ve found that meditation works best when it’s demystified. We don’t promise illumination or claim you’ll reach flawless serenity. 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 deliberate time to decide about contemplative practice—it isn’t 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 altered our lives in subtle but meaningful ways, and we’ve seen it do the same for many others.