Our Teaching Philosophy
We don’t see meditation as clearing the mind or reaching a flawless state of serenity. It’s more like learning to sit with whatever arises—including restless thoughts, a thinking mind, and even that peculiar itch that shows up shortly after you begin.
Our team combines decades of practice across diverse traditions. Some of us encountered meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal adversity, and a few simply found 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 has their own way of conveying ideas. Ravi often uses everyday analogies, while Ananya draws from psychology. We’ve found that different approaches click 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 lifelong work, each bringing a distinct viewpoint to the practice
Ravi Krishnamurthy
Lead Instructor
Ravi began meditating in 1998 after burnout in software engineering. He spent three years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen practice in Japan. What makes him stand out is his knack for clarifying ancient concepts with surprisingly modern analogies—he once likened the monkey mind to having too many browser tabs open.
He leads our foundational courses and specializes in helping busy professionals cultivate sustainable meditation habits. His sessions often include practical discussions on weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Ananya Patel
Philosophy Guide
Ananya combines her PhD in United States Philosophy with fifteen years of personal meditation practice. She discovered contemplative disciplines while researching ancient texts and realized that scholarly understanding means little without lived experience. Her approach bridges academic insight with practical application.
She leads our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Ananya has a gift for making intricate philosophical ideas accessible without oversimplifying them. Students often say she helps them grasp not only how to meditate, but why these practices arose and what they aim to accomplish.
Why We Teach This Way
After years of practice and teaching, we’ve found that meditation is most effective when it’s demystified. We don’t promise enlightenment or claim you’ll attain perfect tranquility. Instead, we focus on building skills that help you navigate life’s inevitable challenges with greater awareness and calmer reactivity.
Our courses begin in September 2025, giving you space to consider whether this approach resonates with you. We believe in taking time to make thoughtful choices 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 quietly but profoundly transformed our lives, and we’ve witnessed the same for many others.