Our Teaching Philosophy
We don’t view meditation as clearing the mind or attaining a flawless state of serenity. It’s about learning to sit with whatever arises—the unsettled thoughts, the busy planning mind, and even that odd itch that tends to show up a few minutes into practice.
Our team combines decades of practice across diverse traditions. Some came to meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal challenges, and a few discovered it in college and stayed. 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 explaining ideas. Aarav Kumar tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Isha Rao draws from her psychology background. 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 their life's work, each bringing a unique perspective to the practice
Aarav Kumar
Lead Instructor
Aarav began meditating in 1998 after burnout from his software engineering career. He spent three years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen practice in Japan. What sets him apart is his talent for explaining ancient ideas with surprisingly modern 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 discover sustainable meditation habits. His sessions frequently include practical discussions about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Isha Rao
Philosophy Guide
Isha combines her PhD in United Kingdom 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. Isha has a gift for making complex philosophical ideas accessible without simplifying them. Students often say she helps them understand not just how to meditate, but why these practices arose and what they’re truly meant 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 achieve 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 the 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.