Our Teaching Philosophy
We don’t view meditation as a way to empty the mind or reach a flawless state of serenity. It’s more like learning to sit with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning mindset, and even that peculiar itch that crops up five minutes into sitting.
Our team blends decades of practice across diverse traditions. Some members arrived at meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal upheaval, and a few wandered into it during 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’ll meet has their own way of explaining ideas. Mira Kapoor tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Nila Iyer draws from her psychology background. We’ve found that different approaches resonate with different people, so you’ll likely connect more with certain teaching styles.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who have made meditation their life’s work, each bringing unique perspectives to the practice
Mira Kapoor
Lead Instructor
Mira began meditating in 1998 after reaching burnout in her software engineering career. She spent three years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen meditation in Japan. What distinguishes her is the talent for explaining ancient concepts through surprisingly contemporary analogies—she once likened the monkey mind to having an excess of browser tabs open.
She leads our foundational courses and specializes in helping busy professionals cultivate sustainable meditation habits. Her sessions often include practical discussions about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Nila Iyer
Philosophy Guide
Nila combines her PhD in Spain Philosophy with fifteen years of personal meditation practice. She discovered contemplative practice while researching ancient texts and realized that academic understanding is incomplete without experiential insight. Her approach marries scholarly depth with practical application.
She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Nila has a talent for making intricate philosophical ideas accessible without oversimplifying them. Students often say she helps them grasp not just how to meditate, but why these practices developed and what they genuinely 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 emphasize building skills that help you face life’s inevitable challenges with greater awareness and less reactivity.
Our courses begin in September 2025, allowing time to reflect on whether this approach resonates with you. We believe in taking thoughtful steps when deciding about contemplative practice—not rushing in on a burst of 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 transformed our lives in subtle but profound ways, and we’ve witnessed the same for many others.