Our Teaching Philosophy
We view meditation not as clearing the mind or reaching a perfect state of calm. It’s more about learning to sit with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning mind, and even that odd itch that shows up five minutes into sitting.
Our team brings together decades of practice across various traditions. Some of us arrived at meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal hardship, and a few just 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 you meet explains ideas in their own way. Ravi tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Ananya draws on her psychology background. We’ve found that different approaches resonate with different people, so you’ll likely feel drawn to certain teaching styles more than others.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who’ve made meditation their life’s work, each offering a unique perspective on the practice
Ravi Krishnamurthy
Lead Instructor
Ravi began meditating in 1998 after burnout in his software engineering career. He spent three years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen meditation in Japan. His standout quality is his knack for explaining ancient ideas with surprisingly modern analogies—he once compared monkey mind to having too many browser tabs open.
He leads our foundational courses and specializes in helping busy professionals establish sustainable meditation routines. 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 practice while researching ancient texts and realized that scholarly understanding means little without experiential insight. Her approach bridges academic insight with practical application.
She leads our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Ananya has a gift for making complex philosophical ideas accessible without oversimplifying them. Students often say she helps them understand not just how to meditate, but why these practices emerged 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 reach perfect serenity. Instead, we focus on developing 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. We believe in making thoughtful decisions about contemplative practice, rather than rushing in on the basis 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 subtly but profoundly changed our lives, and we’ve seen it do the same for many others.