Our Teaching Philosophy
We view meditation not as a way to empty the mind or reach a flawless state of zen. It's more about learning to sit with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning impulse, and even that odd itch that tends to pop up a few minutes into practice.
Our team blends decades of practice across diverse traditions. Some arrived via academic philosophy, others through personal hardship, and a few stumbled upon it during college and stayed. What unites us is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical life skill rather than a mystical experience.
Each guide brings their own way of explaining ideas. Navin tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Kira draws on her background in psychology. 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’ve made meditation a life’s work, each offering a unique perspective to the practice
Navin Ishwar
Lead Instructor
Navin began meditating in 1998 after burnout from his software engineering career. He spent three years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen meditation in Japan. What sets him apart is his ability to explain ancient concepts using unexpectedly 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 establish sustainable meditation habits. His sessions often include practical discussions about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Kira Sharma
Philosophy Guide
Kira 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 scholarly understanding means little without experiential knowing. Her approach bridges academic insight with practical application.
She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Kira has a talent for making intricate philosophical concepts accessible without oversimplifying them. Students often say she helps them grasp not only how to meditate, but why these practices arose and what they’re truly meant to accomplish.
Why We Teach This Way
After years of practice and teaching, we’ve learned that meditation benefits from being demystified. We don’t promise enlightenment or claim you’ll attain perfect peace. Instead, we focus on cultivating 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 consider whether this approach resonates with you. We believe in taking time to make thoughtful decisions about contemplative practice—it’s not something to rush into driven by 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 transformed our lives, and we’ve witnessed it do the same for many others.