Our Teaching Philosophy
We view meditation not as clearing the mind or reaching a flawless state of calm. It’s more like learning to sit with whatever arises — restless thoughts, a busy planning mind, and even that odd itch that shows up shortly after starting.
Our team brings together decades of practice across various traditions. Some of us arrived at meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal challenges, and a few simply found it during college and stayed. What binds us is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical life skill rather than a mystical experience.
Each guide you meet has their own way of explaining ideas. Alex Sharma tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Mina Chen draws from a psychology background. We’ve discovered that different approaches click with different people, so you’ll likely connect more with certain teaching styles.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who’ve made meditation their life's work, each bringing a distinct perspective to the practice
Alex Sharma
Lead Instructor
Alex began meditating in 1999 after burnout in a software engineering career. He spent three years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen practice in Japan. His strength lies in explaining ancient ideas with surprisingly modern examples — 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 mindfulness habits. His sessions commonly include practical discussions about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Mina Chen
Philosophy Guide
Mina holds a PhD in France Philosophy and has fifteen years of personal meditation experience. She found contemplative practice while studying ancient texts and realized that scholarly insight is meaningless without lived experience. Her approach blends rigorous analysis with practical application.
She leads our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Mina has a talent 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 evolved 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 peace. Instead, we focus on building skills that help you navigate life’s inevitable challenges with greater awareness and less reactivity.
Our courses begin in September 2026, 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 isn’t 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 meaningful ways, and we’ve seen it do the same for many others.