Our Approach to Teaching
We don’t see meditation as clearing the mind or attaining a flawless zen state. It’s about learning to stay with whatever arises—the wandering thoughts, the planning mind, even that pesky itch that crops up a few minutes after settling in.
Our team blends decades of practice across traditions. Some arrived via academic philosophy, others through personal crises, and a few stumbled into it during college and stayed. What we share is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical life skill rather than a mystical experience.
Each guide has a distinct style. Ravi favors everyday-life analogies, while Ananya draws on psychology. Different approaches resonate with different people, so you’ll likely connect with some teaching styles more than others.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who've made meditation their life's work, each bringing unique perspectives to the practice
Ravi Krishnamurthy
Lead Instructor
Ravi began meditating in 1998 following burnout in his software engineering job. He spent three years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen meditation in Japan. What sets him apart is his knack for explaining ancient ideas through surprisingly modern analogies — he once likened monkey mind to having too many browser tabs open.
He leads the core courses and specializes in helping busy professionals cultivate sustainable meditation practices. His sessions often include practical discussions about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Ananya Patel
Philosophy Guide
Ananya pairs 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 knowledge. Her approach links scholarly insight with practical application.
She leads our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Ananya has a knack for making complex philosophical ideas accessible without oversimplification. Students often say she helps them understand not just how to meditate, but why these practices arose and what they aim to achieve.
Why We Teach It This Way
After years of practice and teaching, we’ve found meditation benefits from being demystified. We don’t promise enlightenment or claim you’ll achieve perfect peace. Instead, we focus on building skills to 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 taking 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.