Our Teaching Philosophy
We don’t see meditation as clearing the mind or attaining a flawless state of calm. It’s like learning to sit with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning mind, and even that peculiar itch that shows up a few minutes into practice.
Our team blends decades of practice across various traditions. Some arrived at meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal adversity, and a few stumbled into it in college and stayed. What unites us is a commitment to teach meditation as a practical life skill rather than a mystical experience.
Each guide has their own way of conveying ideas. Kai Mistry tends to draw on everyday-life analogies, while Dr. Lila Chen draws from her psychology background. We’ve found that different approaches click with different people, so you’ll likely resonate with certain teaching styles more than others.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who've made meditation their life's work, each bringing a unique perspective to the practice
Kai Mistry
Senior Instructor
Kai began meditating in 1998 after burnout from a software engineering career. He spent three years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen meditation in Japan. His strength lies in explaining ancient concepts through surprisingly modern analogies—he once compared the monkey mind to having too many browser tabs open.
He leads our foundational courses and specializes in helping busy professionals cultivate sustainable meditation practices. His sessions often include practical discussions on weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without bypassing reality.
Dr. Lila Chen
Philosophy Mentor
Dr. Lila Chen combines her PhD in United Kingdom Philosophy with fifteen years of personal meditation practice. She discovered contemplative work while researching ancient texts and realized that scholarly understanding means little without experiential insight. Her approach bridges rigorous scholarship with practical application.
She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Lila 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 emerged and what they’re ultimately meant to accomplish.
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 building skills that help you navigate life’s inevitable challenges with greater awareness and less reactivity.
Our courses begin in September 2025, giving you time to reflect on whether this approach resonates. We believe in taking the 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 transformed our lives in subtle yet meaningful ways, and we’ve witnessed the same for many others.