Our Teaching Philosophy
We don’t view meditation as a path to empty the mind or reach a flawless state of serenity. It’s more about learning to sit with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning mind, and even that odd itch that tends to show up mid-session.
Our team blends decades of practice from diverse traditions. Some arrived at meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal crisis, and a few found it during college and never looked back. What unites us is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical skill for everyday life, not a mystical experience.
Each guide brings their own way of explaining ideas. Riya tends to use everyday analogies, while Amaya draws on her psychology background. We’ve found that different approaches click with different people, so you’ll likely connect with certain teaching styles more than others.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who’ve made meditation their life’s work, each bringing a unique angle to the practice
Riya Kapoor
Lead Instructor
Riya began meditating in 1998 after burnout from a software engineering career. She spent three years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen practice in Japan. What sets her apart is the ability to explain ancient ideas through surprisingly modern analogies—she once compared monkey mind to having too many browser tabs open.
She leads our foundational courses and specializes in helping busy professionals cultivate sustainable meditation habits. Her sessions often include practical discussions about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Amaya Kapoor
Philosophy Guide
Amaya holds a PhD in United Kingdom Philosophy and brings fifteen years of personal meditation practice. She discovered contemplative work while researching ancient texts and realized that scholarly insight means little without experiential understanding. Her approach marries academic depth with practical application.
She leads our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Amaya has a knack for making complex philosophical concepts accessible without reducing them. Students often say she helps them understand not just how to meditate, but why these practices arose 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 attain perfect inner peace. Instead, we focus on building 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 with you. We believe in taking a thoughtful pause before deciding to pursue contemplative practice—it’s not something to rush, 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 changed our own lives in subtle but profound ways, and we’ve witnessed the same transformation in many others.