Our Teaching Philosophy
We don’t think meditation is about clearing your mind or reaching some flawless zen state. It’s more like learning to sit with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning mind, and even that odd itch that shows up five minutes into sitting.
Our team brings together decades of practice across varied traditions. Some arrived at meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal challenges, and a few stumbled into it during college and never left. What unites us is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical life skill, not a mystical pursuit.
Each guide you meet offers their own way of explaining concepts. Omar tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Leena draws from her psychology background. We’ve found 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 unique perspectives to the practice
Omar Desai
Lead Instructor
Omar 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 knack for explaining ancient concepts with surprisingly modern examples—he once compared the restless mind to having too many browser tabs open.
He leads our foundational courses and specializes in helping busy professionals cultivate sustainable meditation habits. His sessions often include practical discussions about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Leena Shah
Philosophy Guide
Leena 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 academic understanding means little without experiential knowledge. Her approach bridges scholarly insight with practical application.
She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Leena has a gift for making complex philosophical concepts accessible without oversimplifying. Her 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 approachable. We don’t promise enlightenment or claim you’ll achieve perfect 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 2026, giving you time to reflect on whether this approach resonates with you. We believe in taking 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 profound ways, and we’ve seen it do the same for many others.