Our Teaching Philosophy
We view meditation not as clearing your mind or reaching a flawless state of serenity. It’s more like learning to sit with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning mind, and even that odd itch that tends to show up a few minutes into sitting.
Our group combines decades of practice across diverse traditions. Some discovered meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal upheaval, and a few simply stumbled into it during college and stayed. What unites us is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical life skill, not a mystical experience.
Each guide you’ll meet has their own way of explaining concepts. Eli Turner tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Mira Kapoor draws from her psychology background. We’ve found that different approaches resonate with different people, so you’ll likely connect more strongly with certain teaching styles.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who’ve made meditation their life’s work, each offering a unique perspective to the practice
Eli Turner
Lead Instructor
Eli began practicing meditation in the late 1990s after burnout from a 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 ideas through surprisingly contemporary 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 mindfulness practices. His sessions often include practical discussions about weaving awareness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Mira Kapoor
Philosophy Guide
Mira 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 scholarly understanding means little without lived experience. Her approach bridges rigorous insight with practical application.
She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Mira 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 really meant to achieve.
Why We Teach This Way
After years of practice and teaching, we’ve found 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 more awareness and less reactivity.
Our courses start 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’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 meaningful ways, and we’ve seen it do the same for many others.