Our Teaching Philosophy
We don’t see meditation as clearing your mind or reaching a flawless state of serenity. It’s more about learning to stay with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning mind, and even that strange itch that shows up five minutes into sitting.
Our team brings together decades of practice across different traditions. Some of us arrived at meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal hardship, and a few simply discovered it in college and never left. What unites us is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical life skill rather than a mystical pursuit.
Each guide you’ll meet has their own way of explaining concepts. Omar tends to rely on everyday-life analogies, while Priya draws from her psychology background. We’ve found that different approaches resonate with different people, so you’ll likely connect more with some teaching styles than others.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who've made meditation their life's work, each bringing unique perspectives to the practice
Omar Al-Farouq
Lead Instructor
Omar began practicing meditation in 1998 after burnout in his software engineering career. He spent three years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen in Japan. What sets him apart is his talent for explaining ancient ideas with surprisingly contemporary analogies—he once likened the monkey mind to having too many browser tabs open.
He leads our foundational courses and specializes in helping busy professionals cultivate sustainable meditation routines. His sessions often include practical discussions about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Priya Menon
Philosophy Guide
Priya combines her PhD in United States 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. Priya has a gift for making complex philosophical concepts accessible without oversimplifying them. Students often say she helps them understand not just how to meditate, but why these practices developed 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 achieve perfect peace. 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 with you. 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 changed our lives in subtle but profound ways, and we’ve witnessed the same for many others.