Our Teaching Philosophy
We believe meditation isn’t about emptying the mind or achieving a flawless state of serenity. It resembles learning to sit with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning brain, and even that peculiar itch that shows up five minutes into sitting.
Our team combines decades of hands-on practice across diverse traditions. Some of us discovered meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal hardship, and a few simply found it in college and stayed. What unites us is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical life skill rather than a mystical pursuit.
Each guide you meet has their own way of conveying ideas. Kai tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Mira draws from her background in psychology. 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 have made meditation their lifelong work, each bringing a distinct perspective to the practice
Kai Nakamura
Lead Instructor
Kai began practicing meditation 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. What sets him apart is his talent for explaining ancient concepts using surprisingly contemporary analogies—he once compared monkey 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 reducing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Mira Solano
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 experiential insight. Her approach bridges academic insight with practical application.
She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Mira has a gift for making complex philosophical ideas accessible without oversimplifying them. Students often say she helps them grasp not just how to meditate, but why these practices emerged 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 reach perfect peace. Instead, we focus on building skills that help you navigate life’s inevitable challenges with greater awareness and lower 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’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 profound ways, and we’ve seen it do the same for many others.