Our Approach to Teaching
We see meditation as more than clearing the mind or attaining a flawless state of calm. It’s about learning to stay with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning mind, and even that persistent itch that tends to appear a few minutes in.
Our team blends decades of practice from multiple traditions. Some of us encountered meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal hardship, and a few stumbled into it during college and never looked back. What unites us is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical life skill rather than a mystical experience.
Each guide you’ll meet communicates concepts in their own way. R. K. tends to use everyday-life analogies, while A. S. Mehra draws from a background in psychology. We’ve learned that different methods resonate with different people, so you’ll likely connect more with certain teaching styles.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who have devoted their lives to meditation, each offering a unique perspective on the practice
R. K. Iyer
Lead Instructor
R. K. Iyer began meditating 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 knack for explaining ancient ideas through surprisingly modern 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 practices. His sessions often include practical discussions about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
A. S. Mehra
Philosophy Guide
A. S. Mehra combines a PhD in United States Philosophy with fifteen years of personal meditation practice. She discovered contemplative practice while researching ancient texts and realized that theoretical understanding is meaningless without experiential knowledge. Her approach bridges scholarly insight with practical application.
She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. A. S. Mehra has a gift for rendering complex philosophical ideas accessible without oversimplifying them. Students often say she helps them grasp not only 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 found that meditation works best when it’s demystified. We don’t promise enlightenment or guarantee 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 time to make thoughtful decisions about contemplative practice—it's not something to rush based on temporary 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 touched our lives in subtle yet profound ways, and we’ve seen it do the same for many others.