Our Teaching Philosophy
We view meditation not as emptying the mind or reaching a flawless state of zen. It's about learning to sit with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning mind, and even that odd itch that appears a few minutes in.
Our team combines decades of practice across varied traditions. Some found meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal hardship, and a few wandered into it during college and stayed. What unites us is teaching meditation as a practical life skill rather than a mystical experience.
Each guide has a distinct way of explaining ideas. Nova Kapoor tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Mina Kapoor draws on her psychology background. We've learned that different approaches resonate with different people, so you’ll probably connect more with certain teaching styles.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who've dedicated their lives to meditation, each bringing a unique perspective to the practice
Arin Malhotra
Lead Instructor
Arin began meditating 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 distinguishes him is his knack for explaining age-old ideas through surprisingly contemporary analogies—like likening the monkey mind to having too many browser tabs open.
He leads our foundational courses and helps busy professionals establish sustainable meditation habits. His sessions frequently include practical talks on weaving mindfulness into work life and handling stress without spiritual bypassing.
Leila Singh
Philosophy Guide
Leila combines her PhD in United Kingdom Philosophy with fifteen years of personal meditation practice. She discovered contemplative practice while studying ancient texts and realized that theoretical understanding matters little without experiential knowledge. Her approach fuses scholarly insight with practical application.
She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Leila has a gift for making complex philosophical ideas accessible without oversimplification. Students say she helps them grasp not only how to meditate, but why these practices arose and what they aim 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 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'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 seen it do the same for many others.