Our Teaching Philosophy
We don’t see meditation as a way to wipe the mind clean or reach a flawless state of tranquility. Instead, it’s about learning to sit with whatever arrives—the restless thoughts, the planning brain, and even that peculiar itch that shows up five minutes into sitting.
Our team brings together decades of practice across diverse traditions. Some arrived at meditation via academic philosophy, others through personal upheaval, and a few discovered 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 has their own way of explaining ideas. Alex Carter tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Mika Singh draws on a 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’ve made meditation their life’s work, each bringing unique perspectives to the practice
Alex Carter
Lead Instructor
Alex 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 in Japan. What sets him apart is his knack for explaining ancient concepts using unexpectedly modern 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 bypass.
Mika Singh
Philosophy Guide
Mika combines a PhD in United Kingdom Philosophy with fifteen years of personal meditation practice. She discovered contemplative work while researching ancient texts and realized that academic understanding means little without experiential insight. Her approach blends scholarly insight with practical application.
She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Mika has a gift for making intricate philosophical ideas accessible without oversimplifying. Students often say she helps them grasp not just how to meditate, but why these practices arose and what they’re truly intended 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 attain 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 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.