Our Teaching Philosophy
We don’t see meditation as simply emptying the mind or reaching a flawless state of calm. It’s more like learning to sit with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning mindset, and even that odd itch that shows up a few minutes into sitting.
Our team combines decades of practice across diverse traditions. Some of us encountered meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal upheaval, and a few stumbled into it in 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 explains concepts in their own way. Kai tends to use everyday life analogies, while Lina Cho draws on her background in psychology. We’ve found that different approaches resonate 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
Kai Soren
Lead Instructor
Kai began practicing meditation in 1998 after burning out 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 the 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 on weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Lina Cho
Philosophy Guide
Lina Cho 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 academic understanding means little without lived experience. Her approach bridges scholarly insight with practical application.
She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Lina 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 guarantee 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 time to make thoughtful decisions about contemplative practice—it isn’t 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 subtly but profoundly changed our lives, and we’ve seen it do the same for many others.