Our Teaching Philosophy
We see meditation not as a way to clear your mind or reach a flawless state of calm. It’s more like learning to stay with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning mindset, even that odd itch that appears a few minutes into sitting.
Our team blends decades of practice across diverse traditions. Some arrived at meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal challenges, and a few stumbled into it during college and stayed. What unites us is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical life skill rather than a mystical experience.
Each guide you’ll encounter brings their own way of explaining ideas. Kai Mendoza tends to use familiar, everyday analogies, while Dr. Sora Liu draws from her background in psychology. We’ve found different approaches click with different people, so you’ll likely feel a stronger connection to certain teaching styles.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who've made meditation their life's work, each bringing unique perspectives to the practice
Kai Mendoza
Lead Instructor
Kai began meditating 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 concepts with 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.
Dr. Sora Liu
Philosophy Guide
Dr. Sora Liu combines her PhD in United Kingdom Philosophy with fifteen years of personal meditation practice. She discovered contemplative work 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. Sora has a gift for making complex philosophical concepts accessible without talking down to students. People often say she helps them understand not just how to meditate, but why these practices evolved and what they’re truly meant to accomplish.
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 profound ways, and we’ve seen it do the same for many others.