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Glade Pocket Harbor

Meet Our Meditation Guides

Experienced practitioners who've spent years exploring the depths of contemplative philosophy and mindfulness practice

Our Teaching Philosophy

We believe meditation isn't about clearing your mind or reaching a flawless state of serenity. It's more like learning to sit with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning mind, and even that odd itch that appears five minutes into a session.

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 never left. What unites us is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical life skill rather than a mystical experience.

Each guide you’ll meet has their own way of explaining ideas. Alex Kumar tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Priya Sharma draws from her background in psychology. We’ve found that different approaches resonate with different people, so you’ll likely connect more with certain teaching styles.

Meditation practice space with cushions arranged in circle

Your Meditation Guides

Two practitioners who've made meditation their life's work, each bringing unique perspectives to the practice

Portrait of Alex Kumar meditation instructor

Alex Kumar

Lead Instructor

Alex started meditating in 2002 after burnout from his software engineering career. He spent several years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen meditation in Japan. What sets him apart is his ability to explain ancient concepts using 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 find sustainable meditation practices. His sessions often include practical discussions about integrating mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.

Portrait of Priya Sharma meditation instructor

Priya Sharma

Philosophy Guide

Priya 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 meant little without experiential knowledge. Her approach bridges scholarly insight with practical application.

She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Priya has a gift for making complex philosophical concepts accessible without oversimplifying. Her students often say she helps them understand not just how to meditate, but why these practices developed 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 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.