Our Story
Bill Durham
Founder
Bill graduated from the University of Miami with an BA degree in philosophy in 1974. While he was still a student he started Mangrove Cycles, a bicycle shop on Key Biscayne, which he ran for 42 years. In August 2015 he made a sudden decision to close the bicycle shop and use the location to open Miami Meditation Center. He began meditation practice in 1995 with Soan Poor. In 2008 he became a student of Sandy Gentei Stewart, Osho.
Bill Durham
Founder
Alex Schimel
Director
Alex Schimel is a lecturer and academic advisor at the University of Miami School of Law. He first encountered meditation while living in New York and has been practicing for 11 years. Alex enjoys bird watching and cares deeply about preserving natural areas in South Florida. He also enjoys drawing and recently started doing commissioned portraits of pets. "I did a portrait as a wedding gift and found it fun and challenging. Studying art, I was always very focused on the finished piece but now I enjoy the whole process and meditation skills help me focus on the details."
Alex Schimel
Director
Natacha Wenger
Director
Natacha grew up in the French part of Switzerland.
Diagnosed as a young child with severe scoliosis, she spent years “imprisoned” in various casts and braces, finally having to undergo surgery at the age of fourteen to install two stainless steel rods in her spine.
Her considerably reduced flexibility deeply influenced her passionate and inspirational style of teaching, inviting one to investigate one’s limitations with an open heart. She is a yoga teacher, Tony Robbins life coach and Realtor. At age 17, she started working as a model and actress and traveled extensively around the world for two decades.
In 2003, she met Amma “The Hugging Saint", which was a turning point in her life. From then on, a series of spiritual masters from multiple traditions shed light upon her path but only when she met her current Teacher Patrick Connor did the real work begin.
Natacha Wenger
Director
William Scott Wilson
Director
William Scott Wilson is a translator of Japanese literature especially works from the martial arts tradition. His first translation was the Hagakure which has beome a classic and is prominent in feature film "Ghost Dog." William is a serious student of Iaido and Kendo and Japanese swordsmanship culture. His latest book is "Walking the Kiso Road." He lives in South Miami with his wife Emily and teenage son Henry.
William Scott Wilson
Director
Marco Cuono
Director
Marco Cuono is the founder of Americas Media Services, LLC. Through AMS Marco has started various businesses and has invested in a number of startup and early stage companies. Prior to founding AMS Marco practiced corporate law in Miami. He is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law (1995.) Aside from being a father to his three sons Marco's personal interests include cooking, travel, fishing and writing.
