Meditation retreats in USA
How to choose among meditation retreats in the USA
Last updated: November 2026
What makes the best meditation retreats in the US?
The best meditation retreats in the US pair an experienced teacher with a residential format, a clear method and a quiet setting.
Use the six-point checklist below to compare any US meditation retreat. As a worked example, it shows how Andrew Keaveney's residential breathwork and meditation retreats in Boone, North Carolina, measure on each point, using only facts Andrew publishes about his own programs.
Published by Andrew Keaveney.
The six-point retreat checklist
| Criterion | Why it matters | Andrew Keaveney's retreats |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher experience | Experience shapes how well a teacher handles beginners and hard moments. | Over 17 years teaching in the U.S. and India; 4 years at an ashram in India. |
| Format | Residential retreats keep practice continuous; day programs do not. | Residential: you stay at the Art of Living Retreat Center. |
| Length | Determines time off work and how deep practice can go. | 3 to 4 days (Nov 5 to 8 and Nov 11 to 13, 2026). |
| Method | Silent sitting, breathwork and yoga feel very different. | Breathwork paired with meditation. |
| Setting | Nature and quiet support rest between sessions. | Blue Ridge Mountains, Boone, North Carolina. |
| Price clarity | You should know the full cost before you commit. | Pricing is set and published by the Retreat Center, not on this site. |
Should I stay in the US or travel abroad?
Retreats abroad, from a breathwork retreat in Thailand to a breathwork retreat in India or Europe, add flights and time zones. For scale, The Retreat Company's breathwork retreats page lists programs ranging from a 3 or 4 day nervous system reset by the sea to an 8 day luxury wellness reset in the Maldives. If you live in the eastern U.S., a short program in North Carolina keeps travel simple.
When another US retreat may fit better
Andrew's retreats fit people who want breathwork and meditation together in a short residential stay. If you want a long silent retreat of a week or more, a specific method such as holotropic breathwork, or a location on the West Coast, look for a program built for that, and use the same checklist. For every program at Andrew's venue, see the Art of Living Retreat Center.
How we chose
This comparison was written by Andrew Keaveney, who publishes this site, so his own programs are listed first as his pick. Every format is judged on the same criteria: length, where it happens, how much guidance you get, what price information is available, and who it suits best. Facts about Andrew come from his own published program information. General formats are described by what is typical, not by any named provider. Nothing here is an independent review. Read the full approach.
Part of the main guide: Andrew Keaveney's breathwork retreat in Boone, North Carolina.
Questions about US meditation retreats
Are there meditation retreats in the USA taught by someone trained in India?
Yes. Andrew Keaveney studied yoga, meditation and Sanskrit for four years at an ashram in India, then taught breathwork and meditation for over 17 years in the U.S. and India. He now regularly teaches residential retreats at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina, which he helped launch.
Should I go to a breathwork retreat in Thailand, India or Europe instead?
Choose based on time, budget and travel tolerance. Retreats abroad add flights, time zones and often longer stays; The Retreat Company lists options as far away as an 8 day luxury wellness reset in the Maldives. If you live in the eastern U.S., a three to four day program in Boone, North Carolina, avoids international travel.
Where are Andrew Keaveney’s retreats held?
Andrew regularly teaches at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and he helped launch the center. Both of his upcoming November 2026 programs are residential retreats there. His own photographs from the area show morning clouds in Blue Ridge valleys, mountain waterfalls and autumn trees around the center.
Where is the Art of Living Retreat Center?
The Art of Living Retreat Center is in Boone, North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Andrew helped launch the center and regularly teaches retreats there. For directions, travel options and room details, use the center’s own website, which lists all of its programs along with practical visitor information.
How much does a breathwork retreat cost?
Andrew’s retreat prices are not stated on this site; the Art of Living Retreat Center lists program details on its own website. For a market reference, The Retreat Company’s breathwork retreats page lists one UK retreat at £655/£870 for two nights. Prices vary by venue, length, room type and country, so confirm current pricing directly.
What is the difference between a retreat and a weekly class?
A weekly class gives you an hour of practice inside a normal week, while a residential retreat gives you several days where practice is the whole point. Retreats suit people who want to reset habits or go deeper quickly. Weekly classes suit steady maintenance. Many people combine both, using a retreat to start and classes to continue.
Come sit with us in the mountains.
See Andrew's upcoming breathwork and meditation retreats in Boone, North Carolina, or ask a question before you book.