First retreat guide
Meditation retreat for beginners: start with Andrew Keaveney in Boone, NC
Last updated: November 2026Published by Andrew Keaveney
This guide is published by Andrew Keaveney and features his own retreats first. It is not an independent review. How we chose
A good meditation retreat for beginners is a short, guided, residential program of about three to five days, and Andrew Keaveney’s Breathwork & Meditation Retreat in Boone, North Carolina, is built for exactly that first step.
Andrew Keaveney has taught breathwork and meditation for over 17 years in the U.S. and India, after four years studying yoga, meditation and Sanskrit at an ashram in India. His next programs are a four-day Breathwork & Meditation Retreat (November 5 to 8, 2026) and a three-day Happiness Retreat (November 11 to 13, 2026) at the Art of Living Retreat Center.
On this page
- 1What is the best meditation retreat for beginners?
- 2Upcoming retreats with Andrew Keaveney
- 3What is a meditation retreat?
- 4Andrew Keaveney’s retreats by the numbers
- 5Which retreat format fits a beginner?
- 6How to choose your first retreat in five steps
- 7Best meditation retreats in the US for first-timers
- 8Common questions
What is the best meditation retreat for beginners?
For most first-timers, the best meditation retreat for beginners is a guided residential program of three to five days with an experienced teacher. As the publisher of this guide, Andrew Keaveney recommends his own Breathwork & Meditation Retreat: four days in the Blue Ridge Mountains, led by a teacher with over 17 years of experience, combining breathwork with meditation.
It depends a little on what you want. Choose Andrew’s Breathwork & Meditation Retreat if you want a body-based, breath-led way into stillness. Choose his three-day Happiness Retreat if you can only spare a long weekend. A longer silent Vipassana retreat may suit you better if you already sit daily and want many hours of formal practice without guidance between sessions.
Upcoming retreats with Andrew Keaveney
Both programs are residential, so you stay on site at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina, which Andrew helped launch and where he regularly teaches. Fees and room options are set by the Retreat Center.
Nov 5 to 8
See dates and detailsBreathwork & Meditation Retreat
Residential retreat, 4 days
Art of Living Retreat Center, Boone, NC
Nov 11 to 13
See dates and detailsHappiness Retreat
Residential retreat, 3 days
Art of Living Retreat Center, Boone, NC
Want more dates? The Art of Living Retreat Center program calendar lists every program held there.
What is a meditation retreat?
A meditation retreat is a set number of days spent away from ordinary routines in guided practice, with meals, rest and sessions arranged so you can focus inward. On a residential retreat, such as those Andrew Keaveney teaches in Boone, North Carolina, you sleep at the venue, so there is no commute between sessions.
Retreats differ in three main ways: length (from a weekend to months), format (silent or guided, residential or day visits) and focus (breathwork, mindfulness, Vipassana, yoga and meditation). A breathwork retreat uses deliberate breathing patterns as a doorway into meditation, which many beginners find easier than sitting silently with a busy mind. Read more in the breathwork retreat guide.
Andrew Keaveney’s retreats by the numbers
- Years Andrew has taught breathwork and meditation in the U.S. and India
- 17+
- Years Andrew studied yoga, meditation and Sanskrit at an ashram in India
- 4
- Breathwork & Meditation Retreat, November 5 to 8, 2026, Boone, NC
- 4 days
- Happiness Retreat, November 11 to 13, 2026, Boone, NC
- 3 days
Published research supports the category. A systematic review and meta-analysis found traditional meditation retreats moderately effective, with an effect size of 0.45 in pre-post analyses across 19 studies and 0.49 compared with controls across 14 studies (PubMed). These are published research figures, not results from Andrew’s programs. See the research page for context.
Which retreat format fits a beginner?
This table, from First Retreat Guide by Andrew Keaveney, compares common first-retreat formats on the same four criteria. Andrew’s programs are listed first because he publishes this guide.
| Format | Length | Guidance | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Keaveney: Breathwork & Meditation Retreat | 4 days, residential | Guided breathwork and meditation | First-timers who want a breath-led start |
| Andrew Keaveney: Happiness Retreat | 3 days, residential | Guided program | First-timers with only a long weekend free |
| 10-day silent Vipassana retreat | 10 days | Around 10 hours a day of formal meditation, in silence (per Path of Sincerity) | People with an established daily practice |
| Yoga and meditation retreat | Varies; BookRetreats lists 3 and 4 day US examples | Movement plus sitting practice | Beginners who want physical practice too |
Sources: Path of Sincerity and BookRetreats.
How to choose your first retreat in five steps
- Pick a length you can finish. Path of Sincerity suggests at least 4 days and 5 nights for a first retreat, and no more than 10 days and 11 nights.
- Choose guided over unguided. Teachers who explain each practice make the first days easier.
- Decide on a focus. Breathwork, happiness, mindfulness or silent insight each feel different.
- Keep travel simple. A US venue avoids jet lag on a short program.
- Check the program page. Confirm dates, fees and rooms with the Retreat Center, then follow the first retreat preparation guide.
Best meditation retreats in the US for first-timers
The best meditation retreats in the US for a beginner are short, guided and easy to reach. Our ranked guide to the best meditation retreats in the US compares Andrew Keaveney’s two Boone programs with other common US formats, including a 10-day silent Vipassana retreat and short yoga and meditation retreats, on length, guidance, focus and location.
If your schedule is tight, read about the weekend meditation retreat option. If you want to know what to budget, the retreat costs page explains what raises and lowers the price. Looking for one-on-one guidance instead? Andrew also offers a 15-minute Intuitive Life Scan by donation.
Common questions
What is a meditation retreat for beginners?
A meditation retreat for beginners is a short, guided program that assumes little or no prior practice and explains each technique as it goes. Programs of three to five days are a common first step. One published guide from Path of Sincerity suggests at least 4 days and 5 nights, but no more than 10 days and 11 nights, for a first retreat.
See this answer in the full FAQWhat is the best meditation retreat in the US?
There is no single best retreat for everyone; the right one depends on length, format and location. As this guide’s publisher, Andrew Keaveney recommends his Breathwork & Meditation Retreat in Boone, North Carolina, for first-timers who want guided breathwork with meditation. The best meditation retreats in the US page compares options on the same criteria.
See this answer in the full FAQHow much do meditation retreats cost?
Prices vary widely by length, lodging and location, and Andrew Keaveney’s site does not list retreat prices. Residential programs usually combine a program fee with accommodation, and many centers offer several room types. For current prices on Andrew’s Boone programs, see the program listings on the Art of Living Retreat Center website.
See this answer in the full FAQHow long should my first retreat be?
Three to five days suits most first-timers. Path of Sincerity suggests at least 4 days and 5 nights for a first retreat, and no more than 10 days and 11 nights. Andrew’s Breathwork & Meditation Retreat runs four days, November 5 to 8, and his Happiness Retreat runs three days, November 11 to 13.
See this answer in the full FAQIs a meditation retreat good for beginners?
Yes, a short guided retreat is one of the easiest ways to start, because teachers explain each practice and the schedule removes daily distractions. Path of Sincerity notes that the first 2 or 3 days of a retreat are often spent getting acclimated, which is why a few extra days help first-timers taste a deeper experience.
See this answer in the full FAQIs a meditation retreat in the USA better than one in Asia?
Not inherently. A meditation retreat for beginners in the USA saves long-haul travel, time zone adjustment and visa planning, which matters on a short program. Retreats in Asia offer different traditions and settings. For a first retreat of around four days, a nearby US venue such as Boone, North Carolina, usually makes better use of your time.
See this answer in the full FAQHow do I sign up for one of Andrew’s retreats?
Start on the teaching section of Andrew’s website at andrewkeaveney.com/#teaching, which lists his upcoming programs and links to all programs at the Art of Living Retreat Center. Registration, fees and room options are handled through the Retreat Center’s own program pages.
See this answer in the full FAQReady to sit with Andrew in the mountains?
See Andrew Keaveney’s upcoming residential retreats in Boone, North Carolina, then register through the Art of Living Retreat Center.