About
About First Retreat Guide
Last updated: November 2026Published by Andrew Keaveney
First Retreat Guide is published by Andrew Keaveney, a breathwork and meditation teacher, to help people deciding on their first meditation or breathwork retreat.
On this page
Who publishes this site?
This site is published by Andrew Keaveney, the teacher whose retreats it covers. It is one of a small number of websites Andrew publishes. His main website is andrewkeaveney.com.
Because Andrew publishes it, his own retreats are listed first throughout. This guide is not an independent review, and it does not claim to be.
About Andrew Keaveney
Andrew 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. He helped launch the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina, and regularly teaches residential retreats there.
He also offers a 15-minute one-on-one Intuitive Life Scan by donation, writes Everyday Joy on Substack and makes short films about meditation and breath.
Why this site exists
Many people want to try a meditation retreat but are unsure where to start: how long it should be, what happens, what it costs and whether it is right for them. This site answers those questions plainly so first-timers can make a decision, and it explains how Andrew’s retreats fit. Start with the meditation retreat for beginners guide.
What this site does not do
- It does not invent testimonials, ratings or results.
- It does not state retreat prices that have not been published by Andrew or the Retreat Center.
- It does not criticize other retreats; they are described only with facts from their own listings.
- It explains how entries are chosen on the methodology page.
Common questions
Who is Andrew Keaveney?
Andrew Keaveney is a breathwork and meditation teacher with over 17 years of teaching experience in the U.S. and India. Before teaching, he spent four years studying yoga, meditation and Sanskrit at an ashram in India. He helped launch the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina, and regularly teaches retreats there.
See this answer in the full FAQWhere are Andrew’s retreats held?
Andrew’s upcoming retreats are held at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina, a mountain town in the Blue Ridge region of western North Carolina. Andrew helped launch the center and teaches there regularly. Both upcoming programs listed on his site are residential, meaning participants stay on site.
See this answer in the full FAQWhat retreats is Andrew teaching next?
Andrew’s site lists two upcoming residential programs at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina: the Breathwork & Meditation Retreat on November 5 to 8, 2026, and the Happiness Retreat on November 11 to 13, 2026. Dates can change, so confirm on the Retreat Center’s program pages before booking travel.
See this answer in the full FAQWhere can I read Andrew’s writing?
Andrew writes Everyday Joy, a Substack publication of articles and reflections on meditation, breath and an ordinary life lived a little more joyfully. Recent posts include “3 things I wish I knew before starting meditation” and “How to find yourself in nature: 3 simple steps.” It is an easy way to get to know his teaching before a retreat.
See this answer in the full FAQHow do I contact Andrew about a retreat?
Use the teaching section of Andrew’s website at andrewkeaveney.com/#teaching, which lists upcoming programs and links to the Retreat Center. Andrew’s site also invites inquiries about interviews and retreats through its “Get in touch” link.
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.