Residential retreats in Boone, North Carolina
Last updated November 2026By Andrew Keaveney
A meditation retreat is several days away from daily life to practice with a teacher, and Andrew Keaveney leads residential breathwork and meditation retreats at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina. With over 17 years of teaching in the U.S. and India, he helped launch the center and teaches there regularly.
Next: Breathwork & Meditation Retreat, November 5 to 8
Photograph by Andrew Keaveney.
A meditation retreat is right for you if you want guided, uninterrupted time to learn or deepen a practice, and it does not require prior experience. Residential retreats let you sleep, eat and practice in one place for several days. Andrew Keaveney's retreats pair breathwork with meditation, which gives beginners an easier way in and gives experienced meditators a deeper sit.
Guided breathwork paired with meditation, so the breath becomes the doorway into stillness. A strong first retreat for beginners and returning meditators alike.
Residential retreat at the Art of Living Retreat Center, Boone, NC
A shorter residential retreat centered on a quiet mind and a joyful heart, the theme that runs through Andrew’s teaching and writing.
Residential retreat at the Art of Living Retreat Center, Boone, NC
Dates as listed on andrewkeaveney.com, as of November 2026. Prices, schedules and registration are on the Art of Living Retreat Center program calendar.
A residential meditation retreat is a multi-day program where participants stay on site and follow a schedule of guided practice, meals and rest, away from work and screens. In the retreats taught by Andrew Keaveney at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina, that practice combines breathwork with meditation, using the breath as a doorway into stillness. Residential retreats differ from weekly classes because practice happens in consecutive sessions over several days, which many people find helps it settle in.
As listed on andrewkeaveney.com, as of November 2026.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found traditional meditation retreats moderately effective in pre-post analyses (n=19; Hedge's g=0.45; 95% CI [0.35, 0.54], p<0.00001) and when compared to controls (n=14; Hedge's g=0.49; 95% CI [0.36, 0.61], p<0.00001).
Source: Khoury et al., Effectiveness of traditional meditation retreats (PubMed). See all statistics.
A weekend meditation retreat gives you consecutive days of practice without weeks off work. Andrew's Breathwork & Meditation Retreat runs November 5 to 8, four days that include a weekend, and the Happiness Retreat runs three days, November 11 to 13. Both are short enough for a first retreat and long enough to leave with a practice you can keep at home.
Meditation retreats in the USA range from silent vipassana meditation retreats to yoga and meditation retreats and short guided weekends. The table below compares the common formats on the same criteria. Andrew Keaveney teaches the first format, so read it as his guide, not an independent ranking.
| Format | Typical length | Talking | Main practice | Good first retreat? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breathwork and meditation retreat | 3 to 4 days for Andrew’s listed programs | Guided instruction throughout | Breathing practices that lead into meditation | Yes. The breath gives a busy mind something concrete to do. |
| Weekend meditation retreat | Usually 2 to 4 days | Varies by program | Guided or self-led meditation sessions | Yes. A short commitment that fits a work week. |
| Silent or vipassana meditation retreat | Often several days, commonly up to 10 | Mostly or fully silent | Long periods of seated insight meditation | Possible, but often easier after some practice. |
| Yoga and meditation retreat | Varies widely | Usually guided | Yoga postures plus meditation | Often, if you are comfortable with movement. |
| Week-long or longer retreat | 5 days or more | Varies by program | Deeper immersion in one method | Better as a second retreat for most people. |
Decide what you want from it
Rest, a new practice, a reset, or deeper meditation. Your goal points you toward a guided or silent format.
Pick a length you can commit to
A three or four day retreat is a common first step. Longer retreats suit people with an established practice.
Check the teacher and setting
Look for teaching experience and a place that makes it easy to settle. Andrew has taught for over 17 years.
Confirm logistics and price
Lodging, meals and price are listed on the retreat center’s program pages, not on this site.
Practice a little beforehand
A few 10 to 15 minute sits in the weeks before make the first day feel familiar.
Andrew spent four years studying yoga, meditation and Sanskrit at an ashram in India, then taught breathwork and meditation for over 17 years in the U.S. and India. He helped launch the Art of Living Retreat Center and regularly teaches retreats there. He writes about meditation and breath on his Substack, Everyday Joy, and has spoken on podcasts about how breathwork opens the door to meditation.
A meditation retreat is a stretch of time set aside away from daily routines to practice meditation with guidance. Residential retreats include lodging, so you sleep, eat and practice in one place. The retreats Andrew Keaveney teaches are residential programs at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina, combining breathwork and meditation.
More in the full FAQ: What is a meditation retreat?As listed on andrewkeaveney.com in November 2026, Andrew’s upcoming programs are the Breathwork and Meditation Retreat from November 5 to 8 and the Happiness Retreat from November 11 to 13. Both are residential retreats at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina. The center lists all of its programs on its own website.
More in the full FAQ: What retreats is Andrew Keaveney teaching next?Published research suggests they can help. A systematic review and meta-analysis by Khoury and colleagues found traditional meditation retreats moderately effective in pre-post analyses (n=19; Hedge’s g=0.45; 95% CI [0.35, 0.54]) and compared to controls (n=14; Hedge’s g=0.49; 95% CI [0.36, 0.61]). Individual results vary, and a retreat is not a substitute for medical care.
More in the full FAQ: Do meditation retreats actually work?A weekend meditation retreat is a short residential program, usually two to four days, that fits around a normal work week. It gives you consecutive days of guided practice without needing extended time off. Andrew Keaveney’s Breathwork and Meditation Retreat runs November 5 to 8, four days that include a weekend, in Boone, North Carolina.
More in the full FAQ: What is a weekend meditation retreat?Yes. Many retreats welcome people with no meditation experience, and a guided format can be an easier start than a strict silent one. Andrew Keaveney’s retreats combine breathwork with meditation, and he has spoken on podcasts about how breathwork opens the door to meditation, which many beginners find helpful when sitting still feels hard.
More in the full FAQ: Can a beginner go to a meditation retreat?Retreat prices are not stated on andrewkeaveney.com or on this site. Pricing for residential programs usually depends on length and lodging choice. For current rates on the Breathwork and Meditation Retreat or the Happiness Retreat, see the Art of Living Retreat Center’s program pages, which list all of the center’s programs.
More in the full FAQ: How much does a meditation retreat with Andrew cost?See Andrew Keaveney's upcoming meditation and breathwork retreats in Boone, North Carolina.
