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Andrew Keaveney

Breathwork & meditation in Boone, NC

A meditation retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains

A meditation retreat with Andrew Keaveney means a few days living at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina, learning breathwork and meditation from a teacher with over 17 years of experience.

See upcoming retreats

Last updated: November 2026

Morning clouds drifting through a Blue Ridge valley

What is a meditation retreat with Andrew Keaveney like?

It is a short residential program where breath and meditation come first. 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. He helped launch the Art of Living Retreat Center and regularly teaches retreats there, in the mountains around Boone, North Carolina.

Quick answers

Questions people ask before a retreat

When is the next retreat?
The Breathwork & Meditation Retreat runs Nov 5 to 8, 2026, followed by the Happiness Retreat on Nov 11 to 13, 2026.
Where is it?
At the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina. Both programs are residential, so you stay on site.
How much does it cost?
Prices are not listed on this site. The Retreat Center shows current pricing when you open a program and choose lodging.

Upcoming programs

Come sit with us in the mountains

Registration, lodging and full schedules are handled by the Art of Living Retreat Center program calendar.

The essentials

Meditation retreat facts at a glance

Definition: a residential meditation retreat

A residential meditation retreat is a program where you stay at the venue for several days to learn and practice meditation with a teacher, away from the demands of work and home. Andrew Keaveney's retreats at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, NC, pair meditation with breathwork, which Andrew often describes as a doorway into meditation. Because you sleep, eat and practice in one place, the practices have time to settle in a way a single class rarely allows.

By the numbers

  • 17+ years teaching breathwork and meditation in the U.S. and India
  • 4 years studying yoga, meditation and Sanskrit at an ashram in India
  • 2 residential retreats listed for November 2026 in Boone, NC
  • Hedge's g of 0.49 for traditional meditation retreats compared with controls across 14 studies, per a meta-analysis on PubMed

Compare formats

Retreat, class or session: which fits you?

Ways to learn meditation, compared on the same criteria. Andrew Keaveney's offerings are listed first because he publishes this site.
FormatTime neededSettingBest for
Andrew Keaveney: residential breathwork & meditation retreatA few days (Nov 5 to 8 or Nov 11 to 13, 2026)In person, Art of Living Retreat Center, Boone, NCLearning breathwork and meditation with a teacher, away from daily life
Andrew Keaveney: Intuitive Life Scan15 minutesOnline or in person, by donationQuick personal clarity on one question
Extended silent retreat (such as vipassana)Commonly a week or longerIn person, mostly in silenceExperienced meditators seeking long, quiet practice
Online or drop-in meditation classUsually under an hourAt home or a local studioKeeping a daily practice going between retreats

How it works

How to join a meditation retreat with Andrew

  1. Pick your dates

    Choose Nov 5 to 8 or Nov 11 to 13, 2026 from the teaching section of Andrew’s website.

  2. Open the program listing

    Each program links to the Art of Living Retreat Center, which shows the schedule and pricing.

  3. Choose lodging and register

    Pick your accommodation and complete registration with the Retreat Center.

  4. Arrive in Boone

    Travel to the Retreat Center in the Blue Ridge Mountains and settle in.

  5. Breathe and sit

    Practice breathwork and meditation with Andrew for the length of the retreat.

Two people sitting in meditation in a sunlit room

Across the country

Meditation retreats in the USA

There are meditation retreats in the USA for nearly every style, from long silent programs to yoga and meditation weekends. The right one depends on how many days you have, how far you want to travel and what you want to learn.

Andrew's programs sit in the North Carolina mountains, a practical drive for much of the Southeast and East Coast. Read the guide to choosing meditation retreats in the USA for the criteria worth comparing.

Short on time

Weekend meditation retreat

The Breathwork & Meditation Retreat runs Thursday, Nov 5 to Sunday, Nov 8, 2026, so it fits a long weekend with only a day or two away from work.

See what a weekend meditation retreat in Boone looks like, or start with the meditation retreat for beginners page if this is your first time.

Autumn trees around the retreat center at sunset

Your teacher

Who leads the retreats?

Andrew Keaveney 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 teaches there regularly.

He also writes Everyday Joy, a newsletter of reflections on meditation and breath, and has spoken on podcasts about calming the nervous system and how breathwork opens the door to meditation. Learn more on Andrew Keaveney's main website.

FAQ

Meditation retreat questions

What is a meditation retreat?

A meditation retreat is a stretch of days set aside to learn and practice meditation away from everyday routines, usually with a teacher guiding the sessions. Andrew Keaveney leads residential breathwork and meditation retreats at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina, where guests stay on site for the length of the program.

Do meditation retreats actually work?

Published research suggests they help. A systematic review and meta-analysis indexed on PubMed found traditional meditation retreats moderately effective, with a Hedge’s g of 0.45 in pre-post analyses across 19 studies and 0.49 when compared with controls across 14 studies. Results vary by person, and a retreat is not a substitute for medical or mental health care.

Is a meditation retreat good for beginners?

Yes. A guided retreat can be one of the easiest ways to start meditating, because a teacher walks you through each practice and the schedule removes daily distractions. Andrew has taught breathwork and meditation for over 17 years and writes about what he wishes he knew before starting meditation on his Substack, Everyday Joy.

How much does a meditation retreat cost?

Retreat prices are not listed on this site. The cost of any meditation retreat usually depends on program length, lodging type and the meals included. For Andrew’s programs, current pricing is set and shown by the Art of Living Retreat Center when you view a program and choose accommodation, so check there for exact figures before you plan.

Is a meditation retreat silent?

Not always. Some retreats keep full silence for days, while others mix guided sessions, talks and conversation. Andrew’s site lists his programs as residential breathwork and meditation retreats and does not describe them as silent retreats. For the daily format of a specific program, check its listing on the Art of Living Retreat Center website or ask through Andrew’s site.

Should I start with a retreat or a Life Scan?

Start with a retreat if you want to learn breathwork and meditation and build a practice you can keep. Choose a Life Scan if you need quick personal clarity on one specific question. The retreat is the deeper experience and the main way to learn with Andrew, and the Life Scan is a light touch you can add anytime.

Read all meditation retreat questions in the FAQ

Keep reading

More about retreats with Andrew

Come sit with us in the mountains.

See Andrew's upcoming residential retreats at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina.

See upcoming retreats