As more people take charge of their personal well-being, one practice that is rapidly growing in popularity is meditation. There are a number of reasons why people meditate and chief among them is that meditation can be done just about anywhere and at any time of day. But sometimes, it is beneficial to dive into an immersive meditation experience and this is where retreats come into the equation.
When it comes to meditation retreats, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Some retreats, like vipassana meditation centers and Zen Mountain Monastery, emphasize the meditation aspect above all else. Others, like Esalen Institute, aim to provide pampered rejuvenation of the mind and body.
Finding the right meditation retreat can be a daunting task, but these 7 meditation retreats in the US are the best place to start:
- Spirit Rock Insight Meditation Center
- Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health
- Zen Mountain Monastery
- Esalen Institute
- Shambala Mountain Center
- Vipassana Meditation Centers
- The Art of Living Retreat Center
They are all unique so you will need to do your homework and read on to determine which one is the best fit for your own meditation needs.
Table of Contents
What is a Good Place for Spiritual Retreats in General?
Generally speaking, meditation is best done in a secluded environment, away from distractions that can cloud the mind and hamper concentration. As far as locations for spiritual retreats are concerned, the same underlying premise applies, and given their purpose, these venues tend to be found in locations that behoove deep contemplation and mental clarity such as rural and wilderness areas.
As far as on-site amenities are concerned, these can range from austere to luxurious and the same can be said for accommodations.
What Happens on a Meditation Retreat?
As the name suggests, a meditation retreat is a specialized setting where the primary activity for participants to engage in during their stay, is meditation. Given its singular purpose, a meditation retreat’s entire operations are designed to support and facilitate the practice of meditative arts on its grounds. Most facilities can accommodate stays ranging from a single day to several weeks in duration.
Needless to say, meditation is what happens on a meditation retreat. But this can occur in many different forms depending on the type of retreat, and there are activities that either complement or enrich the experience of meditation. Generally speaking, these are the things you can expect to happen on a meditation retreat:
- Participants can expect to take their normal meditation routines to a higher level while on a retreat, with a greater emphasis placed on recognition of practical and theoretical elements
- Many meditation retreats are silent environments and the only talking that is allowed is that which takes place between students and instructors
- While participants will spend the majority of their time in meditative sitting poses, complementary activities like walks and discussion groups are quite common as breaks from meditation
- Some meditation retreats combine yoga, pilates, or massages into their meditation programs
- For lengthier meditation retreats, meals and sleeping will also be part of each day’s activities
The intensity of meditative activities will vary from retreat to retreat so it is important to select a program that suits your objectives, be they casual or hardcore.
The 7 Best Meditation Retreats in the US
According to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), meditation is one of the most popular forms of complementary or holistic health practices. In fact, the number of Americans who meditate more than tripled from 2012 to 2017.
As more and more people join the ranks of those who meditate, there is a growing need for specialized venues that are exclusively curated to provide wholly immersive meditation experiences for their guests and visitors. These are the 7 best meditation retreats in the US, with each catering to a particular facet of the meditative arts.
1. Spirit Rock Insight Meditation Center
Sitting on over 400 acres of undeveloped woodlands in Northern California, Spirit Rock Insight Meditation Center provides a quiet refuge for visitors and guests to immerse themselves in the meditative arts. The primary forms of meditation taught and practiced at Spirit Rock are:
- Dharma – teachings of the Buddha
- Vipassana – insight meditation
- Metta – loving kindness meditation
One of the most popular offerings at Spirit Rock is its Insight Meditation Retreat, which is an immersive, multi-day program focusing on vipassana meditation. Here is what you need to know about this program:
FORMAT: This is a 5-night program that begins with guests arriving on a Friday afternoon and departing the following Wednesday morning. Spirit Rock’s Insight Meditation Retreat is a silent event that covers these aspects of vipassana meditation practice:
- Sitting and walking vipassana meditation
- Loving kindness practices
- Evening discussions regarding the teachings of the Buddha
- Meetings with instructors
COST: Spirit Rock’s fee for this program is based on a sliding scale of $250 to $2400 per person, and any amount above the minimum is considered a tax-deductible donation to Spirit Rock. This fee does not include any gratuities given to instructors.
COMMUNITY: Although practitioners of all experience and skill levels are welcomed, Spirit Rock’s Insight Meditation Retreat is designed with newcomers to vipassana practice in mind.
2. Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health
The Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health is located in western Massachusetts and its Retreat & Renewal program is its signature offering. This self-described healing and restorative retreat emphasizes meditation but also offers a host of complementary activities and services that give this venue a holistic spa vibe.
Here is what you need to know about the Kripalu Retreat & Renewal program:
FORMAT: Guests can opt for daily passes or overnight stays of varying lengths and both plans include a dining package (3 meals), participation in activities, and full access to Kripalu’s 100-acre grounds, including scenic walking paths and hiking trails. A typical daily itinerary can include:
- Morning meditation and yoga session
- Silent breakfast
- Morning activity
- Lunch
- Share circle
- Afternoon meditation and yoga sessions
- Dinner
COST: Overnight stays are charged by the night and include meal service and full access to courses and activities. The weeknight (Tuesday through Thursday) rate is $85.00/night plus accommodations while the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and holidays) rate is $95.00/night plus accommodations.
Daily passes are valid for a full day (6:00 am to 9:30 pm) and include the same amenities as overnight stays. The daily rate for Wednesday through Friday is $125.00 while the Saturday rate is $150.00.
COMMUNITY: Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health offers a resort-style package of meditative and yogic activities that are ideal for practitioners looking for a restorative getaway.
3. Zen Mountain Monastery
Several hours north of the hustle and bustle of New York City in the quaint, serene surroundings of Mount Tremper lies Zen Mountain Monastery, a world-renowned haven for those seeking to learn about Zen meditation or further advance their journey along the Zen Buddhism path.
ZMM, as it is affectionately known to its followers, offers an introductory weekend retreat that provides an immersive Zen meditation experience while also pulling back the curtain on the monastery’s operations and allowing participants to experience firsthand its sacred cloisters. Here’s a deeper look:
FORMAT: This is a 2-night program that runs from Friday through Sunday at the monastery location (there is also a location in Brooklyn). Participants are expected to be fully engaged during their stay which will include these highlights:
- Experience ZMM’s Eight Gates program
- Receive guided instruction in the art of Zazen (seated meditation)
- Q&A sessions with instructors, including one-on-one conversations
COST: The fee for Zen Mountain Monastery’s introductory retreat is $250.00 (plus optional donations).
COMMUNITY: This particular course is offered with newcomers to Zen Buddhism in mind. There are additional retreats available for practitioners with a stronger commitment to their spiritual journey.
4. Esalen Institute
Esalen Institute is a holistic learning and retreat center located in Big Sur on California’s Central Coast region. Sitting on a sprawling site of 120 acres perched on cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Esalen Institute’s eclectic offering of retreats and workshops has attracted over 750,000 visitors since its founding. Here is what you can expect:
FORMAT: One of the biggest appeals of Esalen Institute is the diversity of retreats and workshops offered. While meditation forms the backbone of many of these offerings, it is the immersive experience of Esalen itself and the opportunity to be with like-minded people that are the biggest draws. Retreat themes include:
- Self-awakening and self-healing
- Well-being through dance
- Zen meditation
- Self-transformation
- Mindfulness
COST: Unlike most other retreat venues, Esalen Institute offers a wide range of accommodations. There are nine tiers ranging from simple communal “sleeping bag” stays ($900.00 for 4 nights) to private single rooms ($2,625.00 for 4 nights) to luxurious suites with resort-style amenities ($8,000.00 for 4 nights).
These rates include accommodations, meals, classes, and activities.
COMMUNITY: With its eclectic catalog of on-site retreats, classes, and workshops, and equally diverse range of accommodations, Esalen Institute offers a uniquely curated holistic experience for everyone.
5. Shambala Mountain Center
Perhaps no meditation retreat in the US offers a more stunning backdrop than Shambala Mountain Center, which sits on over 600 acres in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Shambala Mountain Center’s Retreat and Renewal programs are held monthly and while these retreats are fully immersive meditative and rejuvenating experiences, they are also decidedly social events that encourage interaction among participants.
Here is a closer look at this meditation retreat:
FORMAT: Retreat and Renewal is a 2-night program offering activity-filled daily schedules that include:
- Group orientation upon arrival
- Daily meal service (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Morning meditation and yoga sessions
- Afternoon outings (nature walks and hikes)
- Afternoon meditation and yoga sessions
- Nightly events and activities (optional)
COST: The Shambala Mountain Center facility includes several lodges offering multiple tiers of accommodations. For budget-conscious visitors, there is a communal dormitory with 7 twin beds and a shared bathroom. The rate for this option is $352.00 which also includes meals and activities.
For those seeking to make the most of their experience, there are private suites with in-room bathrooms and queen-sized beds. These accommodations cost $698.00 for the entire visit. There are also a number of other options available.
COMMUNITY: The structure of Shambala Mountain Center’s retreats may be in stark contrast to the meditation-intensive, silent retreats found elsewhere, but as far as self-rejuvenation is concerned, this program gets the job done as well as any.
6. Vipassana Meditation Centers
This worldwide network of retreat and meditation facilities adheres to the teachings of S.N. Goenka, a self-professed descendant in an unbroken line of vipassana meditation teachers dating back to the time of the Buddha himself. As one of the oldest forms of meditation, vipassana is challenging to practice so retreats are particularly beneficial to those seeking to master it.
This is what the dozen or so vipassana meditation centers in the US have to offer:
FORMAT: Historically, vipassana meditation retreats lasted 7 weeks and this modern iteration is a 10-day course. Participants in this program are expected to adhere to a code of conduct to properly frame their minds and prepare themselves for their meditative journey. These are some of the things you should expect:
- By their attendance, students are agreeing to a moral code of conduct
- Students agree to abide by the teachings of their instructors
- All other spiritual practices are to be suspended during the retreat
- Students must practice noble silence throughout the duration of the retreat
- Men and women may not interact with each other
- No physical activities other than walking are permitted
- No religious or spiritual items may be brought to the retreat
COST: Vipassana meditation retreats are cost-free. Traditionally, new students are gifted their program costs by their predecessors and the only out-of-pocket expenditures are donations.
COMMUNITY: The typical vipassana meditation retreat has 70-80 participants per session and because it is an intensive study of this ancient art, there is a decidedly minimalist atmosphere from day one. This is a course for practitioners who are fully invested in the ways of vipassana.
7. The Art of Living Retreat Center
North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains are home to The Art of Living Retreat Center and its highly-rated Meditation Retreat. With its stated purposes of clearing the mind and relieving stress, this retreat is the perfect cure for the anxiety and emotional instability caused by the rigors of everyday life through the practice of Sahaj Samadhi (“effortless meditation”).
Here is what this program offers:
FORMAT: This is a 2-night program with weekday and weekend sessions. The aim is to achieve rejuvenation through meditation and complementary activities and therefore there is a therapeutic atmosphere at this venue. A typical retreat itinerary includes:
- Full meal service (vegetarian breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
- Morning yoga followed by meditation
- A block of free time (for exploring the grounds or relaxing)
- Afternoon meditation
- Optional evening chanting session
COST: There are two accommodation options at The Art of Living Retreat Center, both of which include lodging, dining, and activities:
- The Private Hotel Room includes full hotel amenities with a weekday (Wed-Fri) rate of $695.00 and $795.00 for a weekend (Fri-Sun) retreat
- The Private Retreat Room costs $615.00 for a weekday retreat and $715.00 for the weekend package
COMMUNITY: This retreat is ideal for meditation novices and experienced enthusiasts alike. The underlying theme of this program is rejuvenation and re-centering so while it is an immersive meditation experience, rest and relaxation are also important aspects.
Just a Beginner to Meditation? Here’s How to Get Started
Attending a meditation retreat is a major commitment of time and money. And unless you have achieved a certain level of meditation experience, in some cases you may not get as much out of a retreat as a more seasoned practitioner would. For this reason, it may be a good idea to get started in the meditative arts by attending online programs before participating in an in-person retreat.
If you are a beginner to meditation, these two sites are great places to start:
- Sura Flow – the free-flowing, organic approach to meditation espoused by this site resonates with practitioners of all skill levels but particularly with beginners. With meditation themes ranging from anxiety suppression to relaxation, Sura Flow’s online courses are perfectly suited for people seeking a well-rounded introduction to meditation.
- School of Positive Transformation – for a deeper dive, this online meditation and mindfulness course from the School of Positive Transformation is an accredited program that offers a comprehensive curriculum covering the nuts and bolts of meditation. So in-depth is the coverage that graduates of this program can be qualified to teach meditation to others.
Each person’s meditation journey is unique. For many, attending a meditation retreat is the pinnacle of their meditative development. But for others, their path starts out online to gain a basic understanding of the fundamentals before embarking on in-person events.
Conclusion
Meditation retreats have been around for thousands of years. While the settings, accommodations, and amenities may be different today than they were centuries ago, the objectives of participants remain the same: to achieve mental clarity, emotional stability, and inner peace.
Check out this article for best accredited online meditation courses.