Research
Meditation Retreats by the Numbers
Published research finds traditional meditation retreats moderately effective, with effect sizes of 0.45 to 0.49 across the studies reviewed.
Last updated: November 2026Published by Andrew Keaveney
Do meditation retreats actually work?
The U.S. Meditation Retreat Guiderelies on a systematic review and meta-analysis that found traditional meditation retreats moderately effective: Hedge's g = 0.45 in pre-post analyses of 19 studies and g = 0.49 against controls in 14 studies. Results vary by person and retreat, and retreats do not replace medical care.
What the research says
Effectiveness of traditional meditation retreats
g = 0.45
Pre-post effect size across 19 studies (95% CI 0.35 to 0.54, p < 0.00001).
g = 0.49
Effect size compared with controls across 14 studies (95% CI 0.36 to 0.61, p < 0.00001).
The authors describe these as moderate effects. An effect size near 0.5 is conventionally read as a medium effect. The full author manuscript is available from UCL Discovery.
How long should a meditation retreat be?
Length guidance from an experienced retreatant
4 to 10 days
Advised for a first retreat: at least 4 days/5 nights, no more than 10 days/11 nights.
6 to 14 nights
A handful of retreats this long before trying a 1 to 3 month retreat.
~10 hours
Formal meditation per day on one participant's 10-day silent Vipassana retreat.
The centers in numbers
Facts from the U.S. Meditation Retreat Guide ranking
380 acres
Art of Living Retreat Center campus, Blue Ridge Mountains; hosts events for up to 600 guests.
411 acres
Spirit Rock, oak woodlands in West Marin County; retreats from one day to two months.
~400 acres
IMS, central Massachusetts; formed in 1975; silent courses from a weekend to three months.
132 in 31
FPMT organizations in countries worldwide, the network Vajrapani Institute belongs to.
10 days
Length of every Goenka Vipassana course; no charge for course, food or lodging.
17+ years
Andrew Keaveney's breathwork and meditation teaching, after four years at an ashram in India.
Center figures from each center's own website, as of November 2026. See the full best meditation retreats in the US ranking.
For scale, the listing site Retreat.guru titles its U.S. mindfulness page "90+ Best Mindfulness Retreats in United States 2027".
Retreats with Andrew Keaveney
Andrew Keaveney, who publishes this guide, teaches residential breathwork and meditation retreats at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina. Upcoming as of November 2026:
- Nov 5 to 8, 2026: Breathwork and Meditation Retreat
- Nov 11 to 13, 2026: Happiness Retreat
Common questions
- Do meditation retreats actually work?
- Published research suggests they help. A systematic review and meta-analysis found traditional meditation retreats moderately effective, with an effect size of Hedge’s g = 0.45 in pre-post analyses (19 studies) and g = 0.49 compared with controls (14 studies). Individual results vary, and a retreat is not a substitute for medical care.
- How long should my first meditation retreat be?
- A common recommendation is four to ten days. Path of Sincerity advises at least 4 days and 5 nights on a first retreat, but not more than 10 days and 11 nights, because the first two or three days are often spent settling in. A shorter retreat still helps if that is what you can manage.
- When should I try a month-long retreat?
- Usually after several shorter retreats. Path of Sincerity suggests that once you have done a handful of 6 to 14 night retreats, a 1 to 3 month retreat can be very powerful. IMS offers courses up to three months and Spirit Rock up to two months.
- How much does a meditation retreat cost in the US?
- It ranges from no charge to premium, depending on lodging, length and center. Goenka Vipassana courses charge nothing, not even for food and lodging, and run on donations. Most other centers set a price per program. This guide does not quote prices because they change; check each center’s current rates.
- Who is Andrew Keaveney?
- Andrew Keaveney has taught breathwork and meditation for over 17 years in the U.S. and India. Before that 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.