5 Affordable Meditation Retreats That Won't Break the Bank
Are you looking for a beautiful place to quiet the mind and heal the soul on a budget? Check out these 5 affordable meditation retreats where you'll focus more on your breathing and less on your wallet.
1. ART OF LIVING RETREAT CENTER - BOONE, NC
Expand your meditation practice while admiring views of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Nestled in nature, The Art of Living Retreat Center offers an expansive array of meditation options. Practice present moment awareness meditation during the Happiness Retreat, or take a week-long break with a Silent Retreat. What's more, you can also explore the mountains, enjoy a pottery class, or book a relaxing spa treatment.
Price: A weekday Happiness Retreat starts at $495 and includes lodging, meals, and tuition.
2. SPIRIT ROCK - SAN FRANCISCO, CA
You might not think affordability when you hear the words San Francisco. But, Spirit Rock meditation center in the Bay Area breaks the norm. Teaching Dharma, Vipassana (Insight Meditation), and Metta (Loving Kindness Meditation), this 411-acre center opens its doors to everyone, regardless of financial means. Offered at the center are a variety of non-residential, affordable meditation retreats that accept payment on a sliding scale. Pay the base fee, or if possible, any amount above that; the excess helps to cover costs for others. Finally, Spirit Rock offers a variety of scholarships and volunteer programs for those with especially limited financial means.
Price: Minimum cost/base rate of a standard day retreat is $105.
3. SHAMBHALA MOUNTAIN CENTER - RED FEATHER LAKES, CO
Shambhala Mountain Center sits at 8,000 feet within the beautiful Colorado Rockies. With a mission to provide a community of intensive meditation for as many people as possible, Shambhala’s costs cater to a variety of budgets. Choose a 1-bed suite for $299 per night, or connect with nature in a seasonal double tent for $90 per night. In addition to affordable accommodations, the center also offers reduced lodging rates. Visitors can choose costs that work best for them from a 3-tiered pricing system.
Price:Some programs offer $0 tuition or reduced rates.
4. SIVANANDA ASHRAM YOGA RETREAT - NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS
Don’t expect to sleep late at this traditional Ashram. With a structured schedule, 5-am wakeup calls, and mandatory daily meditation and yoga, Sivananda can be a spiritually transformative experience - even for those on a budget. The center's affordable meditation retreats include daily classes, group meditation, and vegetarian meals, while basic accommodations cost as little as $100/night. And, although the schedule is structured, you'll still have time for a dip in the ocean at the property’s private beach.
Price: Or pitch a tent in the sand for $89.
5. LE MONASTERE DES AUGUSTINES - QUEBEC, CANADA
Connect with mind, body, and history at this unique wellness center in the heart of Old Quebec. Located inside a monastery, Le Monastere des Augustines offers meditation and holistic health programs that won’t break the bank. Most notable are the center's original restored cloisters offered as accomodations for less than $100 per night. Choose from a contemporary room with modern decor, or an authentic monastic “cell” with an antique flair.
Price: Authentic double rooms cost $80/night and contemporary double rooms will run you $95 per night.
