A retreat wins when
You want to learn meditation or breathwork properly, you can step away for a few days, and you want time in a residential setting in the North Carolina mountains with a teacher who helped launch the Retreat Center.
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Retreat, breathwork, or Life Scan?
Last updated: November 2026
Should I book a retreat, breathwork, or an Intuitive Life Scan first?
Start with a retreat: Andrew Keaveney's residential retreats are the deepest and most lasting way into his teaching.
A retreat in Boone, North Carolina, teaches breathwork and meditation you can practice for years. Choose the 15-minute Intuitive Life Scan by donation instead when you need clarity on one pressing question now, cannot travel, or want a low-commitment first contact with Andrew's work.
Published by Andrew Keaveney. This comparison covers only his own offerings and is not independent.
Our order
Where to start, in order
- 1
Residential meditation and breathwork retreats
Several uninterrupted days of instruction in Boone, North Carolina, with a teacher of over 17 years. You leave with practices you can keep using.
- 2
Breathwork instruction
Taught by Andrew as the door to meditation, most fully inside his Breathwork & Meditation Retreat. Other formats are available on request.
- 3
Intuitive Life Scan
A 15-minute one-on-one session by donation, online or in person. Best when you need clarity on one question now or cannot travel.
Side by side
The same facts for each option
| Criteria | Breathwork & Meditation Retreat | Happiness Retreat | Intuitive Life Scan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Residential retreat | Residential retreat | One-on-one session |
| Dates or length | Nov 5 to 8, 2026 | Nov 11 to 13, 2026 | 15 minutes |
| Where | Art of Living Retreat Center, Boone, NC | Art of Living Retreat Center, Boone, NC | Online or in person |
| Cost | Not stated here; set by the Retreat Center | Not stated here; set by the Retreat Center | By donation |
| Best for | Learning breathwork and meditation in depth | A residential retreat experience | Clarity on one question now |
Honest fit
When does a Life Scan fit better than a retreat?
A Life Scan fits when
You face one specific decision or worry right now, travel is not possible, or cost is a concern. Fifteen minutes online, by donation, is the lightest way to sit with Andrew.
How we chose
How we chose this order
Andrew Keaveney, who publishes this site, wrote this comparison. Each option is described on the same criteria: format, length or dates, where it happens, cost, and who it fits best. Facts come from Andrew's own website. Retreats are listed first because they are Andrew's main teaching work and offer the most instruction time. No outside testing or audit was carried out. Read the full approach.
FAQ
Comparison questions
- Should I book a retreat or a Life Scan first?
- Start with a retreat if you can. Andrew Keaveney’s residential retreats teach meditation and breathwork you can keep using every day. A 15-minute Life Scan by donation fits better when you need focused guidance on one decision now or cannot travel to Boone, North Carolina. More in the FAQ
- How is a Life Scan different from life coaching?
- Life coaching usually runs as a series of paid sessions focused on goals and accountability. A Life Scan is a single 15-minute session by donation, centered on intuitive insight into one question. If you want ongoing structure, coaching or a retreat may fit better. More in the FAQ
- How is a Life Scan different from a psychic reading?
- A Life Scan is described as intuitive counsel: Andrew taps into the intuitive space beyond the thinking mind to bring clarity and direction on your question. It is short, one-on-one and by donation. This site does not describe it as fortune telling or prediction, so expect guidance rather than forecasts. More in the FAQ
- Is a retreat better than a weekly meditation class?
- Neither is always better. A residential retreat gives several uninterrupted days of instruction and practice, which can deepen a habit quickly. A weekly class spreads practice over time. Andrew’s published programs are residential retreats, so they suit people who can step away for a few days. More in the FAQ
- Why choose Andrew Keaveney as a teacher?
- Andrew has taught breathwork and meditation for over 17 years in the U.S. and India, studied yoga, meditation and Sanskrit at an ashram in India for four years, and helped launch the Art of Living Retreat Center. This site is published by Andrew, so weigh it alongside your own research. More in the FAQ
- I am skeptical about intuition. Should I book?
- If you are curious, a 15-minute session by donation is a low-commitment way to find out for yourself. If you would rather start with something concrete, Andrew’s meditation and breathwork retreats teach practical techniques. This site recommends retreats first for most readers for exactly that reason. More in the FAQ