9 Healing Spiritual Retreats for Every Budget (U.S.) – Heart Shaped Sol

I LOVE healing spiritual retreats. Why? They can really upgrade your life! Or at least give you a taste of what is possible and the space to be truly you. But getting yourself to a spiritual retreat takes intention, effort and resources. It turns out you have to be intentional about spiritual growth.

Well, I’m here to tell you all about why you may want to get yourself to a spiritual retreat and where you can go. For all kinds of budgets!

This post is all about 9 healing spiritual retreats in the United States, for inner peace and personal growth.

9 Best Healing Spiritual Retreats

What is a Spiritual Retreat?

The term “spiritual retreat” may bring up different ideas to different people. A spa vacation? A wellness retreat? Solo-travel through Europe?

All of the above may well give you a spiritual experience and growth. At the end of the day, our ordinary lives are our spiritual journeys. Whether we know it or not. Things are always at play, to get your attention and help you learn. But it takes a lot to stay conscious 24/7. Not when you have bills to pay and kids to feed. Retreats fast-track our spiritual journeys and/or open you up to something completely new.

A spiritual retreat refers to the act of removing yourself from your ordinary life to go inward and seek communion with Spirit. It takes intention, and is not your ordinary beach vacation. Similarly, in order to launch into a spiritual journey, it really helps to go somewhere new. The act removes ordinary programming or triggers that you face on a day to day basis. It gives you space, so to speak, to be your true self.

So, typically, you travel to a specific place, for a period of time. You set yourself up for entirely new experiences. You might find yourself surrounded in natural beauty, peace and tranquility. You focus becomes inward. Learn, meditate, observe. See what happens.

Retreats Offer Different Experiences

I’ve been to many spiritual retreats. There have been a huge variety in the transformative experiences that unfolded. A silent meditation retreat, for example, is starkly different from a Dr. Joe Dispenza retreat.

At silent retreats, you spend time entirely with your thoughts. Alone with your inner self. You try to let your thoughts and any negative emotions go. So much happens in that process. What thoughts come at you? What do you feel? Are you able to let it pass by without attachment? What’s on the other end?

In contrast, at Dr. Joe retreats, there’s dancing, scientific research discussions, meditations and energy healings. Somewhere in there, your heart blows right open. You are among a couple of thousands of people. You see the beauty, and power, in each of them. You make friends from all over the world. There are highly advanced souls who look just like grandma next door. You get a glimpse of how we, as humanity, can be if we plug into the right, positive energy.

I’ve also been to wellness destinations with girlfriends. Such excursions are healing in a different way. You’re intentionally surrounding yourself in familiar love. There’s definitely strength in that, and you need that, too. But this post is not about leaning into the familiar.

Why Go on a Spiritual Retreat?

Spiritual upgrades are definitely possible in solitude. But there are many upsides to going to a retreat. A retreat is usually led by teachers with years of experience in guiding others. It provides a safe and supportive environment so you can do your deep inner work. Some retreats focus on specific issues and needs. All of them will add to your toolkit of wellness practices. They can lead to improvements in mental, emotional and overall health.

This post focuses on healing spiritual retreats that will help you discover more of yourself. We’re talking major insights and spiritual growth that help overcome your old self. Or heal wounds that you didn’t know you had in body and mind. Such transformative experiences help you become more of you. A bigger version of yourself. So you can live the life to your full potential.

Not one, single retreat will bring you all of that at once. But by taking yourself out of your ordinary life, you give yourself the space to shed old layers and create something new.

And fiercely look within. With no distractions.

From time to time, such an act can make a world of difference in life. It can literally change your time line. And when you upgrade your time line, you bring everyone else up with you.

So. Are you looking for some major life changes and don’t know where to start? Are you curious about what could happen if you were more of yourself? Do you want to find out how powerful you really are, or what your life purpose is? Then you may want to get yourself to one of these spiritual retreats and find out for yourself.

It takes real commitment of time and resources to go to a retreat. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of best healing spiritual retreats for every budget. Many are no more than the cost of paying for your room and board, plus a heart-felt donation for the teachers’ time. Some are splurges that, admittedly, only a small percentage of population can enjoy.

I can tell you from personal experience that YOU DO NOT NEED TO SPLURGE to have an amazing spiritual upgrade. Your experience ultimately comes down to your open mind and readiness to heal and grow. But, if you’re reading this post, then your spirit may already be nudging you in that direction.

Seriously, without sincerity and intention, even the most expensive retreat will fail to “pop” you.

So, without further ado, here are the list of best spiritual retreats that could change your life.

Affordable Spiritual Retreats

The first four retreat destinations are rooted in Buddhist traditions. But they are NOT religious. Their guidance focuses on mindfulness and meditation. [See post, How Does Meditation Work? Change Your Brain, Find Your Happy Place, for benefits of meditation.] Instructors may refer to some Buddhist concepts about nature of mind, suffering, and letting go. But the bulk of the experience is your own, your own inner journey.

Cloud Mountain Retreat Center (WA): This retreat center is located deep in the forests of southwest Washington, approximately 125 miles south of Seattle. It is an intimate space with maximum capacity of less than 50 people. Retreats here focus on simplicity and meditation, and your day would be spent on listening to dharma—the inherent nature of reality—talks, and participating in sitting and walking meditations. Mindfulness practices is the theme, no matter what you’re doing, is recommended. You can find a sample schedule here.

Insight Meditation Society (MA): Located among the quiet forests of Massachusetts, the Insight Meditation Society is one of the most renowned of meditation retreats in the United States. It has a Retreat Center, which offers classes and teacher-led retreats of varying lengths. The Retreat Center provides daily instruction in vipassana (insight) and metta (lovingkindness) meditations, which focus on deepening awareness and compassion. Its Forest Refuge, a separate site, offers a more independent experience for the more advanced meditator. This location is designed to offer a more sustained and longer-term experience, with the recommended stays of 10 to 14 days or longer.

Insight Meditation Community of Washington (DC/VA/MD): The IMCW is located in the Washington, DC, area. It does not have a central site but is very active in offering classes and retreats at friendly locations in the DC/MD/VA area. I’ve been to several of their silent meditation retreats hosted by the amazing teacher, Shell Fisher, of Mindful Shenandoah Valley. Retreats with her allowed me to open up to motherhood, and doscover the universal love of the Mother, many years ago. So yes, I’d recommend their retreats.

Spirit Rock Meditation Center (CA): Spirit Rock is located north of San Francisco, in California. This center is also rooted in insight and lovingkindness meditation traditions. Some of their retreats have specific themes, including intuition and sound bath. It also offers affinity retreats to provide space for community and support for groups such as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, self-identified women or men, young adults, and families. Spirit Rock also offers robust online classes and programs.

The following retreat destination does NOT come from the Buddhist lineage.

Siddhayatan Tirth & Spiritual Retreat Center (TX): Located north of Dallas, Texas, the Siddhayatan calls itself “an ashram, spiritual retreat center, monastery, and meditation park and pilgrimage site.” It is founded upon the teachings of spiritual master Acharya Shree Yogeesh, Siddhayatan. It is “spiritual, not religious,” with emphasis on personal transformation and helping you discover your authentic self. It offers a variety of programs, including day retreats and self-guided silent retreats. It offers a meditation park, temples and a cow sanctuary in a beautifully natural setting.

Mid-Range Spiritual Retreats

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health (MA): Located in southern Massachusetts, Kripalu is famous for attracting some big names for its speakers. It is set among wooded hills and lakes, and is a terrific spot for outdoor activities such as hiking, kayacking and walking the labyrinth. It offers daily classes on meditation, yoga, sound meditations and other wellness topics. Kripalu is also famous for its cafeteria that serves amazing, freshly prepared food. The menu is mostly plant based and cater to specific dietary needs. One can easily spend multiple days observing silence in meditation or making it a combined yoga retreat. It also offers spa treatments, with numerous massage and energy healing options.

The Art of Living Retreat Center (NC): The Art of Living is located in 380 acres of pristine forest high up in the Blue Ridge Mountains, in Boone, North Carolina. It offers meditation retreats, rest and relaxation retreats and ayurvedic wellness stays. Its signature “Happiness Retreat” is offered twice a week and lasts two nights. It is designed to help you “reconnect with your inner calm through yoga, breathwork, meditation and ancient wisdom.” There is a range of options when it comes to accommodations, from twin beds in shared rooms to a private apartment. Expect to enjoy pristine nature, excellent vegetarian food and unique spiritual programs.

Splurge Spiritual Retreats

Dr. Joe Dispenza Retreats: Dr. Joe’s retreats are one of a kind. His company, Encephalon, does not have a central location. His Progressive and Advanced retreats are held multiple times a year at different locations around the world, mainly at giant hotel ball rooms. At his retreats, Dr. Joe gives lectures about how you create your own reality and how meditation can be a tool for healing and creation. Group meditations with thousands of other people are powerful, both sitting and walking. You experience group coherence, when people’s energy synch together and achieve a certain level of order. [See video below.]

People come to Dr. Joe reatreats to heal themselves and/or create something new. Coherence healing, during which time a group of people intentionally direct love and energy to a person in need, is a theme at Dr. Joe retreats. You can be a healer even if you’ve never done it before. People can also apply to receive coherence healings at Advanced retreats, with some powerful results. I am a BIG fan of Dr. Joe. His retreats will always be a spiritual home for me. It always blows my heart wide open!

Canyon Ranch (AZ, CA, MA, TX): Cayon Ranch has multiple locations and is a true luxury stay. They offer a wide range of spa and wellness activities that it says can be curated specifically for you. Luxurious accommodations and Michelin star-rated dining are all at your fingertips. Canyon Ranch locations offer a limited structured retreat packages. At the time of this writing, the Ranch offers a longevity retreat that features 18 one-on-one consultations with longevity experts. Such tailored service will cost you, unsurprisingly. The 4-day retreat priced at $20,000 per person!

More Ways to Save

I believe any of the above destinations can be a great option for your healing spiritual retreat. But if you want to try to save even more, consider these options.

Start small, with shorter stays. Some of the above organizations offer day-long retreats, which obviously costs less. See if a short retreat wets your appetite for more.

Consider online retreats. Many organizations offer online options. Although not ideal, if you can manage to create the quiet space for a few days and connect online to a retreat, by all means! You can definitely connect your energy remotely and plug in to the tranquility.

Volunteer. If you can manage the time and travel, consider trading your labor for the retreat experience. That endeavor itself may be a growth journey. You’d have to check with the organization if this would be an option.

Alright, friends. I am not sure if I’d ever find myself at any Canyon Ranch locations. But you never know, right? 🙂 But like I said, I truly don’t believe luxury gets you spiritual healing. The answers are always within you.

This post was all about 9 healing spiritual retreats for every budget. I hope you found this helpful, and maybe I’ll run into you at one of them!