On day four, I wanted to leave.
Ten days of silence. Ten hours of meditation daily. No phone, no books, no talking. Just me and my mind, and my mind was not enjoying it.
I stayed. By day seven, something had shifted. By day ten, I was grateful I’d come.
Meditation retreats are a significant investment — of time, money, and psychological energy. Having done several, I can offer an honest assessment of what you actually get.
What happens on retreat
Typical structure
Daily schedule: Rise early (often 4-6am). Multiple meditation periods (typically 8-12 hours total). Simple meals. Silent throughout. Early bedtime.
Duration: Weekends, 3-5 days, or 7-10 day extended retreats. Serious practitioners sometimes do month-long or longer.
Styles: Vipassana/insight, Zen, Tibetan, secular mindfulness, and others. Each has distinct approaches.
Environment: Retreat centres, monasteries, or rented venues. Usually rural, often quite beautiful.
Guidance: Teachers offer instruction, sit with you, and may give individual meetings.
The silent aspect
Most retreats involve noble silence — no talking, no eye contact, limited non-verbal communication.
This sounds more extreme than it feels. After initial awkwardness, silence becomes restful. The constant effort of social interaction pauses. Energy goes toward practice instead.
What retreats provide that daily practice doesn’t
Depth
At home, you meditate 15-30 minutes then resume life. On retreat, you meditate for hours, then meditate more.
This extended duration allows things to arise that don’t surface in brief sits. Insights emerge. Long-avoided feelings appear. The practice goes deeper than is possible with fragmented daily sessions.
Momentum
One meditation session builds on the previous. Throughout the day, the mind progressively settles. By day three or four, you’re in a depth of practice that would take months to reach at home.
This momentum creates experiences unavailable in daily life.
Container and structure
Someone else handles logistics: food, schedule, routine. You just show up and practice.
This removal of decision-making and daily concerns creates space. There’s nothing to do except be present.
Teacher access
Retreats typically include talks, group instruction, and individual meetings with experienced teachers. Questions you’ve had about practice can be answered directly.
The relationship with a teacher over multiple days differs qualitatively from occasional drop-in classes.
Community (silently)
You sit alongside others doing the same thing. There’s no conversation, but something is shared.
Struggling through difficult sits knowing others are too provides support. The collective effort creates an environment that’s hard to replicate alone.
My retreat experiences
First retreat (weekend, secular mindfulness)
Gentle introduction. Two days of guided practice, some teaching, moderate sitting hours. Good for curious exploration. Not transformative, but encouraging.
Vipassana retreat (10 days, Goenka tradition)
This was intense. Ten hours of sitting daily. Strict technique instruction. No mixing with other practices.
Days 2-5 were genuinely difficult. Pain, restlessness, emotional upheaval. I questioned my choices frequently.
Days 6-10, something shifted. The technique started working as described. Unusual experiences of body and mind arose.
Post-retreat, my practice felt different. Deeper, more stable. The investment paid off.
Zen sesshin (7 days)
More formal, more ritualistic. Less instruction, more “just sit.”
The rigour appealed to me. Extended periods in one posture. Minimal guidance.
Challenging in different ways than Vipassana, but similarly transformative.
The practical questions
How much time?
Retreats require taking time off work and life. A weekend is manageable. Ten days is significant. Longer retreats require serious life restructuring.
You need to honestly assess what’s possible given your job and family circumstances.
How much money?
Costs vary dramatically:
Donation-based (Vipassana/Goenka): Free; you donate what you can at the end. These are seriously subsidised.
Mid-range centres: £300-800 for a week, including accommodation and food.
High-end retreats: £1000-3000+ for luxury settings, famous teachers, or unique locations.
Add travel costs.
Physical requirements
Long sits are physically demanding. You’ll be sitting for hours, often on floors or cushions.
If you have physical limitations, inquire about accommodations. Chairs are usually available. But expect discomfort regardless.
Psychological readiness
Extended meditation can surface difficult material. Trauma, depression, anxiety may intensify before they resolve.
Retreats typically screen participants and have support available. But if you’re in a fragile psychological state, consult a mental health professional before doing an intensive retreat.
What about responsibilities?
You’ll be unreachable. Family, work, and obligations continue without you.
This requires planning: coverage at work, partner support at home, and accepting that some things won’t be handled as well as if you were there.
Who should do a retreat
Consider a retreat if:
- You have an established daily practice and want to go deeper
- You can genuinely take time away from responsibilities
- You’re psychologically stable enough for intensive introspection
- You’re prepared for potential difficulty
- You’re curious what extended practice reveals
Who should wait
Wait if:
- You’ve never meditated before (start with daily practice first)
- You’re in a mental health crisis
- You can’t actually get away (you’ll resent being there)
- You’re using retreat to escape rather than engage
- The cost creates genuine financial stress
Daily practice vs. retreat
Retreats don’t replace daily practice. They accelerate and deepen what consistent daily sitting builds.
The best combination: regular daily practice, with occasional retreat intensives that deepen the work.
Think of it like exercise: daily movement keeps you healthy; occasional intensive training (a race, a challenging hike) reveals new capacity.
Can AI meditation prepare you?
At InTheMoment, you can use daily AI meditation to build consistency and depth before a retreat.
If you’re considering retreat, you might ask the AI to help prepare: “I’m doing a 10-day retreat in two months. Help me build my sitting capacity.”
The sessions can gradually extend, work with specific techniques, or address anxieties about the upcoming retreat.
Two free sessions per day. A way to prepare without the commitment of retreat itself.
My honest verdict
Retreats were among the most valuable investments I’ve made in my wellbeing.
They’re also demanding. The days are long. Difficulties arise. You can’t leave easily once you’ve started.
If you’re serious about meditation, try at least one. Start with a weekend or three-day retreat before committing to ten days. See how you respond to extended practice.
The transformation available on retreat doesn’t happen through thinking about it. You have to go, sit, and discover what arises.
Building toward retreat? Get started with two free daily sessions — develop consistent practice that prepares you for intensive work.