Top Meditation Sites in the United States

Meditation is a method of relaxation many people practice. These are five of the top Meditation Centers located in the United States.

Abbey of Gethsemani
3642 Monks Road
Trappist, Kentucky 40051
502-549-3117
monks.org

Meditation services include seven hours of liturgy, vigils, lauds, terce, sext, none, vespers, and compline, as well as common prayers. The backbone of the meditation is the 150 Psalms, sung or recited, based on a 2-week cycle. Other recitals include Hail Mary's, Our Fathers, and Glory Be To The Fathers. Guests are welcome to attend all services and the Community Masses. Holy or divine readings are performed by the monks and nuns with material selected based on whether or not it is conducive to the prayers. The meditation goal is for faith to be nourished in a way that the attendees come to see and value things as God does and to live from those visions.

Kripalu Center For Yoga And Health
57 Interlaken Road
Stockbridge, Massachuesettes
1-866-200-5203
kripalu.org

Meditations are designed to bring vitality to life from the inside out through daily yoga classes, natural foods cuisine consumptions, massages, healing arts, hikes, trail walks, lakefront beach relaxations, whirlpool baths, and saunas, all located in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachuesettes with its natural beauty.

Menla Mountain Retreat and Conference Center
375 Pantherkill Road
Phoenicia, New York
1-845-688-6897
menla.org

Meditations are situated on 320 acres of historic Catskill Mountains property in New York, and are surrounded by a National forest preserve, that offers complete privacy in tranquil settings. Center has many modern facilities in an authorized Audubon Society bird sanctuary, and provides eco-friendly accommodations, including a 4050-square foot main hall that holds 300 people, personalized services, fresh mountain air, exquisite landscaping, abundant wildlife, tennis courts, outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, wellness center, and sauna. Center operated by the Tibet House US.

Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat and Conference Center
Highway 224
Detroit, Oregon
breitenbush.com

Meditations are conducted on a worker-owned cooperative and international community on 154 acres of wildlife sanctuary in the Willamette National Forest, located in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon. Center offers natural hot springs, organic vegetarian cuisine, 150 workshops, yoga, EDGU, daily meditations, ancient forest trails, and massages.

Shambhala Mountain Center
4921 County Road 68
Red Feather Lakes, Colorado 80545
1-888-788-7321
shambhalamountain.org

Located on 600 acres in a mountain valley, the Center provides an ideal environment for meditation, yoga, retreats, and conferences. Ashtunga yoga techniques, dharma, recitation, chanting, Maitri, Iyengar, Tai Chi, and other methods taught and practiced daily. Site features the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, built in 1987 to intern the ashes of Chogyam Trungpa, a teacher of meditation practices. Stupa stands 108 feet tall and is open to visitors every day. In September 2006 the Dalai Lama visited the Stupa.

Much more information about these five meditation centers can be found on the forbes.com website.