Explores meditative practice, experience and research. The bloggers practise Acem Meditation, but represent their own views here.
The classic introduction – available for the first time in English
This book presents the classic introduction to Acem’s theory and practice of meditation, written by the founder. Psychology of Silence provides an easy-to-read account of the technique and its effects on health and personality. The book also includes chapters on meditative silence and the cultural background of Acem Meditation. Read more…
Acem’s Training in Interpersonal Communication helps you improve your empathetic capacity and understanding of yourself and others. This year’s course will have English, German, Spanish, and Scandinavian groups, provided a sufficient number of people sign up for each language. The registration deadline is 15 April, with 15 March for early-bird registration. The course takes place 29 April – 7 May 2017 at Acem International Retreat Centre Halvorsbøle, Norway. Read more…
“Which is better for your body: meditation or exercise?” asks The Telegraph journalist Jonathan Wells on 23 March 2016. “On the surface, it seems like an obvious decision – physical exercise can strengthen our muscles, bones and heart, and has been proven to promote the production of oxytonin and other ‘feel-good’ chemicals. Whilst meditation is, well, a fad. Right? Wrong. Or, at least, possibly wrong.” Read more…
Under the title “Modern Meditation – A practice without the complexities of traditional systems”, the Malaysian newspaper The Sun has recently published an interview with Acem’s founder Dr. Are Holen. Acem Meditation, starting in Norway in 1966, is described as a “no-fuss” approach to meditation – a non-religious technique that is unlike traditional meditation – one sits comfortably and gently repeats a simple sound in the mind. Read more…
“Here are three novel techniques to help you de-stress,” writes MORE, an American magazine “for women of style and substance”. One of the techniques they recommend for those who want to “chill out” is Acem Meditation, because it does not ask you to empty your mind, but allows thoughts and impressions to come and go freely. This “makes this Norwegian version much easier for some people.” Read more…
It’s a busy evening like many others. There are e-mails to answer, bills to be paid, work-related tasks you should complete. You start out optimistically, get some stuff done, check your Facebook account, and move on. Read more…
I used to be a high school teacher here in Taiwan, teaching Chinese language and literature. Now I lead a study group and a dream group. I write poems, and enjoy that very much. I also enjoy practicing a kind of traditional Chi-kung called I-ching-ching, and exploring the inner world. Read more…
Are Holen, founder of Acem Meditation, Norway, speaks to Priti Agrawal about meditative yoga. The interview was printed in Speaking Tree, published by The Times of India, on 16 November 2012.
What is meditative yoga?
Meditative yoga is a special way of doing Hatha Yoga, very different from the hurried, sweaty, gym-like yoga of many schools around the world. It is in line with Patanjali’s chitta-vritti-nirodha and of slow movements that are well-coordinated with deep and unforced breathing. The attention is, initially directed towards the movements, later towards breathing, and finally, towards the wholeness of the postures. Meditative yoga brings the mind to silence and focuses on slow movement yoga with abdominal breathing for maximum relaxation.
The English version of Are Holen and Torbjørn Hobbel’s book on yoga is more than just a translation of the Norwegian original. It spells out with even greater clarity how meditative yoga differs from what the authors call “yoga gymnastics”, the type of yoga taught in fitness centres around the world. The title says it all: “Meditative Yoga: Integrating Body, Breath and Mind”.
Instructive
Like the original, the book contains 150 beautiful illustrations and thorough instructions for more than 60 postures and practices, divided according to type (e.g. starting postures, inverted postures, backbends, forward bends, twist postures, balance postures etc.) and described stepwise with illustrative photos. In addition, there are separate chapters for breathing and meditation practices. A chapter on impulse practices covers a type of yoga not often met with in the West, with slow and rapid bends, twists and shakes, to let loose all bodily impulses, including the breath. Read more…
Just after Easter about 30 Acem meditators gathered in the Carrington House Hotel in Bournemouth for the annual UK weekend retreat. On a not particularly sunny Saturday afternoon, I had a space. A space for me to talk a little about Acem in the UK. Every year I have this space and every year I wonder what I will talk about. I wonder what I should talk about a lot, so it’s a natural past time of mine, this year I decided I would talk a little more personally about my fascination with the gentle awareness of the Free Mental Attitude and how I seek to continually find new ways of seeing it in my life and work. This blog is a rough summary of what I did with my space.