About one month after I had learned Acem Meditation, I found that I could write poetry again, an ability that I had lost for years. Meditation helps me to relax, both physically and mentally. Because of that my sleep has also improved.
The brain shows more signs of relaxation during meditation than during ordinary rest. Nondirective meditation has a greater impact than does concentrative meditation, especially in parts of the cortex associated with the processing of stress, emotions, and memories.
At a retreat with long meditations, your muscles relax, and your mind becomes more rested and ready for new challenges. Stimulating group discussions improve your technique, enhance the effect of meditating, and provide opportunities for existential reflection. The Meditation Blog gives you a calendar of upcoming retreats.
"There is a pressing need for a rigorous investigation of how meditation affects brain function." Professor Jim Lagopoulos, Sydney University, studied electrical brain waves in Acem meditators. There was an abundance of theta waves in the frontal and middle parts of the brain, different from ordinary relaxation.
Central aspects of the meditation phenomenon are outlined below, with the purpose of identifying the shared and differing characteristics of various meditation practices and putting Acem Meditation into perspective.