Show notes
Join host Liz Albanis (Yoga Therapist and Senior Yoga Teacher) as she reflects on the potential dangers of meditation. Meditation has a reputation as a guaranteed fix, but the truth is messier and far more human. We take on a question that’s been circulating online: can meditation be dangerous? And if it can, how do you tell the difference between a practice that helps you settle and a practice that quietly makes things worse?We talk about what people often mean when they say “meditation”, especially approaches focused on deep stillness and emptying the mind. For some listeners, that can be nourishing. For others, particularly people living with PTSD, major anxiety, depression, mania, or a history of psychosis, it can be destabilising. We unpack why broad claims like “meditation is always good” or “meditation is bad for everyone” don’t hold up, and we use a simple lens to stay honest: always is always wrong, never is never right.We also clear up confusion around breathwork and pranayama. In many yoga traditions, breath awareness and subtle breathing techniques can be part of meditation and a doorway into it, but manipulating the breath can also carry risks. From silent retreats to small daily practices, we share practical ways to go slower, choose an anchor when your mind needs one, and treat contraindications seriously. Most importantly, we draw a bright line around scope: yoga teachers aren’t mental health professionals unless they’re also qualified, so if you’re vulnerable, your psychologist, psychiatrist, or psychotherapist should be part of the plan.Key Topics• The limits of black and white thinking about meditation and yoga. • What “emptying the mind” can mean and why it can be risky .• How PTSD and other mental health challenges can change the impact of meditation • Why pranayama and breath awareness can be part of meditation • The penicillin analogy for individual differences and contraindications • Why silent retreats can be too much and how to start slowly • Using mantra, hasta mudras, sound, or movement as an anchor for the mind • Why mental health professionals matter more than yoga advice for high-risk histories References:Stephens, Mark. Teaching Yoga: Essential Foundations and Techniques. North Atlantic Books, 2010.Weintraub, Amy. Yoga Skills for Therapists: Effective Practices for Mood Management. W. W. Norton & Company, 2012, (notably p. 27.)Quote“If we talked to our children the way we talk to ourselves, we would be arrested for child abuse.”Often attributed to Mark Twain; original source unverified.Important disclaimer: about the words “healing,” “recovery” and “therapeutic”: These terms are used throughout this podcast and accompanying content in a general, educational and experiential sense. They are not intended to imply or guarantee that yoga, yoga therapy, somatic practices or any other practice will diagnose, treat, cure or prevent trauma, PTSD, anxiety or any other medical or mental health condition. Individual experiences and outcomes vary. This content is for general informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for personalised medical, psychological or other professional healthcare. Please seek advice from an appropriately qualified health professional regarding your individual circumstances.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Love the show? We’d love a review!Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Want to make video and audio editing quicker and simpler? Get 50% off the first 2 months of the Descript Creator Monthly Plan. Instagram: Youtube