What are the dangers or harms of meditation? Important contraindications to know before trying.

Meditation seems like a completely harmless practice.

It is true that it has a very long list of benefits , which pushes more and more people every year to try and adopt it.

However, there are a few variables that you need to know in order to practice with complete peace of mind, and by listening to your feelings.

Happy reading to you, my Mouvers!

What is meditation?

First, let's take a look at some semantics.

I assure you, nothing very boring, on the contrary!

The term meditation is a French invention which means, according to Larousse, an attitude which consists of absorbing oneself in deep reflection.

You will understand that it is a term that has slightly deviated from its origin...

Indeed, the Buddha himself used the term Bhavana .

And I know that few people have heard of this word.

Bhavana , means habituation and training .

Far from our word “meditate” which seems to refer more to concentration, to the mind.

Which is not false in itself, but rather incomplete...

Bhavana will include both body and mind, and does not distinguish between the two, as in Buddhist philosophy.

Training will test body and mind to move towards a common goal, in meditation it will be about training yourself to stay in the present moment, to ignore all abstractions.

Moreover, training also means that there is no possibility of failure .

Often, during a first meditation session, it will be very difficult to anchor oneself in the present moment for several minutes, even a few seconds in a row, some people will then cry failure.

But not at all!

It's training, it's habituation, all you've done is practice, so there's no notion of failure in the term Bhavana.

It is a practice where you will have to improve your mental gymnastics between the here and now , and abstraction , that is to say thoughts dedicated to the past or the future.

As Eckhart Tolle explains wonderfully in his book The Power of Now, which I strongly recommend you read, as do many guests on the Mouvers Podcast.

How does meditation work in practice?

When you meditate, the left prefrontal cortex , the amygdala and the insula will be connected.

The left prefrontal cortex enables planning and deductive reasoning, that is, solving complex problems.

The amygdala is an area that manages emotions.

While the insula is associated with the perception of sensations coming from the body, such as thirst, hunger, sensations of pain, heart rate and breathing.

Meditation allows you to have an effect on your perceptions and your emotions .

You will therefore be able to have a direct impact on your sensations of pain, on your heart and respiratory rates, and on the emotions that run through you.

It's like a space is created between the sensation and the response you give to it.

Obviously this little explanation is a simplification, because it would take hours to explain the whole process, but it is above all so that you understand the basics.

When you meditate, your parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for relaxation and rest, kicks in, and this results in a decrease in heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension.

But it will also reduce your body's production of cortisol , the famous stress hormone.

Your body then goes into recovery and regeneration mode.

Which will allow you to sleep better, among other things.

But we will see just after that certain types of people feel the opposite effects.

Meditation also has an impact on the brain.

This practice will not only produce an arrangement between a few neurons , but it will also be able to change the very structure of your brain!

For example, mindfulness meditation has been linked to an increase in the thickness of the cerebral cortex , the part of the brain linked to decision-making, concentration, and emotion regulation.

Impressive, right?

Another important physiological aspect of meditation is its effect on brain waves.

During meditation, your brain often shifts from a state of beta brain waves , which are the brain waves that correspond to normal brain activity, to a state of alpha or even theta brain waves .

All this gibberish to say that these states are associated with deep relaxation , creativity and greater mental clarity.

Finally, your immune system can be improved by long-term meditation practice.

In fact, researchers have observed an increase in immune cells after meditation sessions, which could contribute to a better defense against diseases.

What are the harms of meditation?

Now let's move on to the heart of the article, the dangers and harms of meditation.

First of all, I would like to say that for the majority of human beings populating this earth, meditation will be extremely interesting on many levels; in fact, there are enormous benefits to be gained from a daily meditative practice.

However…

We Mouvers like to nuance our remarks, nothing is ever black or white.

Increased anxiety and stress

So, among the possible harms of meditation, there is the possibility of feeling anxiety or stress .

You read that right, the opposite effect of what this practice should produce!

It's true that for some people, sitting down and trying to clear their minds isn't going to be productive at all...

They may feel overwhelmed by their negative thoughts and emotions , especially if they are anxious or going through a difficult phase in their life , such as the death of a loved one.

This technique will confront them with their fears and their intense emotions, and this can worsen their condition.

Therefore, it is important to start with short meditation sessions and go at your own pace.

If you feel that after a few minutes your condition is getting worse, simply stop and postpone your session for a few hours or a few days.

Uncomfortable physical sensations

Pain and uncomfortable physical sensations are possible during a meditation session.

You may experience tingling , numbness , or pain in your spine, neck, pelvis, etc.

This may be due to poor posture.

Lotus or seiza positions are not for everyone, especially if you lack flexibility or joint mobility .

You can meditate simply sitting on a chair, on your sofa, or even lying down if that seems more comfortable to you.

Otherwise, try next time, it's not the day!

Mental disorders

For people with serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia , meditation may, in some cases, worsen their symptoms.

Schizophrenia is an illness that results in cognitive deficits, anxiety, social withdrawal and, in the most severe cases, delusions and hallucinations.

It is a significant mental disorder that requires significant care measures.

Additionally, some forms of meditation involving intense concentration may not be suitable for people with a history of obsessive-compulsive disorder .

Obsessive-compulsive disorders are characterized by repetitive behaviors that are far from reason and difficult to control.

The best thing in these cases, if the person absolutely wants to try meditation, is to be accompanied by a teacher or coach specialized in the field who will go gently and adapt to the situation.

These are the points you will need to be vigilant about in order to practice meditation with complete peace of mind.

But I warn you, if you do not suffer from these three problems, a new world opens up to you!

A world of presence and focus on yourself .

A world where you can improve your concentration and your overall level of well-being.

To do this, you don't need to spend a cent or set aside an hour in your schedule.

Meditation is a practice that requires a small investment of time; a few minutes each day are enough to profoundly change your life, or rather your vision of it.

There are many types and practices to try out when it comes to meditation, and I'm sure you'll find the practice that suits you best.

But remember, it will take time and effort to achieve great results...

He will also know which meditation to choose, Vipassana , mindfulness, meditations of the elements

Also, if you don't really know where to start, I suggest you start with guided meditation or music, it's very effective for beginners .

You will find dozens and dozens of inspiring tutorials and sounds on YouTube, but also on applications like Mind or Petit bambou .

And if you want to bounce back or simply share your experience concerning your meditation practice, I look forward to hearing from you in the comments section 😉

Nomad Slim
Founder of MOUVERS