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Qigong as a Mindfulness Practice for Counseling Students a Qualitative Study
Journal of Humanistic Psychology
Format: Journal Article
Publication Date: 2009/04//
Pages: 236 - 257
Sources ID: 82486
Visibility: Public (group default)
Abstract: (Show)
This qualitative study explores the effects of qigong, an ancient Chinese mindfulness practice involving movement, on master's-level counseling students. Students responded in writing both after an initial experience of qigong and after practicing the movements for 15 weeks during a mindfulness-based course in self-care. Themes of physical, emotional, and mental changes were present in both sets of responses. Additional themes of familiarity with the practice as well as group consciousness and interdependence emerged in the final experience of qigong. The results of this study indicate qigong is a contemplative practice that could have positive outcomes for counseling students. Because of its accessible nature, immediate results, and ability to foster connectedness, qigong is currently underutilized as a form of teaching mindfulness.