Subjective Experiences of Older Adults Practicing Taiji and Qigong

This article presents a qualitative study following a 6-month Taiji (T'ai Chi)/Qigong (Ch'i Kung) intervention for older adults. The researchers conducted in-depth interviews of eight selected participants who elected to continue practicing Taiji after the intervention ended, in order to e...

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Main Authors: Yang Yang, Sharon DeCelle, Mike Reed, Karl Rosengren, Robert Schlagal, Jennifer Greene
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:Journal of Aging Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/650210
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author Yang Yang
Sharon DeCelle
Mike Reed
Karl Rosengren
Robert Schlagal
Jennifer Greene
author_facet Yang Yang
Sharon DeCelle
Mike Reed
Karl Rosengren
Robert Schlagal
Jennifer Greene
author_sort Yang Yang
collection DOAJ
description This article presents a qualitative study following a 6-month Taiji (T'ai Chi)/Qigong (Ch'i Kung) intervention for older adults. The researchers conducted in-depth interviews of eight selected participants who elected to continue practicing Taiji after the intervention ended, in order to explore their subjective experiences of Taiji's effects and their motivations for continuing to practice. We created a Layers Model to capture the significance and meaning of the multidimensionality of their reported experiences. Participants not only reported simple benefits along five dimensions of experience (physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual) but also described complex multidimensional experiences. Overall findings indicate that participants derived a very wide variety of perceived benefits, the most meaningful being a felt sense of body-mind-spirit integration. Our results support the important role of qualitative studies in researching the effects of Taiji and Qigong.
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issn 2090-2212
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publishDate 2011-01-01
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record_format Article
series Journal of Aging Research
spelling doaj-art-73dfaaca7c494bfea1a36a4d53e6471d2025-08-20T02:07:05ZengWileyJournal of Aging Research2090-22122011-01-01201110.4061/2011/650210650210Subjective Experiences of Older Adults Practicing Taiji and QigongYang Yang0Sharon DeCelle1Mike Reed2Karl Rosengren3Robert Schlagal4Jennifer Greene5Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA319 S. Randolph Street, Champaign, IL 61820, USA1104 West Daniel Street, Champaign, IL 61821-4516, USADepartment of Cognitive Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USACollege of Education, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USACollege of Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 230C Education Building, 1310 S. 6th Street, Champaign, IL 61820, USAThis article presents a qualitative study following a 6-month Taiji (T'ai Chi)/Qigong (Ch'i Kung) intervention for older adults. The researchers conducted in-depth interviews of eight selected participants who elected to continue practicing Taiji after the intervention ended, in order to explore their subjective experiences of Taiji's effects and their motivations for continuing to practice. We created a Layers Model to capture the significance and meaning of the multidimensionality of their reported experiences. Participants not only reported simple benefits along five dimensions of experience (physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual) but also described complex multidimensional experiences. Overall findings indicate that participants derived a very wide variety of perceived benefits, the most meaningful being a felt sense of body-mind-spirit integration. Our results support the important role of qualitative studies in researching the effects of Taiji and Qigong.http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/650210
spellingShingle Yang Yang
Sharon DeCelle
Mike Reed
Karl Rosengren
Robert Schlagal
Jennifer Greene
Subjective Experiences of Older Adults Practicing Taiji and Qigong
Journal of Aging Research
title Subjective Experiences of Older Adults Practicing Taiji and Qigong
title_full Subjective Experiences of Older Adults Practicing Taiji and Qigong
title_fullStr Subjective Experiences of Older Adults Practicing Taiji and Qigong
title_full_unstemmed Subjective Experiences of Older Adults Practicing Taiji and Qigong
title_short Subjective Experiences of Older Adults Practicing Taiji and Qigong
title_sort subjective experiences of older adults practicing taiji and qigong
url http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/650210
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