Work

Understanding Mind–Body Experience from the Perspective of Interoceptive Awareness: A 21-Day Embodied Practice Intervention

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: = 11). The intervention combined daily nasal breathing regulation, spontaneous mandala making, and descriptive journaling, complemented by weekly group sharing. Using a cultural-psychological lens, we investigated how an inward-turning tradition in Chinese culture shapes embodied experience and meaning-making. Applying Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to diaries, drawings, and focus-group data, we identified three interrelated processes: (1) the refinement of bodily attention; (2) a shift from deliberate control to natural immersion; and (3) the symbolization of feeling through artistic expression and social resonance. Findings indicate that systematic engagement in the "breath-mandala" intervention heightened sensitivity to chest-centered embodied sensations and promoted the integration of bodily experience into personal narratives; a non-goal-directed, relaxed practice style facilitated the transition from control to absorption, activating self-regulatory mechanisms; and non-evaluative awareness deepened flow while supporting cognitive reorganization and reflective capacity. The study delineates a core pathway by which breath-triggered interoceptive work operates within mind-body interventions, offering a theoretical basis and practical direction for tailored regulation programs across diverse populations.

Source: Behavioral Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/bs16030411

Authors: Zixi Liu, Zhen Wu, Jingchao Zeng, Haosheng Ye

Institutions: Guangzhou University, Guangzhou Huali Science and Technology Vocational College, University of Essex

Language: English

Topic: Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,654