Open AccessIs the Qi experience related to the flow experience? Practicing qigong in urban green spaces
Author(s) -
Shih-Han Hung,
Ching-Yung Hwang,
Chun Yen Chang
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0240180
Subject(s) - feeling , consciousness , consistency (knowledge bases) , psychology , energy (signal processing) , qualitative research , traditional medicine , medicine , social psychology , sociology , computer science , social science , neuroscience , statistics , mathematics , artificial intelligence
People experience a healthy energy gained from the environment and an inner feeling, called the Qi experience. The flow experience has been a popular topic in Western studies, especially within the fields of psychology and health, and in all kinds of activities. Our current study used quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze the relationship between the Qi experience and the flow experience. After collecting data using open-ended questions, we integrated and connected the Qi experience into five orientations: (1) the feeling of Qi; (2) the mind; (3) Qi and consciousness; (4) physical, mental, and spiritual benefits; and (5) the feeling of Tao. The results revealed a high level of consistency between the flow experience and the Qi experience ( r = 0.90, p <0.00, which supports the conclusion that the concept of the flow experience in Qigong activity seems to be the same as that in East Asian disciplines, called the Qi experience.