The Psychology of Qi Gong: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

This article presents an in-depth, qualitative study, analyzing responses to focus-group interviews regarding individuals’ self-reported experiences and attitudes during Qi Gong practice. Semistructured interviews were conducted with three Qi Gong groups in order to collect research data. These data were transcribed verbatim and subjected to content and thematic analysis across and within groups. The analysis indicates extraordinary experiences of Qi Gong practitioners on various levels of bio-psycho-spiritual/energetic functioning. The results indicate how Qi Gong influences the complexity and multidimensionality of individuals’ health. In the discussion, the author compares and contrasts his results with other recently performed research.