Integral Perspective of Mindfulness in Physical Education

Abstract

The purpose of this essay is to explore the concept of mindfulness and its interface with the field of physical education and an integral perspective of human development. The methodology developed involved a non-systematic search in the literature, integrated with inspirations from autobiographical research. Initially, the text presents mindfulness as a mental state and at the same time as an approach within the field of meditative practices. It emphasizes that the practice of mindfulness is interdisciplinary and has the potential to enrich the work of physical education professionals, by integrating body and mind in a process of integral human development. The conclusion emphasizes that physical education, by adopting mindfulness practices, can offer an integral vision that meets the demands for a more complete education focused on personal and collective well-being. Thus, it is proposed that greater inclusion of mindfulness in the field of physical education is needed in order to strengthen the training of professionals who are better able to promote the integral health of individuals and communities.

Keywords: Mindfulness, Body, Physical Education

References

Antunes, D.S.H.Y. (2023). Práticas meditativas: Escolas em conexão com o desenvolvimento humano integral, promoção de saúde e uma cultura de paz [Tese de Doutorado, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação. Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul]. https://repositorio.pucrs.br/dspace/handle/10923/24820

Barnsley, N., McAuley, J.H., Mohan, R., Dey, A., Thomas, P., e Moseley, G.L. (2011). The rubber hand illusion increases histamine reactivity in the real arm. Current Biology, 21(23), 945-946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2011.10.039

Barua, R. (2025). Harmonizing body and mind: Investigating the combined impact of yoga and mindfulness meditation on depression, anxiety, and stress. In: Global Innovations in Physical Education and Health. Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, India (pp. 203-232). IGI Global Scientifica Publishing.

Costa, R., Soares, H.L., e Teixeira, J.A.C. (2007). Benefícios da atividade física e do exercício físico na depressão. Revista de Depressão e Psicologia, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-80232007000100022

Davidson, RJ, Kabat-Zinn, J., Schumacher, J., Rosenkranz, M., Muller, D., Santorelli, SF, Urbanowski, F., Harrington, A., Bonus, K., e Sheridan, JF (2003). Alterations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness meditation. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65, 564-570. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000077505.67574.e3

García-Taibo, O., Cerdá-Llull, M.M., Baena-Morales, S., e Rodríguez-Fernández, J.E. (2023). Efectos psicológicos de una intervención de mindfulness realizada en la vuelta a la calma de la clase de Educación Física: un estudio cuasi-experimental. Retos, 49, 926-934. http://dx.doi.org/10.47197/retos.v49.93401

Instituto Nacional do Câncer (2022). Câncer, dá para prevenir? Ministério da Saúde. https://www.inca.gov.br/campanhas/prevencao/2022/cancer-da-para-prevenir

Gibson, J. (2019). Mindfulness, interoception, and the body: A contemporary perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02012

Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013). Mindfulness para principiantes. Editora Kairós.

Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness. Delta Publishing.

Kerr, C., Sacchet, M.D., Lazar, S.W., Moore, C.I., e Jones R.R. (2013). Mindfulness starts with the body: somatosensory attention and top-down modulation of cortical alpha rhythms in mindfulness meditation. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00012

Knothe, M., e Flores Martí, I. (2018). Mindfulness in physical education. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, Dance, 89(9), 35-40. https://doi.org/10.1080/07303084.2018.1503120

Laher, I. (2024). Mind-body connection: Mitigating the harm of stress through mindfulness. Heart and Mind, 8(4), 263-264. https://doi.org/10.4103/hm.HM-D-24-00105

López, I., e Gené-Morales, J. (2021). Revisión sistemática de la investigación sobre el uso del mindfulness en la educación física. Cuadernos de Psicología del Deporte, 21(3), 83-98. https://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1578-84232021000300007

Martin, C., e Ergas, O. (2016). Mindfulness, sport and the body: The justification of physical education revisited. Sport, Education and Society, 21(2), 161-174. https://doi.org/10.1080/17511321.2016.1166151

Moseley, GL, Olthof, N., Venema, A., Don, S., Wijers, M., Gallace, A., e Spence, C. (2008). Psychologically induced cooling of a specific body part caused by the illusory ownership of an artificial counterpart. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105(35). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0803768105

Mulhearn, S.C., Kulinna, P.H., e Lorenz, K.A. (2017). Harvesting harmony: Mindfulness in physical education. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, Dance, 88(7), 44-50. https://doi.org/10.1080/07303084.2017.1330168

Pereira, APF, Costa, IN, Freitas, JP, Miranda, MJC, Araújo, GS, Telles, LGS, Novaes, JS, Cunha, JCOM, Meirelles, AG, Jesus, IRT, e Monteiro, ER (2024). Efeito da meditação mindfulness no esporte de alto rendimento: uma revisão de escopo. Retos, 57, 536-560. http://dx.doi.org/10.47197/retos.v57.99004

Russel, T. (2018). Mindfulness, atenção plena no movimento: Uma vida mais feliz, mais saudável com a meditação centrada no corpo. Madras Editora.

Santos, H.T., e Garms, G.M.Z. (2014). Método autobiográfico e metodologia de narrativas: contribuições, especificidades e possibilidades para pesquisa e formação pessoal/profissional de professores. In Anais do II Congresso Nacional de Formação de Professores e XII Congresso Estadual Paulista sobre Formação de Educadores. http://hdl.handle.net/11449/141766

Teixeira, Y.S.C., e Ferreira, A.L. (2024). Uma vertente transformativa da atenção plena na educação brasileira desde a perspectiva crítica e decolonial. In XXVII Encontro de Pesquisa Educacional do Nordeste, Reunião Científica Regional ANPEd Nordeste (Resumo expandido, GT20 - Psicologia da Educação). ISSN: 2595-7945.

Williams, M., e Penman, D. (2015). Atenção plena mindfulness: Como encontrar a paz em um mundo frenético. Editora Sextante.

Author Biographies

Diogo Silveira Heredia y Antunes,

http://lattes.cnpq.br/5039310650812258

Andreia Mendes dos Santos,

http://lattes.cnpq.br/9544763044134842

Published
2025-06-01
How to Cite
Antunes, D. S. H. y, & Santos, A. M. dos. (2025). Integral Perspective of Mindfulness in Physical Education. Lecturas: Educación Física Y Deportes, 30(325), 180-189. https://doi.org/10.46642/efd.v30i325.7999
Section
Ensayos