Understanding Mind-Body Experience from the Perspective of Interoceptive Awareness: A 21-Day Embodied Practice Intervention.
Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) March 11, 2026 Zixi Liu, Zhen Wu, Jingchao Zeng et al.
A 21-day program combining daily nasal breathing regulation, spontaneous mandala drawing, and descriptive journaling, with weekly group sharing, heightened interoceptive awareness and mind-body integration among 11 urban adults in mainland China. Three interrelated processes emerged: refinement of bodily attention, a shift from deliberate control to natural immersion, and symbolization of feeling through artistic expression and social resonance. A non-goal-directed, relaxed practice style helped transition from control to absorption, activating self-regulatory mechanisms. Non-evaluative awareness deepened flow and supported cognitive reorganization. The study outlines a pathway by which breath-triggered interoceptive work operates within mind-body interventions.