Holistic Health Lived Experiences of Thai Participants in the Dao De Online Group during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Dao De Xin Xi techniques are holistic health practices that integrate gentle and flowing movements similar to Tai Chi with the teachings of the Tao Te Ching, which emphasize living in harmony through the principle of Wu Wei, or non-resistance to the natural flow of life. These techniques not only promote physical and mental health but also contribute to the cultivation of ethics and virtues that foster peaceful coexistence in society. Over the past three decades, Dao De Xin Xi techniques have been increasingly recognized in Thai society, with empirical studies supporting their benefits for practitioners’ health and quality of life. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, government-mandated social distancing measures led to the temporary suspension of the group practice of Dao De Xin Xi in various settings. In this context, Dao De Xin Xi practitioners in Thailand collaboratively established online practice groups via the Zoom platform, marking the first application of Dao De Xin Xi techniques in an online format in the country. This qualitative study aimed to understand the lived experiences of holistic health among Dao De Xin Xi practitioners through online platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic. A phenomenological methodology based on Martin Heidegger’s approach was employed. The study was grounded in the perspective that practicing Dao De Xin Xi online during this period constituted a meaningful process that enabled individuals to confront, adapt to, and transform their experiences of health and existence amidst the crisis. Informants were purposively selected to obtain information aligned with the research objectives, and a snowball sampling technique was additionally employed to capture perspectives across different age groups.

The sample consisted of eight informants, including seven women and one man,aged between 18 and 71 years, with a mean age of 55.63 years. Of these, six were older adults,one was an adult, and one was an adolescent. All informants practiced Dao De Xin Xi techniques via Zoom between July 2021 and October 2022. The majority of participants, 87.5 percent,practiced online daily, while 12.5 percent participated five to six days per week. Data were collected through in-depth interviews conducted via the Zoom platform. The core questions were:“Please describe your experiences of participating in the online Dao De Xin Xi group” and “How has continuous participation in the group affected your overall health and well-being?” Data collection and analysis were conducted concurrently, allowing the researchers to adapt the interview guide based on newly emerging information. After each interview, detailed verbatim transcripts were produced and reviewed with the research team to refine the interview guide and gain deeper insights into the informants’ lived experiences.

Data analysis was conducted using the interpretive approach of Cohen, Kahn, and Steeves, which involved repeated reading of the transcripts, cross-checking with reflexive journals,line-by-line coding, clustering of subthemes, and synthesizing the data into overarching themes that reflected the informants’ lived experiences. Data saturation was achieved after interviews with eight informants. The trustworthiness of the study was ensured following Ahmed’s guidelines,through member checking with participants and peer debriefing within the research team. From the interview data, the lived experiences of holistic health among informants were categorized into two main themes. The first theme revealed that participating in the online Dao De Xin Xi group helped maintain the balance between body and mind amidst life’s uncertainties. The practice not only enhanced awareness and the connection between body and mind but also enabled informants to access their inner life energy, even as their physical bodies experienced age-related decline. The second theme indicated that online group participation contributed to the restoration of holistic well-being across physical, mental, social, and spiritual dimensions. Informants reported relief from physical ailments, improvements in mental health, perceiving expanded social connections and support, and spiritual growth. An essential factor enabling practitioners to attain genuine health benefits was the consistency and intentionality of their mindful practice,which fostered the integration of body, mind, and spirit as a vital foundation for holistic health development.

In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of online platforms in promoting holistic well-being across diverse age groups. It also underscores the importance of developing health programs that are flexible, easily accessible, and integrated with traditional wisdom, such as Dao De Xin Xi techniques, as alternative approaches for health promotion and disease prevention. Such programs should be designed to align with modern lifestyles while remaining adaptable to future uncertainties, particularly during complex crises such as outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, Dao De Xin Xi, Holistic health, Online group, Phenomenological research

Author Contribution:
SRY: Conceptualization, Method and design, Data collection, Analysis, Writing, Revising, and editing the manuscript
SP: Conceptualization, Method and design, Analysis, Revising and editing the manuscript,Corresponding with the editor-in-chief
WN: Conceptualization, Method and design, Analysis
YR: Conceptualization, Method and design
RC: Conceptualization, Method and design
CK: Conceptualization, Method and design