Meditative movement for depression and anxiety.
Peter Payne, Mardi A Crane-Godreau
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2013 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00071 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Qigong Taijiquan |
| Topics | Default mode network Anxiety Depression |
| Keywords | Chi kung Qigong Tai chi Taijiquan Basal ganglia Exercise Interoception |
| Key findings | Meditative Movement may be at least as effective as conventional exercise or other interventions in ameliorating anxiety and depression, but study quality is poor and confounding factors prevent definitive conclusions. |
Abstract
This review focuses on Meditative Movement (MM) and its effects on anxiety, depression, and other affective states. MM is a term identifying forms of exercise that use movement in conjunction with meditative attention to body sensations, including proprioception, interoception, and kinesthesis. MM includes the traditional Chinese methods of Qigong (Chi Kung) and Taijiquan (Tai Chi), some forms of Yoga, and other Asian practices, as well as Western Somatic practices; however this review focuses primarily on Qigong and Taijiquan. We clarify the differences between MM and conventional exercise, present descriptions of several of the key methodologies of MM, and suggest how research into these practices may be approached in a systematic way. We also present evidence for possible mechanisms of the effects of MM on affective states, including the roles of posture, rhythm, coherent breathing, and the involvement of specific cortical and subcortical structures. We survey research outcomes summarized in reviews published since 2007. Results suggest that MM may be at least as effective as conventional exercise or other interventions in ameliorating anxiety and depression; however, study quality is generally poor and there are many confounding factors. This makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions at this time. We suggest, however, that more research is warranted, and we offer specific suggestions for ensuring high-quality and productive future studies.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review General (healthcare, schools, workplace) | 2021 | Review | |
| A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders | 2017 | Review and consensus statement | |
| Sudarshan Kriya Yogic Breathing in the Treatment of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Part II—Clinical Applications and Guidelines | 2005 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Meditation and Psychopathology | 2018 | Review | |
| Management of Treatment-Resistant Depression: Challenges and Strategies | 2020 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 22
- Associations between attention, affect and cardiac activity in a single yoga session for female cancer survivors: an enactive neurophenomenology-based approach. Consciousness and Cognition July 1, 2014
- Effectiveness of mindfulness and Qigong training for self-healing in patients with Hwabyung and depressive disorder: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024
- lived experience and transformational potential of 5 Rhythms dancing meditation Consciousness, Spirituality & Transpersonal Psychology August 18, 2021
- Evaluation of Current Evidence on the Efficacy of Esketamine in Treating Substance-Use Disorders in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD): A Narrative Review Cureus March 14, 2026
- Mind the Motion: Feasibility and Effects of a Qigong Intervention on Interoception and Well-Being in Young Adults. Healthcare January 13, 2026
and 17 more in the library
Cites 15
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 23, 2011
- Patterns of Brain Activity Supporting Autobiographical Memory, Prospection, and Theory of Mind, and Their Relationship to the Default Mode Network Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience July 6, 2009
- Mindfulness meditation training alters cortical representations of interoceptive attention Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience June 11, 2012
and 10 more in the library