Effects of Reflective Labyrinth Walking Assessed Using a Questionnaire.

Labyrinth walking, a meditative practice adapted from the Chartres Cathedral labyrinth by Dr. Lauren Artress, was examined in a qualitative study of 30 participants. Most participants (99%) reported emotional distress from perceiving the walk out as longer, while 21% felt distress while walking the path and 41% at the start; others felt lost in time and space. The authors conclude that labyrinth walking is a physical, emotional, and sensory experience, and suggest its relevance for clinical care planning.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Background: Meditation as it is currently known is an ancient practice, which can be traced back to Asian traditions. With the proper technique, a state of physical relaxation and respiratory balance can be reached naturally and spontaneously. This paper considers meditative labyrinth walking to be a unique expression of Dr. Lauren Artress' work, who studied and applied the image of the labyrinth on the floor of the Chartres Cathedral in France. Methods: This study used a qualitative approach. It is a cross-sectional non-randomized study, conducted at an institute for psychotherapies with a sample of 30 participants. Results: 99% of the group reported feeling emotional distress caused by the feeling of a longer walk on the way out, 21% reported feeling the same while walking the path, and 41% at the beginning. The remaining participants felt lost in time and space. Conclusions: This study showed that the practice of labyrinth walking is a physical, emotional, and sensory experience. On the clinical level, correlating this experience to the planning of care seems to be particularly relevant.