This study aims to understand the significance and essence of the phenomenon experienced through the SNPE 100-day practice by describing and analyzing it among participants of the SNPE instructor program. Simultaneously, it seeks to reveal the diverse...
This study aims to understand the significance and essence of the phenomenon experienced through the SNPE 100-day practice by describing and analyzing it among participants of the SNPE instructor program. Simultaneously, it seeks to reveal the diverse experiences and changes of the participants, ultimately fostering an understanding of the importance of the 100-day practice within the SNPE instructor program. For this purpose, seven prospective leaders voluntarily expressed their intention to participate out of a total of 30 participants in the SNPE instructor program. Daily training journals were collected every week from the participants, and in-depth interviews lasting approximately 2 to 3 hours per person were conducted after the completion of the practice. Analyzing the collected interview data and training journals using the Giorgi phenomenological research method, the following results were obtained.
First, a total of 362 units of meaning derived from the experiences of the SNPE prospective leaders' 100-day practice were summarized into 26 units by grouping together those with similar meanings through multiple iterations. From this, 18 sub-components deemed as the essence of the experience and a total of 7 overarching categories were derived. The overarching categories identified were ‘perceived difficulties in implementing the training’, ‘unexpected negative experiences’, ‘continuous effort in practice’, ‘awareness of one’s own body’, ‘mental and physical changes’, ‘expansion of training experience into daily life’, and ‘recognition of reflection and growth’. The research participants encountered types of difficulties and negative experiences they did not anticipate before the training, but they sought to overcome them through willpower and engagement in the process of practice. As a result, they went through stages of achieving a sense of accomplishment, confidence, and subjectivity in life through experiences of bodily awareness, self-perception, positive changes in mind and body, and the expansion of training experiences into daily life.
Second, the experiences and changes from the SNPE 100-day practice can be discussed from three perspectives. 1) ‘Unexpected negative experiences’ are described as symptoms of ‘potential pain’ which is a unique characteristic of the SNPE practice that distinguishes it from other exercise training experiences. 2) Among the ‘mental and physical changes,’ the results of posture restoration and pain relief support various studies validating the effects of SNPE. 3) ‘Recognition of reflection and growth’ can be understood as the result of the process in which SNPE prospective instructors grow from their initial state to an ideal state.
Third, the significance of the SNPE 100-day practice experience for SNPE prospective leaders can be explained in terms of three aspects: ‘enhancement of exercise behavior through the formation of physical self-concept and exercise self-schema,’ ‘improvement of performance through increased self-efficacy,’ and ‘development of effective communication skills leading to enhanced leadership competence.’ Consistent practice and positive emotional experiences have a lasting impact on the formation of physical self-concept and exercise self-schema, which in turn increases exercise behavior. Furthermore, self-observation and successful performance experiences during the 100-day practice strengthen self-efficacy and mutually reinforce improvements in performance. The empathy, advice, and exchange of opinions based on the experiences during the practice are expected to have a positive impact on increasing empathy and positivity towards members, as well as enhancing communication skills.
This study, as a qualitative research approach exploring the phenomenology of the SNPE 100-day practice experience, goes beyond the scope of validating the effects of SNPE. It has allowed for the exploration of the meaning and essence of the phenomenon of the SNPE 100-day practice experience, leading to an understanding of the importance of the 100-day training.