Table III.
Example of structural analysis moving from meaning units to thematization in a study exploring lived experiences of basic body awareness therapy in persons with depression
| Meaning unit | Condensation | Constituent | Theme | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I walk in a different way, when I feel bad it's so hard to go from one place to another, stiff like a tin soldier, but now I can sort of spring off the ground … yeah it's a difference all right. | Different walk, from stiff to springy | Springiness | Vitality springing forth | OPENING TOWARD LIFE |
| I noticed that I started to yawn uncontrollably the last sessions with the group! [laughs] Really, I couldn't hold the yawnings back and it felt great just to release them, loud and big yawning, 'cause it felt so good for my body. But before, I held all such things back. | Yawning uncontrollably, releasing instead of holding back | Releasing body functions | Vitality springing forth | |
| I discovered, to my surprise, that I've felt happy—quite often lately. Something that I haven't felt in a long time. Some kind of … satisfaction, a happy feeling. | Surprisingly happy | Happiness emerging | Vitality springing forth | |
| You became aware of your body. It struck me in various situations when I could feel that I was suddenly tensing up, that I had never realized before. | Becoming aware of when I'm suddenly tensing up | New awareness of patterns | Recognizing patterns in one's body | |
| Yeah, that's why I came to think about it … We started doing it and then I said, well I remember I used to do like this … | Came to think about what used to make me feel safe | Body memories from | Body memories from movements | |
| But it was unconsciously, I didn't think of it before or analyze it, but I really felt safe, that's why I did it …. | movements | |||
| Now I understand more and more, the connection between how I feel and … well, the contact I have with myself and how my stomach reacts … I realize something or that I learn to interpret my body and listen more to myself, sort of. | Connection between self and stomach, learning to interpret my body | Insights about one's bodily self | Recognizing patterns in one's body | |