Thesis (M.A.)--University of Alberta (Canada), 1998
This research is a preliminary investigation of spiritual experiences of women in physical activity, sport, martial arts and dance. There is little relevant literature on this topic. The Internet, including e-mail, listservs and web pages, was used in every phase. I used qualitative and quantitative methods; a questionnaire, a written autobiographical narrative account, and a Likert scale. The participants had diverse sporting and religious backgrounds, and twelve countries were represented in the sample. The women's narratives were interpreted along eight categories of Mysticism measured in Hood's Scale; and the statistical results showed the relative strength of each of their experiences. The particular relevance of other factors such as the setting, loss of fear, competition, physical refreshment, individual or group activity, were also examined. The study showed, despite a diverse sample of women, much similarity of experience, but more importantly, it revealed the depth and meaning of these experiences
