Total freedom in physical activity via body schema: being for itself and being in the world

Abstract

Although it is well-established that the highest forms of health and well-being are experienced by those who embody the greatest levels of autonomy, the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted autonomy and freedom in decision making, such as leading healthy lifestyles like physical activity, either because of disease-related issues (e.g., battling sickness and/or long covid or fear of catching covid 19) and/or governmentally imposed covid-19 mandates, such as lockdowns, social isolation, excessive screen use, face masks, and vaccines that proved to cause extensive harm and devastation in the health of the public. The paper draws on the philosophical underpinnings of embodied physical consciousness and body schema based on Merleau-Ponty’s (1945/2014) existential freedom about decision making for living the good life. Specifically, based on Merleau-Ponty’s seminal work, Phenomenology of Perception (1945/2014), the purpose of this concept-based paper is to attempt to emphasize the importance of a strong, embodied body schema (motor habit) to freedom in decision making regarding the value of and participation in physical activity. The manuscript is divided into six sections, showcasing that such (total) freedom can be achieved by finding a balance between the body as being for itself (with consciousness and autonomy) and the body as being in the world – influenced by external forces like disease (e.g., Covid 19), disability, socio-economic status, and socio-political systems (e.g., covid-19 mandates). Given the threats to total freedom (because of our being in the world), implications for the field of Kinesiology and movement education are discussed, emphasizing ways to build a healthy physical culture, by for example implementing well-studied, ethical, and humanistic policies/recommendations regarding life challenges (e.g., disease, disability, poverty). In this way, a strong body schema can be formed for health and well-being.