College of Public Health and Human Sciences

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of enacting the Way of the Bodhisattva (Chödrön, 2005) lessons in compassion with larger women, particularly in reference to their physical activity behaviors. Three women provided ongoing and detailed information with regard to their experiences engaging with the lessons over a 6-week period. Individual weekly interviews, journal entries, a focus group discussion with all women following the program, and researcher field notes in combination offered triangulated information that was analyzed by two researchers. The findings suggested that the women benefited from the program, although assuming the role of a bodhisattva did prove to be challenging in the time available and perhaps was most beneficial in facilitating the process of self-reflection.