Emotional aspects of physical activities in the nature: reeducating the senses

Abstract

Discussions concerning physical activities in the nature constantly refer to emotions, in special, with the sensations and feelings of pleasure, rest, vertigo and risk. However, much still, has to be reflected on the emotional states associated to these practices, aiming to deepening knowledge. The purpose of this research, of qualitative characteristic and exploratory-descriptive matrix, was to investigate the emotions felt by a group of young adults that experienced a rappel for the first time, which is common amongst adventure activities in the nature. Data were descriptively analyzed by Thematic Content Analysis technique and indicated the presence of distrustful feelings, sensations and emotions, as anxiety, unreliability and tension, as well as, those considered pleasant, as joy, challenge, adventure, beyond others that synthesize both poles, as fear, unchained for the characteristics of these practical in natural environments.