Personal training in the UK
Research
We produce and support research looking into what can be referred to as the ‘active ingredients’ of Tai Chi and Mindfulness practice.
Selected work that we have been involved in can be found here:
Morris, B. (in preparation). Assessing the effectiveness of Tai Chi practices in changing psychological health.
Morris, B. (in preparation). Effectiveness of tai chi practice in the elderly.
Morris, B. (in preparation). The Tai Chi environment: a psychosocial perspective.
Morris, B. (under review). Movement and Learning in the Classroom: An Educational Psychology Perspective.
Morris, B. (under review). Promoting Mental Toughness and Psychological Resilience through rough and tumble play; a special case for Martial Arts and implications for its application.
Morris, B., & Harrison, B. (2026). The effect of different mindfulness activities on subjective well-being and its implications for mental health. Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 1-15.
This study by Morris and Harrison (2026) published in Mental Health and Social Inclusion investigates how different mindfulness activities (physical vs. metaphysical) relate to mindful attention and subjective well-being among 58 adults. It highlights that the type and quality of practice matter deeply for mental health outcomes.
Morris, B., & O’Kello, R. (2025). Assessing the effectiveness of a pilot test of a brief art-based mindfulness task on appraisal. Cogent Psychology, 12(1), 2539468.
Non-Judgment: The intervention group demonstrated elevated scores in non-judgmental acceptance of stimuli.
Time Constraints: Short interventions effectively shift immediate observational metrics, though aspects like acting with awareness may require longer practice durations to yield measurable change
Morris, B., & Bone, A. (2024). Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wellbeing: an inductive thematic analysis exploring how BJJ can increase subjective wellbeing. Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 28(6), 1149-1162.
The paper by Morris and Bone in 2024 published in Mental Health and Social Inclusion uses an inductive thematic analysis of eight face-to-face interviews to explore how practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) increases the subjective wellbeing of participants.
Key findings include:
Mental Toughness: Training builds resilience and grit by forcing individuals to stay calm and solve problems under intense physical discomfort.
Goal Progression: Working through belt ranks and mastering complex physical techniques creates a clear sense of personal growth and purposeful habit-building.
Social Connection: The collaborative and intimate nature of grappling fosters tight-knit, supportive communities that combat feelings of isolation.
Therapeutic Potential: The research suggests intentional physical activities like BJJ can complement traditional mental health therapies.
Morris, B., Jackson, J., & Roberts III, A. (2024). Effects of long-term Ashtanga Yoga practice on psychological well-being. Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 28(5), 549-560.
