“It’s like I’m getting my body back” - a qualitative study of the embodied aspect of personal recovery in the context of community-based exercise for young adults with severe mental illness

Abstract Introduction Severe mental illness affects bodily experiences, often leading to detachment and dysregulation. While exercise is recognized as a resource in personal recovery, excisting research has mainly focused on psychological and social dimensions, with limited attention to embodied experiences. This study explores the role of the body in personal recovery as it unfolds within community-based exercise for young adults with severe mental illness. Methods This qualitative interview study was embedded within a multicenter pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Sixteen participants aged 25–35 were purposively sampled based on study site, attendance, and personal recovery scores. Semi-structured interviews explored participants’ bodily experiences of exercise in relation to personal recovery. Data were analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Results The analysis generated the overarching theme Embodied Recovery and three interrelated themes: Bodily Identity, Bodily Regulation, and Bodily Sociality. Exercise supported bodily ownership, regulation, and social connection, while also involving challegens related to bodily unpredictability and social comparison. Conclusion The findings highlight the body as an active agent in personal recovery among young adults with severe mental illness engaging in community-based exercise. Conceptualizing personal recovery as embodied emphasizes the importance of embedding strctured exercise and movement-based pratices as integral components of recovery-oriented mental health services.