Espiritualidade no campo acadêmico da Educação Física: a formação do profissional de Educação Física na perspectiva do conceito ampliado de saúde e do ser integral

Abstract

This study aims to highlight the importance of including spirituality and the expanded concept of health in the academic curricula of Physical Education courses. The research was motivated by the observation that many curricula are focused only on the physical aspect, ignoring other essential dimensions of the human being. The research, carried out through a graduate program in Religious Sciences, seeks to promote a professional approach committed to a humanized model of health. The introduction of the subject "spirituality and health" in the curricular matrices of Physical Education courses is seen as a significant advance in professional qualification, providing an integrative and multidimensional view of health. Through the analysis of curricula of ten Physical Education courses in Paraíba, the research identifies gaps and presents the disciplines that approach health promotion in a holistic way. The results are treated both quantitatively, through dimensional graphs, and qualitatively, using the phenomenological analysis of the participants' responses. It is concluded that there is still a long way to go in reformulating curricula to meet the guiding principles of the profession and the guidelines established by the Ministry of Education and regulatory bodies. This research that intends to contribute to this discussion, adding the importance of spirituality, the expanded concept of health and the knowledge of the integral being in the initial training of Physical Education professionals brought results that showed the need for a more comprehensive and holistic approach in the field of Physical Education from the higher education that will generate professionals committed to values that integrate the physical aspects, emotional, mental, spiritual and social to promote a humanized professional performance. The inclusion of the curricular component spirituality and health, as well as related disciplines proved relevant and pertinent to a new context for this professional, enabling a broader understanding of health and a more complete care for individuals.