Empathy is an important affective attribute for graduates entering future practice with diverse populations. Self- and bodily awareness and the ability to take others' perspectives are essential for developing, maintaining and encouraging the cognitive, affective and motivational elements of empathy. This paper presents a thematic analysis of students' summative reflections on body-focused wellness activity participation, which indicates increased self- and bodily awareness and developing ability to take on the perspectives of others. Prolonged engagement with authentic activities that focus attention on shared bodily aspects of life and encourage self-direction appears to be central for developing awareness and the ability to take on others' perspectives. For some students, perspective-taking may produce recognition of disempowerment and the need for power reciprocity in future professional relationships, an essential element of practising empathy.