{"id":9283,"date":"2022-07-28T11:12:02","date_gmt":"2022-07-28T11:12:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fitpro.com\/blog\/?p=9283"},"modified":"2023-12-14T17:25:46","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T17:25:46","slug":"flow-state-and-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fitpro.com\/blog\/flow-state-and-movement\/","title":{"rendered":"How well do you know FLOW?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018Flow state\u2019 is described in different ways, but what\u2019s it got to do with movement? Well, quite a lot, as John Polley explains.<\/h2>\n

Where might it happen?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I\u2019ve explored flow state extensively for a book I\u2019m writing and boiled it down to four main categories where flow state occurs:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Through connection \u2013 to other humans, to animals and to nature<\/li>\n
  2. Through spiritual pursuits \u2013 meditation, prayer and mindfulness<\/li>\n
  3. Through intellectual endeavour \u2013 reading and learning<\/li>\n
  4. Through physical action \u2013 sport\/exercise, recreational activities you love<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Number four is important to know for all we movers, but understanding all four categories is very useful for maximising results. Imagine combining some of them into a \u2018flow state catalyst grenade\u2019 and throwing it into your life every day! Boom! Peak experience explosion!<\/p>\n

    The foundations<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    So, let\u2019s take a little look at flow and come back to how movement can be leveraged further.<\/p>\n

    Starting with the creator of the term \u2018flow state\u2019, psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (bonus points for pronunciation) describes flow theory as \u201cthe psychology of optimal experience\u201d. Flow state, he says, is \u201cbeing completely\u00a0<\/em>involved in an activity for its own sake.\u00a0The ego falls away. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you\u2019re using your skills to the utmost.\u201d<\/p>\n

    This is why some people call flow state a \u2018peak performance state\u2019. I\u2019m guessing we all fancy some peak performance at no extra cost, right? So, what\u2019s the deal? How do we get into this exclusive club? That\u2019s where it gets interesting!<\/p>\n

    But first, a few more things to know<\/p>\n

    Steven Kotler of the Flow Genome Project has taken the work of Csikszentmihalyi (still struggling? \u2018Chi-set-me-high\u2019 \u2013 you\u2019re welcome!) and broadened our understanding further. In flow, there are certain neurochemicals that become abundant:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Norepinephrine \u2013 fuel injection system<\/li>\n
    • Endorphin \u2013 emotional high<\/li>\n
    • Anandamide \u2013 learning, lateral thinking, pattern recognition<\/li>\n
    • Dopamine \u2013 progress feelgoods<\/li>\n
    • Serotonin \u2013 wellbeing and significance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Imagine this: you\u2019re in a state where you feel awesome, you\u2019re highly energised, hugely positive, can react and adapt on the hoof with no problems. Sound good? It gets better. Kotler goes on to say that, in flow, we experience \u2018transient hypofrontality\u2019 (Americans really know how to complicate a concept, huh?). This basically means it knocks out a huge swathe of our prefrontal cortex which, get this, eliminates our inner critic and our ability to process time.<\/p>\n

      If it\u2019s dawning on you just how amazing this is, let me confirm the rumour in your mind. Yes, it means you are completely <\/em>immersed in the present moment, have no nagging voice telling you to be careful AND you\u2019re in a state of peak performance awesomeness beyond anything your \u2018normal\u2019 self can achieve. In studies, snipers learn to be 230-500% faster in flow; CEOs are 500% more productive in flow; big wave surfers literally cannot<\/em> surf those waves unless<\/em> they\u2019re in flow! As the famous movie line goes, \u201cI\u2019ll have what she\u2019s having!\u201d<\/p>\n

      OK, so spill the beans!<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      I\u2019ve kept you waiting long enough. Time to give you some guidance on how to explore what psychologists call \u2018the deep now\u2019, which is probably one of my favourite phrases ever uttered. Entering the deep now needs two main ingredients:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. An environment conducive to flow<\/li>\n
      2. Triggers, personal to you, scattered throughout your day<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        This means an environment of adequate rest, great fuel, stress under control, challenges equal to or just above a person\u2019s skill level, in a physical space set up for the experience, and an activity that is genuinely and completely engaging to the individual. Plus, opportunity! Can you create this for yourself? Can you create it for others?<\/p>\n

        Even simpler \u2026<\/strong><\/h3>\n

        If this sounds all too complicated, how about this:<\/p>\n

        Create physical experiences where the person\/people involved completely lose track of time; they\u2019re completely in the present moment and nothing else matters in that moment. Done!<\/p>\n

        What does this look like?<\/p>\n

        Check out the videos below. These are examples of where I enter movement flow because they are specific to me \u2013 playing and improvising is where I get my flow on. It might be different for you or your clients, so ask questions. What activities do you LOVE doing? When do you lose track of time? Don\u2019t overthink your answers by intellectualising what has the \u2018best evidence to support it\u2019 or is culturally accepted as \u2018exercise\u2019. You want the best from yourself? Then answer those questions honestly and see where you end up? My friend dances her a$$ off every morning. Another does laser tag. Another heavy lifts while listening to music. Another does animal flow. Find your fit (see what I did there) and enjoy! Peace out, JP<\/p>\n