Finding Athletic Flow

A presentation by: R. Scott Packham

What is 'Flow'?

To feel completely at one with what you're doing.

To be in total control Being 'in the zone' Total focus

Flow (continued)

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi described flow as "being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you're using your skills to the utmost"

Where does flow occur

Music Sports Education Religion Etc

Flow Anecdotes

Lyoto Machida, a UFC fighter, uses meditation techniques before his fights to achieve a state known as mushin

Mushin "Meditation plays a big role in my life. Meditation fortifies my

spirit, improves my focus my desire. When I fight I try to empty my mind. Its called Mushin. When I don't see anything around me, I only see that moment. Nothing else matters. that was how I was taught to live." - Lyoto Machida

Here's a little info about that Mushin he was talking about. MUSHIN: Composed of two Kanji MU = nothingness; none; ain't; nothing; nil; not SHIN = heart; mind; spirit Mushin literally means innocence. It refers to the state of mind

where one does not assume anything but is open and prepared for anything - which is vital for combat.

Flow Anecdotes

Ayrton Senna, after qualifying for the 1988 Monaco Gran Prix. “I was already on pole, [...] and I just kept going. Suddenly I was nearly two seconds faster than anybody else, including my team mate with the same car. And suddenly I realized that I was no longer driving the car consciously. I was driving it by a kind of instinct, only I was in a different dimension. It was like I was in a tunnel.”

Kobe

Kobe Bryant Scores 81 points in a single game

The Right Challenge

-For flow to occur, the challenge has to be at the right level.

-It is subjective perception that predicts flow, not objective.

-“Optimal flow occurs when a person's abilities match his or her opportunities for action.”

A Challenge for you

-Another key aspect of getting into a flow state is that your goals or intrinsically motivating.

-You must have clear goals, feel in control, and receive feedback.

-Flow is also a state without self-consciousness