What is Flowstate Fitness?
Flowstate Fitness is an exercise philosophy and training approach designed to help people achieve a state of “flow”—a mental state where you are fully immersed, focused, and energized by an activity. It integrates physical, mental, and even emotional practices to create a seamless experience of movement and mindfulness.
Here’s what defines Flowstate Fitness:
1. Mind-Body Connection
Exercises promote awareness of how your body moves and feels, encouraging a meditative, in-the-moment focus.
2. Dynamic and Fluid Movements
Workouts often include activities like yoga, qigong, tai chi, martial arts, or functional fitness, emphasizing smooth, continuous motion over rigid, repetitive exercises.
3. Playful and Engaging
The routine avoids monotony, incorporating elements of fun and exploration to keep you mentally engaged.
4. Adaptable Intensity
Whether you’re a beginner or an athlete, Flowstate Fitness encourages self-paced movement, allowing you to push yourself without overwhelming stress or external pressures.
5. Holistic Benefits
Beyond physical fitness, the goal is to enhance mental clarity, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being, making it suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels.
What’s the difference between Flowstate Fitness and other systems?
1. Focus on Flow vs. Performance
Flowstate Fitness: Emphasizes achieving a “flow state,” where the mind and body are fully immersed in the activity. The goal is mental clarity, presence, and enjoyment of movement.
Traditional Fitness/Sports: Often prioritizes measurable performance, such as strength gains, endurance, speed, or competitive outcomes.
2. Fluid and Dynamic Movements
Flowstate Fitness: Incorporates continuous, dynamic, and often creative movements. It avoids rigid patterns and focuses on fluidity, often blending yoga, dance, tai chi, and functional movement.
Traditional Fitness: Structured exercises like weightlifting, running, or sports drills are often linear, repetitive, or static (e.g., bench presses, sprints).
Team Sports: Movements are specific to the demands of the sport, often stop-start or with fixed objectives.
3. Mental State and Engagement
Flowstate Fitness: Encourages mindfulness, relaxation, and mental focus. The experience is meditative and designed to reduce stress and enhance creativity.
Traditional Fitness: Mental focus often centers on discipline, pushing limits, or achieving specific goals like fat loss or muscle gain.
Sports: Requires tactical and situational awareness but often involves external pressure or competition.
4. Playfulness and Creativity
Flowstate Fitness: Promotes exploration, adaptability, and fun, allowing participants to move in ways that feel natural and enjoyable.
Traditional Fitness: Highly structured routines, with less emphasis on experimentation or creative movement.
Sports: Playful in nature but constrained by rules, strategies, and team dynamics.
5. Holistic Benefits
Flowstate Fitness: Balances physical, mental, and emotional wellness. It’s as much about stress relief, mindfulness, and joy as it is about strength or endurance.
Traditional Fitness: Focuses more on physical improvement, sometimes with secondary mental benefits (e.g., endorphin release).
Sports: Can be holistic but often emphasizes competition and team goals.
6. Adaptability and Inclusivity
Flowstate Fitness: Accessible for people of all fitness levels, with movements scaled to individual abilities and needs. No specialized equipment or skills are necessary.
Traditional Fitness: May require equipment, specific knowledge, or advanced techniques. Beginners might struggle with intimidating setups.
Sports: Requires specific skills, training, and rules, which may exclude casual participants.
Where did the concept of Flow State come from?
In modern terms, the concept of a flow state originates from the field of psychology and was first articulated by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a Hungarian-American psychologist, in the 1970s. He described flow as a mental state in which a person becomes fully immersed in an activity, experiencing a sense of effortless involvement, deep focus, and enjoyment. This state is often characterized by a loss of self-consciousness and a feeling that time either speeds up or slows down.
Csikszentmihalyi studied artists, athletes, and performers who described moments of complete absorption in their work or craft. He identified conditions that create flow:
• A balance between challenge and skill.
• Clear goals and immediate feedback.
• Full concentration and immersion in the task.
From a Taoist perspective, the concept of flow and flow state aligns closely with the philosophy of Tao (道), often translated as “the Way” or “the Path.” Taoism emphasizes harmony with the natural order of the universe and living in accordance with the Tao, which is seen as the ultimate source and flow of all life and existence. Taoism is a philosophy and lifestyle, not a religion.
Here’s how flow and flow state are understood through five Taoist principles:
1. The Flow of Qi (Life Energy)
In Eastern philosophy, qi (气) is the vital life force or energy that flows through all living beings and the universe. Maintaining a smooth, balanced flow of qi is essential for health, vitality, and harmony.
Movements in qigong are specifically designed to open blockages, balance energy pathways (meridians), and align one’s body with the natural flow of qi. Just as qi flows harmoniously in qigong, a person in a flow state feels energy and focus flowing without resistance. There is no overexertion or under-engagement, only smooth, continuous action.
2. Wu Wei (Effortless Action)
Wu Wei (无为) is a central Taoist concept meaning “non-action” or “effortless action.” It doesn’t imply passivity but rather a state of being in perfect harmony with the flow of life.
In flow, one experiences a sense of effortless engagement in an activity. Actions feel natural, unforced, and arise spontaneously, much like the Taoist idea of aligning with the rhythms of the universe.
3. Harmony with Nature
Taoism teaches that humans are not separate from nature but part of its grand flow. When one resists this flow, it creates struggle and disharmony. Living according to the Tao involves recognizing and yielding to the natural forces around you.
In a flow state, one feels connected to the environment, whether it’s the rhythm of breath, the movements of the body, or the terrain of a trail. This connection mirrors the Taoist ideal of unity with nature.
A hiker in flow moves fluidly with the trail, adapting naturally to obstacles, feeling in sync with the earth.
4. Simplicity and Non-Resistance
Taoism values simplicity and non-resistance, encouraging individuals to let go of unnecessary complexity and struggle. “The soft overcomes the hard,” as Laozi writes in the Tao Te Ching.
Flow encourages one to stop fighting against the body and instead move within its natural capacity. Movements are gentle, responsive, and adaptive, echoing Taoist simplicity. Practices like yoga, qigong, or tai chi embody this non-resistance, emphasizing balance and smooth transitions rather than forceful exertion.
5. Timelessness and Unity
Time, in Taoism, is seen as cyclical and eternal. The Taoist approach to life involves stepping out of rigid time constraints and entering the rhythm of the moment.
A hallmark of the flow state is the sense that time either speeds up or slows down. This mirrors the Taoist view of transcending linear time and becoming fully immersed in the present.
Flowstate Fitness Techniques
Qigong
Gentle, flowing movements coordinated with breathwork and visualization.
Qigong encourages participants to “go with the flow” of energy, creating a meditative state that mirrors Csikszentmihalyi’s description. Movements are repetitive yet adaptable, fostering both mindfulness and ease.
Yoga
Poses (asanas), breath control (pranayama), and meditation are combined to promote inner awareness and physical harmony.
Yoga teaches practitioners to align movement with breath, which fosters a sense of rhythm and unity—a hallmark of the flow state.
Gentle Functional Fitness
Low-impact, functional exercises designed for older adults, focusing on balance, flexibility, and strength without over stressing the body.
Movements are slow and deliberate, offering achievable challenges that allow seniors to stay focused and present. The gentle pace and focus on personal ability make it easier to enter a flow state, improving both physical and mental well-being.
Benefits of These Techniques
Low Stress, High Reward: Unlike high-intensity or competitive fitness, flow-based practices reduce stress and pressure, fostering enjoyment and consistency.
Enhanced Mind-Body Connection: Flow requires full attention to the body and breath, which is a central theme in qigong, yoga, and gentle fitness.
Accessible to All Levels: By focusing on personal ability and rhythm rather than external benchmarks, flow-based fitness is inclusive for older adults or those new to exercise.
Holistic Benefits: Encourages mental clarity, reduces anxiety, and promotes physical longevity, making it perfect for seniors seeking a balanced lifestyle.
The concept of flowstate has ancient roots in Eastern practices but was formalized in modern psychology. When applied to fitness, especially qigong, yoga, and gentle senior exercises, it helps people achieve a harmonious state of movement and mindfulness, enhancing both physical health and emotional well-being.
Join us for a Flowstate Fitness class like Qigong, Bo Yoga or Balance for Life to try it out for yourself!