"Flow - The state in which people are so involved in any activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience itself is so enjoyable that people will do it even at great cost, for the sake of doing it" (Csikszentmihalyi, 2009)

In positive psychology, there is a growing body of research surrounding the phenomena of "flow states" of consciousness. In these states, we are not concerned with external stimuli. We feel engaged, challenged, motivated and completely present. After a flow experience, we gain new abilities and skills and feel a sense of accomplishment and pride. Some researchers argue that we should spend as much of our lives as possible in this optimal state, as it has been shown that experiencing flow regularly is linked to increased feelings of well being and meaningfulness in our daily lives. Certain activities allow us to reach flow states more easily and consistently, such as sports, art, and hobbies - activities that we enjoy. However, flow can be cultivated in nearly all aspects of our lives. Even mundane tasks such as doing the dishes can provide an opportunity to experience flow. 

 

Flow arts is the integration of prop manipulation and creative, improvised movements. Although we recognize that all creative modalities can be flow inducing, there is something about prop manipulation that tends to allow people to quickly and consistently achieve flow. Consider the defining characteristics of the flow state: 

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• Intense and focused concentration on the present moment 

• Merging of action and awareness 

• A loss of self-consciousness

• A sense of personal control over the situation or activity

• A distortion of temporal experience: one's experience of time is altered

• Experience of the activity as intrinsically rewarding  

• Immediate feedback 

• Feeling of having the potential to succeed

• Feeling so engrossed in the activity that other needs become negligible (insert mental image of the "starving artist")

Our experiences of flow states through our practice of flow arts and movement have inspired us to share this information and experience with others! For further information, visit the links below, and check out the book "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience" by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. 

Additional information: 

The Flow Arts Institute brings forward several definitions and uses of the word flow: https://flowartsinstitute.com/definitions-of-flow/ 

Csikszentmihalyi's TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_flow