Do you Flow or do you NO?

Flow Movement Marlo Fisken

I’ve been asked many times what one needs to do to be a fluid mover. In response, I often ask, “Well, what is fluidity to you?” Some think of improvisation. Most say seamless, never stopping motion. Almost no one says “control over weight-transfer,” though this is a major element of flow. Movement can be dynamic, have pauses, and even staccato elements but still be "in flow" -- it’s how you change between elements. Definition aside, fluidity is mostly determined by 1) experience, and 2) what is or isn’t going on in your head.  

WHAT STOPS US FROM FLOWING?

  • Lack of familiarity with the movements/rhythms/goal

  • Lack of comfort/confidence

  • Mental disposition/personality

  • Results rather than process oriented mindset

  • Negative, questioning self-talk, fear

  • Anything that you allow to stop yourself

For many people, the very process of "tuning in" turns up the volume of the voice of resistance. The voice of resistance? It’s not a political movement, it’s the "nah-ah" voice in your head. If you are asked to pay attention to your sensations either in stillness or in movement and then have a little internal dialogue of“I don’t like this,"  “I don’t know what to do,” or “I look stupid,” then you are dealing with resistance. It may show up as self-doubt, self-judgment, or a straight-up NO/Negative-Nancy attitude.

Grumpy Cat

Resistance may also appear as bodily tension, restrained breath, wandering thoughts (such as “I need to respond to that email”), and even fatigue. For some, being asked to take time to quiet their mind and focus on their breath makes their heart race -- they become tense as they think of every possible reason they need to leave the room.

Being present in your body (i.e., your life) can quickly reveal anxiety, which is ultimately a fear of uncertainty, or a fear of losing something that has been held onto.

Reality Check: 

We all will experience negative internal dialogue while moving -- some less than others -- but it happens. While it is easy to look at a proficient mover and assume they never have self-doubt, this is not true at all. The trained "flow-er" knows how to turn negative thoughts into a breath so deep that the thought can no longer be heard. Remember, proficiency requires practice. A great mover will still be a beginner when doing something new. New situations inherently create uneasiness; it’s how you handle it that matters.

Stress and anxiety happen when you anticipate a negative outcome, like this puppy below, scared at first to go down a set of stairs:

Puppy Stairs Flow Movement

Anxiety and flowing do not mesh. 

When you fully commit your attention to your movement session, there is no such thing as a negative outcome. You will learn something about yourself 100% of the time. If you are scared of learning something you don’t like, the beautiful thing is we can’t change it until we are aware of it. Remember, if you feel on the verge of a breakdown, you are also on the verge of a breakthrough.

Look at this little flow master, no anxiety here:

Puppy Flow Movement

The above blog is an excerpt from the forthcoming Floor Flow® Level 1 Teacher Training manual.  The trainings launch this June in the United States, with international dates pending.  More info HERE.