Optimal experience

In his 1970 bestseller “Flow”, American psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihaly studied states of “optimal experience” or moments in which a person, engaged in activity, is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus and intense enjoyment, a condition which he referred to as “flow”.

The metaphor of flow is used by many to describe moments of effortless performance, moments they describe as they best in their entire experience.

Sportsmen and women talk of being in the zone; religious mystics of being at one with things, while artists and especially musicians talk about getting into the groove.

And although all of these groups of people are engaged in quite different activities, the way they describe the experience they undergo at supreme moments, is surprisingly similar.

The features of Flow

1. Having clearly defined goals.
2. Having a high degree of concentration on a limited field of attention.
3. Loss of the feeling of self-consciousness.
4. Loss of a subjective sense of time.
5. Direct and immediate feedback where success and failure are apparent so behaviour can be adjusted immediately.
6. Balance between ability level and challenge.
7. Sense of personal control over the activity.
8. Intrinsically rewarding so it is effortless to do and is fun.

Flow motion with the Aquaswing® is a direct and immediate way of achieving this state of flow.

Re 1 and 2) Maximum results are obtained for a minimum effort and with a minimum energy loss when the motions are successfully carried out. Goal-directed concentration is needed each time to achieve this objective. The necessary concentration is easily achieved because the Flow Motion system is fun to use.

Re 3) When you are going through the paces and following the flow motions, you become automatically focussed on the rhythmic flow of the water in the AquaSwing. Practicing Flow Motion with the AquaSwing is so intensive that nearly all the senses are involved with the appliance and the water flow, making it is easy to relax and let go.

Re 4) Because it is fun you become centred on the “here-and-now” , become fully concentrated on what you are doing and loose all sense of time.

Re 5) To experience the essence of Flow Motion, you have to achieve the above state, otherwise you miss out completely. The trick is to get into the rhythm of the motion. You can literally hear, see and feel this via the flowing water in the AquaSwing. By going with the water flow you enter the “Flow”. Through bio-feedback from hearing, seeing and feeling the flow of the water, you can check to see if you are moving correctly and make any adjustments if necessary.

Re 6) The over 100 patterns of motion are designed to operate at 5 levels of difficulty. Each level can be mastered by training before moving on to the next. The more advanced levels require more complex Flow Motion patterns. Bio-feedback from hearing, seeing and feeling the flow of the water act as an automatic check to see if you are moving correctly and adjust where necessary.

Re 7) While you are training to master the Flow Motion movements, the patterns of motion are being stored in the human hardware system of the brain so eventually they come naturally and you do not have to think about them. Through repetition you acquire the routine and the feeling that you have the system under control. And that gives you a feeling of great satisfaction, making the exercises more enjoyable.