Flowing “in the zone”
The concept of 'flow' in life has become one of the most sought-after states. Flow, a concept introduced by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in the 1970s, is described as a state of complete absorption and immersion in an activity. In this state, you lose track of time, your surroundings, and even your sense of self as you become fully engrossed in the task at hand. It's often associated with the feeling of being "in the zone."
In the world we live in today, where we are constantly striving to be “more” - to be more productive, more successful, and then, one beautiful day... boom! - finally becoming that "somebody." Nobody wants to remain forever as “nobody.” We want to be seen. We want to be heard. Sometimes, we even almost manically seek confirmation or a validation stamp from others, from our family members and community. When we try too hard, we are not really in our own natural way of being anymore. We've taken on someone else's "magic cape" and suddenly trying to navigate how to fly.
I suggest, with your kind permission, that we approach this topic by starting to look at what the ancient text Bhagavad Gita has to say.
Bhagavad Gita 18:47:
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विव गुण: परध र्मोा त्स्वनु ष्ठि तात् |
स्वभावविन यतं कर्मो कु व न्नाप्नो वित विक ल्बि षर्मो् || 47||
“śhreyān swa-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣhṭhitāt svabhāva-niyataṁ karma kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣham”
"It is better to perform one's own duty (dharma) imperfectly than toperform another's duty perfectly."
If we abandon our duties, thinking them to be defective, and take up another's duties unsuitable for our nature, we struggle against the innate inclination of our personality. This means it is our responsibility to live our dharma.
When we are in our flow state, we experience a harmonious immersion in the present moment. We feel fully engaged and in sync with our actions and surroundings. One practice that can guide us toward this state of flow is yoga. Many of us have experienced how great we can feel, both physically and mentally, after a yoga class, radiating that famous 'afterglow' – a true mind-body connection. Hence, yoga is a holistic practice that connects the mind and body. Our physical practice (asana), among many other things, teaches us patience and acceptance. We come to realize that without the right kind of effort (tapas), we won't really make any progress. Yoga teaches us contentment and satisfaction (santosha).
Here, it is interesting to look a bit closer at the meaning of the Sanskrit word santosha. Let’s divide santosha into two parts: the root word; 'sam,' meaning completely or absolutely, and 'tosha,' meaning acceptance, satisfaction, and contentment. Put together, they create a word that means complete acceptance or contentment.
Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita also advises us to do our duty but not to be concerned with the results. We should not get attached to the potential fruits of our actions. In fact, we shouldn't expect anything; instead, we should perform our duties happily and focus solely on doing a good job. Now, if we become anxious for results, we will experience anxiety whenever they do not align with our expectations. The way life unfolds is that we don’t always get what we want, and, on the other hand, we often get what we don’t want.
When we are unconcerned about the results of our actions, whether we get something or not, it enables us to focus entirely on our efforts, and the result is even better than before. Dropping expectations is almost like making a little promise to enter the flow state.
Bhakti Yoga's method is devotional loving service, offering absolutely everything to the Divine. Ragatmika bhakti is a devotion to God that is free-flowing and spontaneous. It is not limited by customs or strict, rigid rules. The term comes from the Sanskrit raga, meaning "passion," "love," and "affection"; atmika, meaning "characterized by"; and bhakti, which means "faithfulness" and "devotional loving service." With ragatmika bhakti, divine prem (love) flows freely without concern about what anyone thinks and without societal barriers of any kind or regard for public criticism.
I personally can get closest to the flow, or the "in the zone" state, through various yoga practices. My absolute favorite, though, is devotional singing or chanting (the Bhakti Path). Singing the ancient mantras, either on my own or in a group, it can happen that I lose the sense of time and place. Mantras tend to work a bit like an inner detox, enabling me to let go of my self-consciousness, my expectations, and fears. The ancient soothing words and sounds feel like nectar for my soul. I can feel at ease. I can taste bliss. I am in the flow.
In my own daily life, I don’t always get to do things that I necessarily want to do exactly there and then. I still have to carry on with my duties (whether I like them or not); however, it is in my own power to decide on what kind of state I want to enter these chores. I use the bhakti approach as much as I can. Everything I do is an offering for the Highest. It is not about me, mine, and myself. I'm acting somehow a bit like "head in the clouds, feet on the ground." When doing some house chores, I play inspirational music, an instant mood lifter!
The different practices and various styles of Yoga offer a profound path to discovering flow in life. By cultivating mindfulness, harnessing the power of the breath, reducing stress, and enhancing physical and mental mastery, yoga empowers you to be present, engage deeply, and experience life in its fullness, appreciating all the different colors and shades. The more we practice, the more we start to get these glimpses of flow, a true connection to everything and with everyone. We start to feel how the Divinity is flowing through us and how we can trust that we are always supported on this journey. God is Love. Love is God. Let it all flow through you and enjoy the journey!
ABOUT SANNA
Sanna is a highly accomplished yoga teacher who began her journey in 1990 with Ashtanga Yoga. She received her Guru's suggestion to start teaching much later, after progressing well into the third series. Since then, Sanna has taught countless classes, workshops, retreats, and YTT's worldwide.
In addition to her extensive yoga expertise, Sanna holds a diploma in Buddhism from Asia and was authorized by her Lama to teach 'Tibetan Heart Yoga,' an ancient system that blends strength and softness, philosophy, mantra, and meditation with breath control. Her signature classes reflect her philosophy of having a soft heart and a strong mind, making her an exceptional and sought-after yoga teacher