The Relationship between Mindfulness and Flow State in Athletes

Abstract

Mindfulness has long been known for its positive health benefits for the human body and mind. The introspective, non-judgmental aspects of mindfulness exercises make it especially beneficial for elite athletic performance, where it is critical for athletes to enter a specific state of concentration and awareness where peak performance is observed—the flow state. In the past, certain mindfulness programs such as the Mindfulness Sport Performance Enhancement (MSPE) program were designed to improve athletes’ mindfulness abilities. Since the broader focus in research was to independently evaluate mindfulness and flow in athletes, it is important to see the bridge between the two areas of study. Most reviewed articles showed significant correlation between mindfulness abilities and levels of flow in elite athletes. It was also shown that mindfulness training is an effective approach to increase emotional regulation and attentional control, which are related to levels of flow in athletes. Further investigation is necessary to understand how mindfulness can contribute to the level of flow experienced by athletes.