Trusting Instinct: Finding Flow in Paragliding

By Para Clinics Aotearoa

As a paragliding instructor and acrobatic pilot with over two decades of experience, I’ve seen the same mental struggle play out across all levels of pilot development—from fresh P2s to seasoned SIV participants. And I’ve lived it myself, particularly during my progression into acro. The tendency to think too much, to micromanage every input, to over-analyze thermals, turns, even launches—this “paralysis by analysis” can subtly erode not only our progression, but also our enjoyment and connection to flight.

What I’ve come to understand over time, both through teaching and personal exploration, is this: real progress in paragliding often comes not from thinking harder, but from feeling more. This is where the concept of flow state comes in—a state of complete immersion, where skill, instinct, and awareness align, and conscious thought takes a backseat to embodied action.

🧠 The Thinking Trap: When Analysis Gets in the Way

Modern paragliding education tends to lean heavily on information. We teach pilots what to do in thermals, how to react to collapses, where to fly based on wind direction. And this is important. But there’s a point where thinking becomes a barrier to feeling.

I've seen pilots circle in thermals counting seconds on their vario before turning. I've done it myself in the past. It’s a rational approach, but it disconnects you from the wing and from the air. You’re reacting to numbers, not sensations. You’re following a plan, not dancing with the sky.

When flying becomes a series of checklists and commands—“brakes 20%, weightshift right, wait three seconds, turn”—you lose touch with the fluid, dynamic environment you’re in. The result? Sloppy turns, poor climbs, frustration, and even fear.

🌊 Flow State: Flying with the Feeling Self

Flow is not just a buzzword. It’s a well-researched psychological state coined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, where your body and mind align perfectly in the moment. It’s that feeling when you’re so immersed in the task—whether it’s climbing a thermal, surfing a ridge, or throwing a SAT—that time disappears and performance feels effortless.

In this state, analytical thinking gives way to intuitive action. You don’t think about turning—you just turn. You don’t interpret lift—you feel it. Neurochemically, flow is marked by a surge of dopamine and other neurotransmitters that boost focus, reaction time, and awareness.

This is how the world’s best pilots operate. When I watch elite acro pilots throw down in Oludeniz or Annecy, I don’t see them calculating every movement. I see them flowing—feeling the timing, the energy, the rhythm of the wing. And when I’ve been in that state myself, especially while doing acro over water, I can feel my body responding before my brain catches up.

When Flying in the Flow State

🦶 The Body Leads: Natural Learning and Instinctual Action

Think of how we learn to walk. We don’t study diagrams or count seconds. We try, we fall, we try again. Our nervous system learns by doing—by feeling balance, pressure, and movement. Flying is no different.

Your body learns flying faster than your brain. Your hands remember brake pressure. Your hips learn to read glider pitch. Your eyes, ears, and skin become sensitive instruments for detecting lift and turbulence. But only if you let them.

The more you try to override your body with your brain, the more disjointed your flying becomes. When I stopped micromanaging my inputs and started trusting the subtle cues—when I relaxed into the wing instead of commanding it—I became a better pilot. My turns got tighter. My climbs more efficient. My awareness expanded.

🐦 The Power of Observation: Visualisation and Mirror Neurons

One of the most effective tools I’ve used in both acro progression and teaching is visualisation—watching others fly and imagining myself doing the same.

When you observe another pilot performing a maneuver—say a wingover, a stall entry, or a smooth thermal climb—your brain activates “mirror neurons.” These are the same neurons that fire when you do the movement yourself. In other words, watching with intention is a form of practice.

I’ve trained countless maneuvers on the ground—visualising timing, control inputs, body position—long before ever attempting them in the air. And I always encourage students to watch skilled pilots fly. Not just to be impressed, but to absorb. Feel their rhythm. Mimic their posture. Imagine the timing of their turns. This primes the nervous system for smoother, more intuitive execution when it’s your turn.

🧘 Practical Exercises for Flow-Focused Flying

To cultivate a more instinctive and embodied flying experience, try the following:

1. Feel the Wing

Fly with minimal brake input. Focus on subtle pressures in the risers, the harness, the lines. What is the wing telling you?

2. Thermal Without the Vario

Just for a few minutes, turn off the beeps. Use pitch, roll, and brake tension to navigate lift. Trust your senses. You’ll be surprised how capable they are.

3. Turn Without Thinking

Practice S-turns on ridge lift or in weak thermals by feeling when it’s time to change direction. Don’t count seconds. Let the wing and air guide you.

4. Mirror Flight

Pick a skilled pilot and match their movements as if you’re shadowing them. Feel their lines, their rhythm. What decisions are they making, and why?

5. No Judgment Zone

Review your flight without labeling anything as “good” or “bad.” What worked? What felt off? What did you learn? This helps reduce fear-based thinking and encourages curiosity.

💬 Final Thoughts: Learning to Trust Yourself

Paragliding is one of the most beautiful metaphors for life I’ve ever found. It teaches us that while knowledge is useful, wisdom comes from feeling. From letting go of control. From trusting the self you’ve been training all along.

As an instructor, I’ve learned that the best pilots aren’t the ones with the most information—they’re the ones with the deepest connection to their wing, to the air, and to themselves. And that connection is built not through thinking more, but through feeling more.

Trust your body. Trust your training. Trust your instincts.

And most of all—enjoy the ride.