Coach Logan Explaining a Parkour Speed Course to Athletes If you've spent time in different types of movement or gymnastics facilities, you've probably noticed that many gymnastics gyms use carpet-bonded foam flooring (soft, springy surfaces that provide cushion for flips and landings). But step into a parkour gym, and you'll often find a very different surface underfoot: rubber flooring. Why the difference? At first glance, it might seem counterintuitive. Wouldn’t a softer floor be safer for parkour, which involves high-impact landings, vaults, and drops? Actually, not always, and here's why most parkour gyms choose rubber over carpet-bonded foam. 1. Realism and Skill Transfer One of the core principles of parkour is being able to move efficiently and safely through real-world environments. Most of those environments are made of concrete, brick, wood, and metal - not soft foam. Rubber flooring gives just enough give to reduce joint stress without being so soft that it masks poor landing technique. Training on carpet-bonded foam can create a false sense of security and reduce skill transfer to the outside world. Rubber teaches precision and control in a more realistic way. 2. Surface Stability Carpet-bonded foam is soft, but that softness can actually be a drawback for parkour. Many parkour techniques like strides, precisions, and wall runs require solid, consistent traction and a firm push-off. Carpet-bonded foam can feel spongy underfoot, which reduces responsiveness and makes precise movements harder. Rubber flooring provides the consistent surface athletes need for confident takeoffs and landings. 3. Reduced Risk of Rolling Ankles One of the often-overlooked dangers of soft flooring is the increased risk of ankle rolls. On carpet-bonded foam, the squishy surface can deform unexpectedly underfoot, especially on edges, landings, or while performing balance based movements. This instability can cause the foot to roll, leading to sprains or worse. Rubber flooring, by contrast, offers a flat, stable surface that supports the foot evenly, making it easier to maintain proper alignment and reduce the risk of ankle injuries. 4. Safety Through Technique In gymnastics, the surface is designed to absorb impact and reduce injury during repeated tumbling passes. In parkour, the emphasis is on learning how to absorb impact through movement: rolling, breaking falls, and landing correctly. Rubber doesn’t hide bad habits the way soft foam can. It encourages athletes to build proper landing mechanics and fall recovery skills which are crucial tools for long term safety and progress. In Summary While carpet-bonded foam works great for gymnastics, parkour has different needs. Rubber flooring strikes the right balance between safety, durability, and realism in order to help athletes train smarter and move better, both in the gym and out in the world. So the next time you step into a parkour gym and feel the firm grip of rubber beneath your feet, know this: it’s not just a surface, it’s a tool for building real-world movement skill, with your ankles (and your progress) thanking you for it.

In a world where screens compete for attention and physical play is often sidelined, the kids of Hendricks County deserve a summer experience that reconnects them with movement, confidence, and community. That’s where our Parkour Summer Camp at The Flow Space Movement Center steps in, not just as an activity, but as a powerful opportunity for growth. Fitness That Feels Like Play Let’s face it, traditional workouts can feel like a chore, especially for kids. But what if fitness looked more like an adventure? Parkour transforms exercise into exploration. Kids leap over obstacles, vault onto platforms, balance across beams all while laughing, cheering each other on, and moving with purpose. They don’t even realize they’re building strength, endurance, and coordination. To them, it’s just fun . That’s the beauty of parkour: it doesn’t ask kids to be athletic. It shows them they already are. Teaching Confidence Through Risk Management Life is full of obstacles both literal and figurative. Parkour gives kids a framework for facing those challenges safely and confidently. In our summer camp, children learn to assess risks, set realistic goals, and push themselves. They discover what their bodies can do, and more importantly, what their minds are capable of. They fall sometimes, but they learn how to fall safely and get back up with more knowledge than they had before. This builds a kind of confidence that carries into school, friendships, and everything beyond: “I can do hard things.” “I can try again.” “I know how to think things through.” Reclaiming Joy in Movement We believe movement should never feel like punishment. It should feel like joy and freedom. That’s exactly what we foster in our parkour summer camp. Every day is structured with fun obstacle challenges, skill-building games, teamwork activities, and self-discovery. Our experienced coaches don’t just teach techniques they inspire, mentor, and celebrate progress. In a time when childhood fitness is declining and confidence struggles are on the rise, we’re offering something different: a space where kids rediscover movement as something they love—not something they have to do. For Every Kid in Hendricks County Whether your child is naturally athletic or a little hesitant to try new things, our camp is built to support them. We meet every camper where they’re at and guide them to where they want to go—step by step, jump by jump. So if you’re looking for a summer experience that’s full of movement, laughter, and personal breakthroughs, parkour might just be exactly what your child needs. Join us at The Flow Space Movement Center and help your child build the strength, confidence, and joy that will last far beyond summer. 👉 Register now—spots are limited!

Why did we name our parkour gym 'The Flow Space'? At first glance, it’s not obvious—but the concept of flow is at the heart of everything we do here. The Power of the Flow State: Unleashing Peak Performance "The Flow State" often called "being in the zone" is a mental state of complete focus on the task at hand. Where the body and mind function in unison, effortlessly performing the activity without conscious control. A state of full immersion without the constant sound of their brain. This phenomenon has been studied by psychologists to understand how it can unlock human potential, enhancing both creativity and productivity. Medical News Today defines key attributes that make entering The Flow State easier: "Tasks that tend to encourage a state of flow often share similar characteristics. These tasks may be: challenging, but not so much that they are impossible rewarding, meaning that a person gets a sense of pleasure or purpose from doing it in-depth, involving an investment of some time or energy to make progress Some signs that a person is in a state of flow include: Focus: It is not easy to distract people in flow from their task. They may not be thinking about anything else. If a person or event interrupts someone in flow, they may feel annoyed. Lack of self-consciousness: Flow is associated with a decrease in “self-referential thinking,” which means that a person in this state is unlikely to be thinking about themselves, their performance, or how others might see them. Enjoyment: People may enjoy the task, encouraging them to immerse themselves in it. Persistence: Some evidence suggests that being in flow can offset the frustration of a difficult task, allowing people to keep going." ( https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/flow-state#characteristics ) The Transformative Power of Parkour: Finding Flow and Self-Worth Our team has been coaching Parkour for a combined 20 years, and over this time we have seen Parkour be specifically special in creating a space for participants to enter Flow. Sport is often identified as a key place for people to find flow, however, we believe Parkour is unique in ways that allow total focus in the moment. Parkour is an individual sport. You don't have to pull yourself out of the zone of focus to see the other people participating. It is just you and the challenge. Parkour is a challenging sport that demands full attention from mind and body while simultaneously promoting problem solving skills. When an athlete completes a challenge or sticks a jump, the feeling of self worth becomes tangible. Often times in pursuit of a challenge the athlete will attempt it dozens of times without noticing how much effort they are putting in because it merely feels like playing. We named our gym "The Flow Space" as a acknowledgment that we exist to provide a space for people to enter the Flow through the movement disciplines we offer. Everybody finds their flow in a different way. Some like the mental and physical challenge of performing large powerful movements showing power in control. While others prefer to show the artistic side of parkour, focussing on smooth movements and connections like an interactive dance with obstacles. This second style of Parkour is often described as "flow." Embracing Flow: The Essence of Parkour Movement Our name also makes an intentional nod to Flow as a style of Parkour. We encourage our students to design their movement in a way that allows them to "follow the flow" and keep momentum and rotation flowing as a stream gently winds through its environment. Interacting with spaces in a way that introduces new life to the mundane. Every November our Head Coach, Coach Mike, runs a challenge specifically designed to train this style of Parkour. He calls it "Flowvember" the goal of this challenge is to create a flow style parkour line everyday for the month of November. This year we have made it into a contest. For Flowvember, we challenge you to post a new flow-style parkour line every day in November. With each post, you earn a dollar toward the Flowvember shirt—and if you complete all 30 days, the shirt is yours for free! If you want more information about this challenge watch this video here: Flowvember Challenge . Join us in experiencing the joy of flow as we take on Flowvember together! #findyourflow