If you want to learn more about improv on your own, here are some resources I’ve found helpful:

Zenprov – A podcast by Chicago Improv Associates. Search for it on iTunes.

Truth in Comedy: The Manual of Improvisation – A book by Charna Halpern, Del Close, and Kim Johnson, this book is full of tips on how to do great improv scenes, and should be read by any improviser starting out.

Blink – A book by Malcolm Gladwell about intuition and rapid cognition. Read it to understand how your mind works when making snap judgements. With some reflection, this can be leveraged into your improv as well.

Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art – Written by Stephen Nachmanovitch, this book explores improvisation in multiple media, including theatre, music, and art, as well as exploring inspiration and overcoming creator’s block.

Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind – An exploration of Zen Practice. I think that some of the ideas (living in the moment, being mindful, accepting things as they are, focusing on the journey or the process and not the destination or the goal) are also foundational to improv.