Recently we installed color lighting at Namaslay® Studios for an added element of mood support and vibe setting during our evening Namaslay® Hip Hop Yoga classes, and I love the way they turned out! Most of us were taught to associate colors with feelings, right? Green with envy, yellow with happiness, blue with sadness, red with anger, the relationship between color and states of consciousness is all over pop culture, sprinkled throughout colloquial language, and dates back to ancient societies, so when I heard about colored lighting to complement a yoga practice, I started doing some research.
Ancient Egyptians saw colors reflected in all aspects of our lives and used them to heal misaligned energies. They believed the vibrations of each color carry special properties and align with different parts of the human body, mind and soul. The Greeks and Romans built temples of light and color for healing. Traditional Chinese medicine associates each organ of the human body with a color and applies the healing vibrations of sound and color to bring harmony and balance.
Today, the most clinically supported use of color in healing is the use of light boxes for treatment of mood disorders, sleep imbalance, and stress-related illness. Methods and results of scientific studies vary widely, but one truth seems evident: the impact of colored light on a person’s mood or overall feeling of wellness is significant. If people perceive a benefit, does that not make it real?
The roots of yoga date back to ancient India, and in Ayurvedic practice, the colors of the rainbow (Did anyone else learn “ROY G. BIV” - the acronym I learned in school to memorize the order of colors in the spectrum?) correspond with the seven chakras - or energy wheels - in our bodies. Starting from the base of the spine and moving up through the crown of the head, the chakras represent the different needs we have as emotional beings and the parts of us we must balance to reach our fullest potential.
Red - the root chakra - is said to energize us. It warms and awakens us to the present moment.
Orange - the sacral chakra - is the color of joy. It connects us with our innate sense of Self and encourages creativity.
Yellow - the solar plexus chakra - is the color of wisdom and emotion. It provides energy and stimulation, the push we need to get things done.
Green - the heart chakra - has a calming effect on the nervous system. It soothes and can decrease feelings of depression and anxiety.
Blue - the throat chakra - is calming and cooling to our bodies. It’s a great color to bask in when stressed or overwhelmed.
Indigo - the third eye chakra - is the color of healing. It’s said that indigo light enhances our intuition and connects us to the habits and behaviors we may have become blind to.
Violet - the crown chakra - is cleansing and awakening. It restores peace and is said to purify our entire system, boosting immunity and clarity of mind.
Even if the light of a certain color won’t heal us of chronic illness, I believe in its ability to support our energy and mood and that we are vibrational beings affected by light (anyone heard of SAD before?). So why not incorporate some color into our yoga practices? Feeling tired and drained? We’ll put some red or violet light on to help you gain some energy and perspective. Feeling stressed out or anxious? Let us surround you with a cooling blue hue or natural green to calm your mind and ease tension in your body.
I’ve really enjoyed practicing in the different colored lights, and our students and teachers agree - it’s just plain fun. I hope you’ll stop by for an evening class soon to experience a practice in the lit room and see what it’s all about. We’re really proud of the growing community at Namaslay® Studios, and I’m excited to bring more unique offerings to anyone else who marches to the beat of their own drum.