Our environments have a significant impact on our health and wellness. Colour is one environmental factor that makes a big difference. From the colour of the clothes we choose to wear to the colour of the rooms and objects around us, we can use colour to influence our mood, emotions, and wellbeing.
Colour Theory
There is a lot of theory surrounding the power and influence of colours on our moods and personality. These ideas are often applied to marketing and branding. It is no coincidence that Microsoft chose blue and UPS chose brown for their company colours. You will even encounter colour psychology when shopping for paint at the local hardware store.
Colour can influence emotions, thoughts, and well-being. Colour therapy uses the unique qualities of different colours to help balance mood and support wellness.
What Is Colour Therapy?
Colour therapy has a basis in light science. Light moves in waves, and different colours have different wavelengths. In colour therapy, these frequencies are used to harmonise the body’s inner vibrations, depending on the concern. Colour therapy is also known as chromotherapy or colour healing.
How Can Colour Therapy Be Used?
The simplest way to apply colour therapy is to look at or surround yourself with a specific colour. Choose an object, a piece of cloth, or shine coloured light and gaze at it for a few minutes to invite the intended effect.
Colour therapy is used by some to help with stress, low immunity, insomnia, and other concerns. The colour you choose depends on your goal. For example, people experiencing stress often gravitate to green, cyan, or blue light, while low mood may be supported by orange, yellow, or red.
While you can try colour strategies at home, combining colour therapy with an infrared sauna can compound the effects. A health professional can also help you identify your true emotional state, which is not always obvious to recognise on your own. After a session, many people report feeling energised, refreshed, and calm.
The Benefits of Combining Infrared Sauna and Colour Therapy
Sweating is a healthy, natural way to eliminate toxins. Infrared saunas can help you sweat more efficiently than traditional saunas and promote relaxation by supporting healthy cortisol rhythms. Reported benefits of infrared sauna use include:
- Muscle relaxation
- Tension release
- Pain relief
- Skin purification
- Improved circulation
Colour therapy can be combined with an infrared sauna by applying a coloured filter to the sauna light. You will sweat while also choosing colours to balance your energy and target specific stressors. Our infrared sauna at Urban Massage & Wellness offers multiple colours to choose from.
Colours & Their Meanings
Each colour has its own positive and negative associations. The key is to choose the right colours for your goals and use them in moderation.
Blue
Blue is the colour of trust, honesty, and loyalty. It can inspire responsibility, sincerity, and confidence.
If you have high stress levels or anxious thoughts, blue can help you feel more relaxed. Add blue to your home or wardrobe to cultivate calm. Use it in moderation, as too much may feel sad.
Positive associations: integrity, trustworthy, tactful, reliable, devoted, organised.
Negative associations: rigid, sad, passive, unstable, weak, self-righteous.
Red
Red is the colour of energy, motivation, and passion. It can inspire action, confidence, ambition, and determination.
For a motivational boost or encouragement for physical activity, add red accents to your space or wardrobe. Use sparingly, as too much can feel aggressive or agitating.
Positive associations: assertive, confident, exciting, stimulating, powerful, courageous, strong.
Negative associations: aggressive, domineering, angry, ruthless, intolerant, fearful.
Green
Green is the colour of balance, harmony, and growth. It often evokes renewal, stability, and steady energy.
Green promotes balance between head and heart. Think sustainability, gardens, and spring. Use green when you want to feel refreshed, but avoid overuse as it can feel tiring.
Positive associations: balance, harmony, calm, reliable, generous, tactful, kind.
Negative associations: possessive, overly cautious, envious, greedy, hypochondriac, jealousy.
White
White is the colour of purity, innocence, and completion. It suggests a blank slate and can inspire creativity.
White symbolises peace, independence, and inner cleansing. It is great for fresh starts, but too much can feel sterile or empty.
Positive descriptors: wholeness, innocence, simplicity, pristine, open, equality, purity.
Negative descriptors: sterile, boring, critical, cautious, empty, isolated, fastidious.
Purple
Purple is the colour of imagination, spirituality, and balance. It blends red’s energy with blue’s integrity.
Often used for meditation and introspection. Overuse can lead to intense inward focus.
Positive associations: creative, intuitive, inventive, humanitarian, selfless, visionary.
Negative associations: immature, cynical, impractical, aloof, arrogant, pompous.
Cyan
Cyan is the colour of clarity, harmony, healing, and steady energy. It can encourage clear thought and creativity.
Cyan is associated with sensitivity to emotions, thoughts, and actions. Overuse may feel confusing or indecisive.
Positive descriptors: clarity, balance, harmony, compassion, healing, communication.
Negative descriptors: boastfulness, secrecy, unreliability, deception, carelessness, indecision, reticence.
Yellow
Yellow is the colour of intellect, optimism, and cheer. It can suggest mindfulness, happiness, hope, and clarity.
As the brightest colour on the spectrum, yellow hints at fun and innovation. Use it when you need a lift, but avoid excess if it starts to feel overwhelming.
Positive descriptors: optimistic, cheerful, enthusiastic, creative, wisdom, logic, fun.
Negative descriptors: critical, egotistical, pessimistic, spiteful, cowardly, impatient, judgemental.
Try Colour Therapy in Our Infrared Sauna in St. Albert
Feeling down, irritated, or uncertain? Colour therapy may help you rebalance. Book a colour therapy infrared sauna session with Urban Massage & Wellness in St. Albert. Our clients and therapists love the experience. You will feel relaxed and rejuvenated after each session.
