Alternative Therapy
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The Colors of the Rainbow and How they Affect Us
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Section Sponsor:
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Owner of Sweetheart Healing, Leanna Scatoloni, explains everything we need to know about color therapy.
What is color therapy?
Color therapy, also known as chromotherapy, is a healing modality that uses the power of color and light to balance the body, mind and spirit. Color therapy can be a stand-alone healing session or added as a complementary service to a holistic wellness treatment like Reiki or meditation.
Color therapy is rooted in the science that each color has a unique frequency and vibration and that these properties impact our physical, mental and spiritual bodies. One can work with a holistic healing practitioner to receive a color therapy treatment. The practitioner uses color therapy lights and directs them onto the different energy centers (chakras) of the body to release blockages and restore balance to the body and mind.
Do you personally use color therapy in combination with other alternative therapies? Any other techniques you'd like to share?
I incorporate color therapy into my Reiki sessions using color therapy lights and crystals. I also enjoy leading mindful meditation sessions where I take the client through a color visualization that helps relax and rejuvenate.
Is color therapy a type of Ayurvedic medicine?
Color therapy has been part of ancient wisdom for thousands of years.
Color therapy, in Ayurvedic medicine, acknowledges the connection between color and the chakra system. The chakras are energy centers within the body corresponding to a specific color. Balancing the chakras through color therapy can lead to improved physical and emotional health.
As part of the Five Elements system, the ancient Chinese used color as a way of understanding and connecting humans to their inner and outer worlds.
The ancient Egyptians built temples and added rooms of specific colors and shapes to enhance the therapeutic benefits of color. Colored gemstones and crystals were also used in rituals to channel the healing properties of light and color.
What is the difference between light therapy and color therapy? Can they be used together?
Light therapy, also known as phototherapy, uses an artificial light source to treat physical and mental conditions. Light therapy and color therapy are both therapeutic treatments that improve the health of our bodies and minds.
Is there a meditative component to color therapy?
Yes! It is possible to experience the benefits of color therapy simply by visualizing color. Imagining color entering and leaving the body through our breath is powerful. Some people are more visual than others. It can take some time to get accustomed to meditating with color, but with some patience and practice, the benefits are amazing.
Color therapy, also known as chromotherapy, is a healing modality that uses the power of color and light to balance the body, mind and spirit. Color therapy can be a stand-alone healing session or added as a complementary service to a holistic wellness treatment like Reiki or meditation.
Color therapy is rooted in the science that each color has a unique frequency and vibration and that these properties impact our physical, mental and spiritual bodies. One can work with a holistic healing practitioner to receive a color therapy treatment. The practitioner uses color therapy lights and directs them onto the different energy centers (chakras) of the body to release blockages and restore balance to the body and mind.
Do you personally use color therapy in combination with other alternative therapies? Any other techniques you'd like to share?
I incorporate color therapy into my Reiki sessions using color therapy lights and crystals. I also enjoy leading mindful meditation sessions where I take the client through a color visualization that helps relax and rejuvenate.
Is color therapy a type of Ayurvedic medicine?
Color therapy has been part of ancient wisdom for thousands of years.
Color therapy, in Ayurvedic medicine, acknowledges the connection between color and the chakra system. The chakras are energy centers within the body corresponding to a specific color. Balancing the chakras through color therapy can lead to improved physical and emotional health.
As part of the Five Elements system, the ancient Chinese used color as a way of understanding and connecting humans to their inner and outer worlds.
The ancient Egyptians built temples and added rooms of specific colors and shapes to enhance the therapeutic benefits of color. Colored gemstones and crystals were also used in rituals to channel the healing properties of light and color.
What is the difference between light therapy and color therapy? Can they be used together?
Light therapy, also known as phototherapy, uses an artificial light source to treat physical and mental conditions. Light therapy and color therapy are both therapeutic treatments that improve the health of our bodies and minds.
Is there a meditative component to color therapy?
Yes! It is possible to experience the benefits of color therapy simply by visualizing color. Imagining color entering and leaving the body through our breath is powerful. Some people are more visual than others. It can take some time to get accustomed to meditating with color, but with some patience and practice, the benefits are amazing.
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What are some of the benefits of color therapy?
Color therapy can reduce stress and anxiety and improve sleep. It can energize, enhance focus, and even alleviate pain. The colors blue and green calm us. It is not a coincidence that we naturally relax by an ocean or in a forest surrounded by greenery. Yellow is a bright and cheerful color that helps to elevate our mood and increase focus — hello, sunshine! Orange is associated with joy, enthusiasm and creativity. Red stimulates the body and helps with circulation. Purple can help one tap into their intuition, and white is associated with clarity and purity. |
"Color therapy can reduce stress and anxiety and improve sleep. It can energize, enhance focus, and even alleviate pain." ~ Leanna Scatoloni |
How does color affect mood?
Some colors can energize us, improve our mood, or help us focus, while others can calm and soothe us.
Do people experience color differently?
Absolutely. Colors that are pleasing to one person may not be pleasing to another. A person’s experience with color can also be unique to their own emotional and physical state.
Let me add a personal share here. I moved into an apartment a few years back that was directly across the street from a park with lots of greenery. I decorated my living space with blues and greens which have a calming and relaxing effect. Over the course of a few months, I almost felt too relaxed and a little unmotivated. I added orange and yellow accents into the space and felt more uplifted and creative while at home.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Color therapy is a fun way of adding joy, play and variety into our lives. Color is everywhere. We can incorporate it into our everyday lives in the simplest of ways. We can explore color through drawing and painting. We can cook and bake with color. Add the colors of the rainbow when preparing a salad or when decorating cakes or cookies. Outdoors, we can snap photos of colorful flowers, trees and buildings. We can use color to decorate the interior spaces of our homes and offices and can incorporate color therapy when picking out clothing, accessories and makeup.
Where do you find sanctuary?
I find peace, tranquility and inspiration whenever I am in nature. I instantly connect to the unconditional love in my heart when surrounded by greenery. I especially love the warmth of the tropics. I also find sharing space with animals incredibly healing. I embrace any opportunity to visit a farm or animal sanctuary. Spending time with animals connects me to the joy and playfulness within me.
Some colors can energize us, improve our mood, or help us focus, while others can calm and soothe us.
Do people experience color differently?
Absolutely. Colors that are pleasing to one person may not be pleasing to another. A person’s experience with color can also be unique to their own emotional and physical state.
Let me add a personal share here. I moved into an apartment a few years back that was directly across the street from a park with lots of greenery. I decorated my living space with blues and greens which have a calming and relaxing effect. Over the course of a few months, I almost felt too relaxed and a little unmotivated. I added orange and yellow accents into the space and felt more uplifted and creative while at home.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Color therapy is a fun way of adding joy, play and variety into our lives. Color is everywhere. We can incorporate it into our everyday lives in the simplest of ways. We can explore color through drawing and painting. We can cook and bake with color. Add the colors of the rainbow when preparing a salad or when decorating cakes or cookies. Outdoors, we can snap photos of colorful flowers, trees and buildings. We can use color to decorate the interior spaces of our homes and offices and can incorporate color therapy when picking out clothing, accessories and makeup.
Where do you find sanctuary?
I find peace, tranquility and inspiration whenever I am in nature. I instantly connect to the unconditional love in my heart when surrounded by greenery. I especially love the warmth of the tropics. I also find sharing space with animals incredibly healing. I embrace any opportunity to visit a farm or animal sanctuary. Spending time with animals connects me to the joy and playfulness within me.
Photo Courtesy: Leanna Scatoloni
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Leanna Scatoloni is the founder of Sweetheart Healing. She is a Certified Reiki Master and Practitioner and offers energy healing sessions in a beautiful and serene space in New York City. She holds a completed certification as a Holistic Health Practitioner of Ayurveda, holds a Level 1 Sound Therapy Certification, and is a certified Dancorcism teacher.
In her free time, she loves to travel and dance. She recharges by exploring nature, taking photographs, and incorporating play into her daily life. Leanna enjoys cooking, baking and drawing, and she uses those as canvases to explore her love of color. |
