Color your way to a better you

CEBU, Philippines - Colors play a major role in our lives – unknowingly or knowingly.

Many marketing people bank on the subtle suggestions of colors on our subconscious mind to influence our buying decisions.

During the Christmas season, for example, retail shops would be loaded with red, green, and gold (yellow), which somehow would invoke a feeling of homeliness and comfort, making one stay longer and shop more.

Last Monday, November 12, together with a couple of other media personalities in Cebu and a few of the movers of Cebu's spa and wellness scene, led by its president Johnie Lim of Body and Sole, we were given an exclusive lecture on the power of colors and light by Dutch health, spa, and wellness senior expert Janny Beeuwkes-Berends at the humble permiculture-inspired herbal estate of Emma Azcarraga-Ramas.

Berends is part of PUM, a group of Dutch senior experts who volunteer their time and expertise in helping small entrepreneurs in countries like the Philippines. This is the second time for her to visit the Philippines, and this time she stayed for a month to give talks and consultations at an event organized by the Spa and Wellness Association of Cebu (SWAC).

Colors don't exist

Berends pointed out that colors don't exist, but light does, and it is because of light that we see colors.

Colors are actually light of different wavelengths that travel at different speeds. Red travels the fastest, according to Berends, the reason why in a crowded room it would be very easy for us to pinpoint a person wearing red. These wavelengths carry with it certain properties that would enhance our over-all wellbeing.

"We are active because of the energy from the light," she said adding that the rainbow can be seen when light reflects on the back side of a raindrop.

"Our eyes, we see colors because it has at least 6 million cones," Berends revealed. Cones, together with rods, are nerve receptors responsible for vision. The rods are the most numerous at around 120 million, but they are not used for color vision, rather, they are concerned on vision at low levels of light. Cones, on the other hand, are more active when there are plenty of light and are responsible in catching the color wavelengths.

Food and light

Janny also pointed out that the level of benefit that we get from light and colors depend on our lifestyle.

Noticing how engrossed her audience was on their food, she made mention the relation of food and light, saying, "The energy you get from the sun, you reduce with your way of eating. You eat too much."

With this, Berends advised that we should start learning how to eat with our stomach and not with our eyes. Meaning, for us to allow our body to tell us how much food it needs, rather than overfill our plates with food that pleases our eyes.

However, it should also be noted that food is used in color therapy to address concerns on health.

Berends advised that if we feel down we should go to a fruit stand that carries a variety of fruits of various colors. The first fruit that would catch our attention is the fruit that our body would need at that particular time.

Color our life

She said that for her business, she uses color therapy to guide her on choosing whom to sell. However, she reiterated that unknowingly we use color therapy on our day to day decisions.

"We use it (color therapy) on our life already," she said, adding that even in our choice of clothes to wear for a certain occasion, the color decision is based on what our body is telling us.

Berends said that our body reacts to the color that we see.

"Colors can make you happy or depressed," she said. "Colors can be seen and it also penetrates in your skin, just like the sun."

And just like the sun, which stimulates the production of Vitamin D, promoting good health and better well-being, colors also has a similar effect on our body.

Berends said that this is because essentially color is light, and without light, there will be an absence of color.

Color qualities

So, what's with color that influences our life?

Here are some of the positive qualities of the different chromatic colors shared by Berends, which you could use in making those colorful decisions

Yellow. This color stands for ideas, speed, clarity accuracy, and logic. People full of yellow are full of these qualities, while those wanting these colors are in need of these qualities. Compensate by eating something yellow like bananas or by wearing something yellow.

Orange. This color means liveliness and richness. People in need of this color lack these two qualities and should eat something orange, like oranges, or wear something orange.

Red is about power, currency, heat, instinct, impulsiveness, sexuality, and openness. If you have low self-esteem, it means that you need any one of these qualities. Compensate by eating a red apple or some watermelon.

Violet is about willpower, power, mystery, enthusiasm, and magic. Add magic to your life with grapes and mangosteen. Or why not wear a purple bag?

Blue carries the qualities of calmness, authority, tradition, stability, concentration, idealism, truth, and intuition. Fill up on the blues with blueberries and blue cheese.

Green means dreaming, hope, love, tenderness, sensitivity, and artistic talent. While blue would be very difficult to come across, green is everywhere in the vegetable section of your grocery store. Load up on your greens and start filling yourself with hope and love.

We sometimes take colors for granted, but they have a great influence on our life. Knowing how to utilize them could make a significant impact on our life and that of the people around us. So, choose your color wisely. (FREEMAN)