Incorporating knowledge of color therapy into bodywork can take any given treatment to a higher level. Based primarily on Five Element Theory in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), different colors have individual healing properties. With each possessing unique characteristics, yellow and green are two of the most useful colors for a massage therapy practice.
Each color has its own energetic frequency that affects us on mental, emotional and physical levels. As such, strategically combining color therapy into a bodywork session could amplify the intended therapeutic outcome. From the perspective of TCM, each of the five elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Metal and Wood) is associated with a color. In today’s society, Earth and Wood are elements frequently out of balance.
Earth
Associated with the color yellow, the earth element is tied to the digestive and muscular systems. From a healing standpoint yellow can be energizing, nourishing and supportive. Incorporating the color yellow into a treatment can be useful for those with an earth imbalance. Spanning mental, emotional and physical issues, an imbalance in the earth element could involve:
- Excessive worrying or obsessing
- Ambivalence or lack of empathy
- Feeling sluggish or heavy
- Eating disorders
- Craving sweets
- Overeating
- Nausea
- Diabetes
- Hypoglycemia
- Weak muscles
- Digestive problems
- Weight Gain
- Fatigue
Wood
Associated with the color green, the wood element is tied to the blood, joints, eyes, liver and gallbladder systems. From a healing perspective, green is associated with relaxation, vitality and growth. Incorporating the color green into a treatment can be useful for those with a wood imbalance. Spanning mental, emotional and physical issues, an imbalance in the wood element could involve:
- Easily angered or frustrated
- Feeling “stuck”
- Having volatile emotions
- Depression
- Headaches or migraines
- PMS or hormonal imbalances
- Rib pain
- Joint pain
- High blood pressure
- Eye problems
- Stress
Because color is essentially a specific vibration, incorporating yellow or green into a session is a form of energy work. Thus, the energetic properties of yellow are valuable to those with an earth imbalance and the energetic properties of green are valuable for a wood imbalance. Color therapy can support bodywork via:
- The color the walls are painted.
- The color of artwork in the treatment room.
- The color of the linens used in a session.
- The color of a candle in the room.
- The tint of the room’s lighting.
- The color suggested for a meditation.
Capitalizing on the healing properties of yellow and green can help a majority of clients who seek bodywork, because earth and wood imbalances tend to be dominant in today’s society. Although a gross generalization, those with an earth imbalance are often in need of strengthening and support while those with a wood imbalance are typically in need of relaxation and serenity.
Additionally, it is not uncommon for an earth and wood imbalance to coexist. Practitioners of TCM typically refer to this pattern as wood attacking earth. Wood attacking earth is best described as overactive liver energy (stress and/or anger) causing a weakness in earth energy (digestive problems and/or fatigue).
Having a solid understanding of the energetic properties of yellow and green can help massage therapists add an easy-to-apply dimension of healing to their valued clients.
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