Mindfulness – Colour Breathing

Written by Satarrah Firtana

Colour breathing can be a helpful tool in allowing us to understand, identify or regulate our emotions. This is a basic and easy practice that can be used when we are feeling unwanted emotions that are hindering our ability to stay in the present moment.

First a person should ask, “How am I feeling? Why am I feeling this way? When did this feeling occur?”. By asking these questions, we can begin to create self-awareness and build our emotional intelligence. When we are in tune with our emotions and self, we can reduce the impact of triggers to ourselves or others around us.

Often, it may not be our own emotions that are impacting us, but the emotions of others. It is important to recognize what is ours to carry and what we need to let go.

To Practice Colour Breathing

First, identify the emotion that you are feeling and choose a colour that you would identify this feeling with.

One colour can have different meanings and interpretations for different people. For example, some may identify Blue as calming or relaxation, while others may identify Blue as sadness or hurt. Do what you feel is the best fit for you.

Next, imagine the emotion you would like to feel and a colour that you would identify this feeling with.

The Process

• Imagine inhaling the colour of the emotion that you want to feel. Visualize this colour entering your body, from the top of your head to the tip of your toes.
• Imagine the colour of your current, unwanted emotion, and visualize this colour exiting your body with each breath. You should envision this colour slowly fading as you inhale the desired colour you wish to feel.
• Repeat this process as needed, some may need one minute while others may need five minutes or more.

The Benefits

This breathing exercise can be used as a healthy coping strategy in place of potential harmful or long-lasting actions that we face during moments of high emotional responses.

This exercise can also be used for children as colours are easy to reference when working with the younger population. This exercise can also benefit people who have invisible disabilities that may impact their ability to process or articulate their emotions.

There are many benefits to colour breathing such as decreased stress, improved concentration, improved awareness, and reduction in negative or unhealthy coping skills. We may also find that the more we utilize this practice, we can manage anxiety and depression, improve our sleep, and help control our nervous system.