We’ve all heard the phrase “you are what you eat,” but is there any truth to the statement “you are what you wear?”
This question arose when we at the Fit Yoga studio noticed one of our repeat practitioners, Jane, seemingly making significant advancements whenever she wore a new yoga set to the mat.
We asked Jane about this, and together decided to put the question to the test. After each session, we asked Jane to rate her own performance, as well as reflect and record her yoga apparel for the session.
We found that not only was there a correlation between what Jane thought about her apparel and how she performed in that day’s yoga session, but that there also seemed to be a link between the color Jane wore and how she performed that day.
There are a number of interesting reasons why this may be.
In regards to how the style of yoga clothing may affect your performance, Jon Mitchail, CEO of Image Group International, provides some hints:
“For elite athletes and weekend warriors alike, donning a sports team uniform, or the latest high-tech activewear, sets an expectation for winning,” he said.
“The first thing that matters in life is your mindset, and if wearing the right sports apparel boosts your confidence and positively changes your mindset, why wouldn’t you do it to get
an edge?”
So, how you think about yourself certainly seems to affect how you perform, but how about how you physically feel?
“Even though human beings are visual animals, and the Western world is about aesthetic power and influence, comfort is essential because it impacts on sports performance,” Mr. Michail said.
With the demands our fitness-based yoga activity take on the body, we can see how comfort and flexibility are essential to high performance.
In regards to color, there are a number of studies on the link between this and mood.
“Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions,” the artist Pablo Picasso once remarked. Color is a powerful communication tool and can be used to signal action, influence mood, and even influence physiological reactions. Certain colors have been associated with increased blood pressure, increased metabolism,
and eyestrain.
Existing research has found that color can impact people in a variety of surprising ways:
Warm-colored placebo pills were reported as more effective than cool-colored placebo pills in one study.
Blue-colored streetlights can lead to reduced crime according to anecdotal evidence.
Red causes people to react with greater speed and force, something that might prove useful during athletic activities according to researchers.
Black uniforms are more likely to receive penalties. Additionally, students were more likely to associate negative qualities with a player wearing a black uniform according to a study that looked at historical data of sports teams and what they were dressed.
Interest in the subject of color psychology is growing, but there remain a number of unanswered questions. How do color associations develop? How powerful is the influence of these associations on real-world behavior?
Can color be used to increase worker productivity or workplace safety? What colors have an impact on consumer behavior? Do certain personality types prefer certain colors?
Although there are cultural associations with color, the impact of a particular color on mood may be a personal trait.
As an apparel brand, Fit Yoga supports yoga practitioners by using high-end fabrics to ensure maximum comfort, while offering a range of customizable styles and colors to suit each individual. Fityogalifestyle.com @fityogastore @fityogastore
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