The Efficacy of Color Noise

 

January 15, 2024

 

The sounds of rain and thunder, water crashing on the beach, the tv left on in the background, ethereal music, and even a hair dryer (my personal favorite) are all examples people use to describe white noise. However, they’re actually not. Not all of them, anyway.

The term “white noise” is a common term that is used often to describe certain sounds that are mainly used for concentration or sleep. Did you know that there are other color noises? The most common are brown, pink and green but there are other colors, too.

The different colors are attributed to the different noises depending on their frequencies, and the shape of our inner-ear determines how those sounds are translated to our brains. I’ll go into that more in a different post.

Here’s how I interpret the different sounds:

·        white noise sounds like wind

·        blue noise sounds like calm water

·        purple noise sounds like a roaring ocean

·        green noise sounds like hissing air or static

·        brown noise sounds like a lower frequency of hissing air or static

·        pink noise sounds like a higher frequency of hissing air or static

 

Please know, that higher frequency doesn’t equal louder, even though it’s a common misconception. Higher frequencies are easier to hear (for most people), as are louder sounds, and this is how the two are easily and understandably confused. Both the higher frequencies and higher decibels can be irritating, though.

Color noises can absolutely affect your meditation and yoga practices! We know that distractions are the number one problem with mediations, right? When you’re trying to focus, something that draws your attention away hinders the state of mind that you’re trying to achieve; that can leave us frustrated and want to discontinue our practice.

Using a color noise for your practice can make all the difference. If you already know the sound that calms you and helps you sleep, try that for your next session. If not, listen to the different types and discover which sound best compliments your frequency. Feel free to test out each color, you might be surprised to find something that works better than your go-to!

As with anything, keep an open mind and trust the process.

Warm your body, mind and soul with love!

 

Namaste