what color is your yoga mat? { it holds hints about your personality and secret quirks! }

photo credit: yogaaccessories.com

You thought you were being sly, you little yoga fox, you. Keeping to yourself, staying on your own mat, practicing like a serious and diligent yogi/ni. What you may not know, though, is that yoga is a crazily colorful microcosm of personality factoids. This includes the tales told by the color of your yoga mat.

"Say wha?" you exclaim. "You don't know anything about me based on something so infinitesimal." But that's where you're wrong. Color psychology { a study I nerdily and gleefully enjoy } has long been utilized to understand and manipulate human behavior. Ever wonder why fast food spots' walls are often orange or yellow? Orange increases appetite and yellow is thought to evoke cheer. Somebody thinks cheery people buy more McNuggets.

Intrigued? Mwaaahahahaa! I knew you'd be! You see, it has to do with the color of my...uh, nevermind.

If you've chosen the color of your yoga mat all by yourself (or someone who really knows you gifted it to you), here's what it says about you { secrets unfold! }:

(NOTE: All poses + concepts below are linked so you can study up if you like. Click away!)

RED - You are energetic, vibrant, and passionate. You feel things intensely. Like a red Ferrari, you stand out from the crowd...and someone { the cops? damned car color profiling! } is always chasing you. You like to chase back; your Niyama is Tapas — Heat/Cleansing. Poses: Utkatasana (Chair Pose), Virabhadrasana 2 (Warrior 2), and Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations). Chakra: Root - Survival + Grounding.

ORANGE - Orange mat people are balanced, warm, and enthusiastic. They have brought along Aztec Sweet Chili Yogi Tea to class to share with everyone. A little (or maybe a lot) flamboyant, they have lots of friends. Their Yama is Asteya — Non-Stealing; Oranges have plenty to share and love to do so. Poses: Cat/Cow with Lion's Breath, Urdhva Dhanurasana (Upward Bow/Wheel), and Pincha Mayurasana (Peacock). Chakra: Sacral - Relationships + Sexuality.

YELLOW - You are joyous, happy, and hopeful. When you walk into the room, it is filled with sunshine and lightness. Yellow people inspire and instill optimism in others. Your Niyama is Santosha — Contentment. Poses: Happy Baby, Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (Extended Hand-to-Big-Toe), and Trikonasana (Triangle). Chakra: Solar Plexus - Personal Power + Growth.

GREEN - Green mat yogi/nis are natural, youthful, and intelligent. They love to learn, draw money and prosperity to them with ease, and are often healers of some sort. Greens are the people you want to know; they have an aura of ethereality and quirk. Their (traditional) Niyama is Mati — Spiritual Will + Intellect. Poses are Vrksasana (Tree), Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide-Legged Forward Bend), and Camatkarasana (Wild Thing). Chakra: Heart - Unconditional Love for the Self and Others.

BLUE - You are tranquil, calm, and steady. You cannot tell a lie. Satya is your m.o. What you aren't is loud, flashy, or inappropriate. Blues are welcome anywhere; they flow like water, making their way purposefully, but elegantly. Your (traditional) Yama is Kshama — Patience + Presence. Poses: Tadasana (Mountain Pose), Salamba Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand), and Sukhasana (Easy Pose). Chakra: Throat - Communication.

PURPLE - People with purple mats are sophisticated, mysterious, and wise. They embody the grace of royalty. Purples are often creative, artistic, and spiritual. Their color is the hue of meditation. The Niyama for Purples is Svadhyaya — Self-Study. Poses: Natarajasana (Lord of the Dance/King Dancer), Eka Pada Koundinyasana 2, and Padmasana (Lotus). Chakra: Third Eye/Brow - Intuition, Clarity, + Consciousness.

PINK - Pink mat practitioners are sweet, romantic, and idealistic. They are closely in touch with and celebrate their inner child. These are caring, tender people who want to love and be loved. They like bubblegum, rollerskates, and Pepto Bismol (j/k, haha). The (traditional) Yama for Pinks is Daya — Compassion. Poses: Hanumanasana (Monkey), Purvottanasana (Upward Plank), and Balasana (Child's).

WHITE - You are pure, peaceful, and innocent. Soft, quiet, and gentle like winter snow. Your Niyama is Sauca — Cleanliness. White has the presence of all colors and represents the energy of light. You have the ability to cleanse others and make them feel balanced and at ease. Poses: Sirsasana (Headstand), Marichyasana 1, and Viparita Karani (Legs-Up-the-Wall). Chakra: Crown - Pure Consciousness.

BLACK - Black mat yogi/nis are powerful, effortlessly stylish, and deep. Where white is all colors, black is the absence of light, no color. Your Yama is Aparigraha — Non-Attachment. As black is indicative of the unseen, these yogi/nis have faith, solid as black soil. They are at peace with what may come. They are resilient. Poses: Virasana (Hero), Virabhadrasana 3 (Warrior 3), and Bhujangasana (Cobra).

GRAY - You are subtle, sleek, and dignified. Gray is the color of winter skies and the water along rugged coastlines. You value security, conservatism, and independence. Perhaps you are a lone wolf, happily at peace in solitude, but able to enjoy the company of others on occasion. Your Yama is Brahmacharya — Moderation. Poses: Paschimottanasana (Forward Bend), Dolphin, and Garudasana (Eagle).

BROWN - Brown mat practitioners are earthy, stable, and comfortable in their mind, body, and spirit. They are masters of home and hearth, often good cooks and hosts/hostesses. Browns are unflappable; steady, strong, and genuine. The Yama for Browns is Ahimsa — No Harm. Poses: Tadasana (Mountain), Malasana (Garland), and Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog).

Tell me, do you and your mat match? If not, based on the personality notes above, which color sounds most like you?

I'm Green and Purple. :)

Comments

[Yoga_mydrishti]

OMG I'm green and purple too... twinsies ;-)

[Emmanuelle]

Green and purple? no surprises here ;-)

I'm blue (because that was the only colour my first yoga teacher sold, so does not really count. Love shoulderstand though) and pink, and yes, I do "celebrate my inner child", I'll put it that way from now on :-D

[Carrisa]

Great article!! Mine is worn out purple. :)
Maybe my next mat will be a rainbow ;0) lol Keep everyone guessing... oh, wait, there's that 'mysterious' side of purple coming out in me... teeheehee.

[Maria @downwarddog]

I'm purple (actually lavender)...sounds like a pretty good match for my personality - but I'm thinking I bought this color because it was the only one available at the store!
Can't wait to go to yoga class tonight to see what color everyone is in class!

[ashdyogi]

I have a black and green one.. black is more for home and the green is the one that stays in my car.

[thehipyogini]

No joke, ladies...I'm GREEN and PURPLE too! Was there a sale? or are we just super cool???
OMG, B/F/F's haha! ;)

[Victoria Klein]

What a fun little quiz! I have 1 mat that is purple & another that is purple on one side & green on the other :)

[Abby]

lavender and dark purple mat -- but with three different Yogitoes that go on top! Green, orange and red. And yes, I do choose which Yogitoes comes to the studio depending on my mood. :)

[babs]

I'm green. And black. Fun read!

[AlignBetween Art & Design]

Awesome! Mine is green, and I love the interpretation. Fun post. Accurate on the "quirk" description, for sure!

[carrie]

I am a pink girl because it is a happy fun color

[Meghan (Making Love In The Kitchen)]

Love that! And I was green for a long time too and switched to purple about 18 months ago. With you on that!

[callah]

Purple and pink as a backup :) love this post!!

[Ang]

This is a great post! Oh, and my mat is orange! :-)

[Lindsay]

Fun post! I've been using my bright orange mat lately ... but I just got a soothing purple one. Your descriptions are right on! Love it ...

[darla]

orange and black!

[Janine]

I love my green one, which I've had since I started oh so many years ago..well loved and well used. I now have a brown and blue one for my home practice.

[Mel]

I'm green and blue! And this is soo true.

[Jen]

Interesting about the color of the mats. I am green, blue, and purple. The other day I got a mat that is the color of a dark mauve. What does that represent? Just got it because I needed a mat, it was cheap, and I liked the color.

[Tina]

I am basically a blue mat, through and through ... but my patterned orange mat was my choice, based on brand/thickness/availability ...
When ya get to talking to me there's NO mistaking me for an orange!

[lela]

black- but i used to have blue and orange, my sister let them rot out in the weather and threw them away, but i can wear orange and blue or any other colors while i do yoga!

[rani]

I'm green!!! It is still my first yoga mat, and I am in dire need to get it used...by me!

[lisastef]

mine's tie-dye. sooo, i'm schizophrenic? i'm cool with that.

[ZenCat]

Grey, though if I could have found an Eggplant purple, I would have been torn in my decision. Grey suits me very well, according to your analysis. Thanks for this, it was fun :)

[Rojii]

My first mat was orange, with butterflies on it. Sometimes, I borrow my husbands green one. Now, I have a ocean blue tie-dye one. I love it. What does that say about me?