How to Incorporate Feng Shui into Your Gymnastics Facility Design

Are you thinking about redesigning or rearranging your gymnastics facility? Enter feng shui, an ancient Chinese practice to reflect energy balance (or chi). While feng shui is typically talked about for the the home or office, this concept can be achieved in any place where you want to have a positive reflection of goals and intentions. We’ve all experienced walking into a space that “feels good” or has a good “vibe”. This is usually the product of feng shui! Using some basics of feng shui, you can help create a feeling in your club that makes your staff, athletes, and parents feel safe and welcome.

Clearing The Clutter

One of the critical components of feng shui is whether a space evokes a positive feeling, especially in a gymnastics club where the mind and body are intertwined. Due to the various equipment and specialty mats in a gymnastics facility, it could feel “cluttered”. Start clearing out your club, by maximize the usage of storage space and clearly designating areas for where things should be put away. Avoid open spaces in your cabinetry and cover any open areas with curtains or storage lids. It is also best to avoid super straight paths as it can block energy; try staggering some of your equipment to allow chi to curve in and out of the space. If moving some equipment is too difficult for the room, you can also utilize feng shui in your front desk areas, bathrooms, or even locker rooms by using curved furniture, plants, or stones to break up lines in your space.

Playing With Color & Texture

Color is a great way to evoke a positive mindset and focus. You can use textures of metal and colors like white and metallics to help improve focus and clarity, or add touches of earth elements like brick walls and the color beige to evoke a more safe and grounding feeling. Adding feng shui doesn’t need to be an expensive overhaul; simply think about something as simple as paint color, adding artwork, or using a particular color of mats for your floor space.

Lighting & Smell

Another great way to promote positive energy is to pay attention to lighting and smell.

Lighting comes in handy when you want to transform certain areas in your club, like the entrances, restrooms, and locker rooms. For example, if you have windows in your receptionist area, use the advantage of the natural light to bring in a bright and cheerful vibrancy. In areas where you can control the light bulbs, like restrooms and locker rooms, you can use a full-spectrum light, which mimics natural sunlight. The use of smell iis also a great way to enhance the experience visitors have in your club especially with the help of essential oils.

By applying some basic principles of feng shui in your gymnastics facility design, you can create a space your gymnasts and coaching staff feel and perform at their very best!