Designed to Win
how energy, environment and design have shaped sporting success.
Karen McDonald
By now, everyone must know that Scotland has qualified for this year’s World Cup (best of luck to the team!), but I wonder how many people know that feng shui has often been used in stadium design to enhance performance.
Feng shui is the analysis and influence of the interaction between people, buildings and the environment to enhance quality of life.
As you would expect, this ancient Chinese practice has been used in Asian sport to great effect. The Chinese team, Guangzhou R&F, painted its whole stadium gold (including all fixtures and fittings) in July 2017. Previously, the stadium was adorned in team colours, but during that time, the team had only won one game. They changed to gold, as this is associated with completeness and fulfilment, as well as ‘first place’. Following the change, their performance improved and they won four league games, one of which was a derby against the favourites and reigning champions.
In Wales in 2002, feng shui was used in the Millennium Stadium after eight teams who had all used the south dressing room had lost in consecutive finals. Stoke was the first team to use the south dressing room following the changes. They emerged victorious.
In 2008, Manchester City’s owner consulted feng shui experts to improve the team’s performance. Many crystals and feng shui remedies were buried under the pitch and positioned around the grounds. City went on to win five of their opening six games. In the following season, they won their first top-flight title since 1968. The club has continued to thrive and in the last ten years has won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and six league cups.
Whilst there are no guarantees that feng shui was the deciding factor in these sporting turnarounds I am certainly of the opinion that it played a large part. Indeed, one of the testimonials on my website details how a horse went on to win an event following a feng shui consultation: www.celticchi.co.uk/testimonials (Helen from Strathaven).
It’s not just football teams or sporting venues that can benefit from feng shui. Companies who have used the practice include Coca Cola, HSBC, British Airways, Hilton Hotels, BUPA, B&Q, Orange, The Royal Bank of Canada, Hiscox Insurance, the NHS, Bank of America, Citibank, Standard Chartered Bank of London, Bellagio Casino, Caesars Palace and the Hippodrome in London.
But experiencing the benefits of feng shui is not exclusive to the commercial arena, anyone can utilise its principles in their home to enhance their quality of life.
If you would like to know more about the process, then please visit my website.
Karen McDonald
Advanced Feng Shui Consultant
www.celticchi.co.uk
