Western yogis have adopted the custom of closing their yoga classes with a bow of namastГ©. People passing on the street, family members greeting one another, children acknowledging their elders, and strangers meeting for the first time all join their palms together and bow their heads in respect of one another. In India, the gesture of Anjali Mudra (prayer position of the hands) not only accompanies the word, but is synonymous with its meaning. A traditional Indian greeting, it literally translates to вЂњI bow to youвЂќ ( namah or namas, meaning bow, te meaning you). This Sanskrit word brings about the essence of oneness, and an understanding of the true nature of reality.ДЄt the base level, namastГ© is a salutation of respect and reverence. If the spiritual traditions of yoga could be encapsulated in one word, it might be namastГ©. In fact, a spiritual revelation is on the other side of a truly felt namastГ© and so, in the spirit of higher learning, take a look at the deeper explanation of this oft-heard, but commonly over-simplified piece of yogic wisdom. When you bow your head and say namastГ© at the end of a yoga practice, you have the chance to do more than simply mark the ending of the session.

After all, if youвЂ™re truly living вЂњyoga,вЂќ you are more focused on the вЂњhowвЂќ and вЂњwhyвЂќ of your poses than on the outer form. You hear this word at the end of every yogaclass, but do you know what it means?ДЄs in so many traditions in yoga, an opportunity exists to dig deeper into the intention and meaning behind what you say, what you do, and how you move through this world. With respect and reverence, NamastГ© is a way to see and honor the reality of others. NamastГ© is more than a word used to end a yoga session.

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