A student came up to me after class and asked me, "what is it that you always say after class?" She was having some difficulty even pronouncing the word. And the word is "Namaste," prounounced (Nam uh stay.) It's a Sanskrit word we use in yoga, generally at the end of our class. Break the word down and it says this:
"as" = I
"te" = you
Put it together it means, "bow me you" or "I bow to you." Generally, when someone asks me about this word, I tell them it means "the Divine in me, honors the Divine in you" or "the God in me salutes the God in you." And when we say it, we place our hands togther at the heart center (heart chakra) thumbs lightly touching the chest, eyes are closed and we bow the head. It can also be done with prayer hands at the third eye chakra, bowing the head and bringing the hands to the heart. Either version is a deep form of respect, aiding in our meditation and increasing the flow of Divine love.
To clarify even further, Aadil Palkhivala says this: "For a teacher and student, Namaste allows two individuals to come together energetically to a place of connection and timelessness, free from the bonds of ego-connection. If it is done with deep feeling in the heart and with the mind surrendered, a deep union of spirits can blossom. The teacher initiates Namaste as a symbol of gratitude and respect toward his/her students and his/her own teachers and in return invites the students to connect with their lineage, thereby allowing the truth to flow-the truth that we are all one when we live from the heart."
Namaste,
Susan
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