NAMASTE (nuh-mUH-st-hey)
My soul honours your soul.
I honour the place in you
where the entire universe resides.
I honour the light, love, truth, beauty and peace
within you, because it is also with me.
In sharing these things we are united,
we are the same, we are one.
If you’ve been to a yoga class you may have heard the teacher and students say Namaste as they bow with their hands at the heart. This is a familiar sight in a yoga class but not so much in our western society. It is therefore common for beginners to feel awkward the first time you bow and say Namaste because you don’t know what it means. Read on to take the time to understand the meaning behind the word and the gesture.
Firstly let’s tackle the spoken word Namaste. In Sanskrit, the word ‘namah’ means bow, and ‘te’ means you, translating simply into “I bow to you.” The gesture Namaste represents the belief that there is a Divine spark within each of us that is located in the heart chakra. The gesture is an acknowledgment of the soul (light) in one by the soul (light) in another. Think of it as a way of recognizing that the life force within us as individuals is the same as that within everything and everyone.
Now that’s clear let’s understand the hand gesture, or as we refer to it in yoga, the mudra. To perform Namaste, we place the hands together at the heart centre (the location of the heart chakra) known as Anjali Mudra. We close the eyes, and bow the head. Alternatively we can place our hands together in front of the forehead (the location of the third eye chakra), bow the head, and then bring the hands down to the heart. This gesture is an especially deep form of respect. The left hand is said to represent the worldly form, and the right hand the reality beyond what we can see. So to bring these hands together is to acknowledge that these dimensions are not separate. When we bow and close our eyes, we are allowing a connection between the hearts rather than our minds. So the gesture is coming from a place of love, gratitude and thanks.
Usually, Namaste is said at the end of class because our minds are calm and the energy in the room is more peaceful. The teacher initiates Namaste as a symbol of gratitude and respect toward her students and her own teachers and in return invites the students to connect with the expression and repeat it. So next time you come to class, be open to the expression of Namaste, be confident with the sentiment and meaning behind it and in time it will become very natural to you…….. Namaste.
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