At the end of class the teacher always says “Namaste”. What does “Namaste” mean?
Namaste is a Sanskrit word and is pronounced as na ma stay with the a in the first two syllables pronounced as the a in America and the last syllable pronounced as the word stay. Namaste is a gesture of friendship and kindness and also of thanks or special recognition. In our yoga class it is a form of gratitude and respect between teacher and student and means I bow to the teacher in you, as you bow to the teacher in me. To perform Namaste, put your hands together in front of your heart, close your eyes and gently bow your head and shoulders as you say Namaste. If done with deep feeling in the heart and with the mind surrendered, a deep union of spirits can blossom. The teacher is also showing respect toward her own teachers and in return invites the students to connect with their lineage symbolizing that we are all one when we live from the heart.
