Evolution of Namaste Yoga

What is Namaste?

Namaste is often used as a friendly greeting in written communication, or generally between people when they meet. In some parts of India, namaste is used not only to greet Hindus, but everyone. Here are some of the possible meanings experts have associated with the expression:

•    ”A reverential salutation to you.”
•    “I bow to you.”
•    “The spirit in me meets the spirit in you.”
•    “I honor the place in you which is of love, truth, light, and peace.”
•    “I salute the light of God in you.”
•    “I behold God within you.”
•    “I greet that place where you and I are one.”
•    “I bow to the divine in you.”
•    “I recognize that within each of us is a place where divinity dwells, and when we are in that place, we are one.”
•    “I recognize that we are all equal.”
•    “The entire universe resides within you.”

No matter which meaning you choose to associate with the term, Namaste should be thought of as a divine blessing. It honors sacredness and equality. Namaste is often linked to the word Namaste Yoga.

Namaste Yoga

To perform a Namaste yoga pose, we place the hands together at the heart chakra, close the eyes, and bow the head. It can also be done by placing the hands together in front of the third eye, bowing the head, and then bringing the hands down to the heart. This is an especially deep form of respect. Although in the West the word “Namaste” is usually spoken in conjunction with the gesture, in India, it is understood that the gesture itself signifies Namaste, and therefore, it is unnecessary to say the word while bowing.

The Significance of Namaste Yoga

The Namaste yoga gesture is designed to signify the belief that we all have a divine spark in the heart chakra. The gesture acknowledges the soul in one by the soul in another. In yoga, the Namaste gesture is performed at both the beginning and the end of the class. The teacher uses the “namaste yoga” gesture as an expression of gratitude for his/her students.