Namas...what?

I'm often approached at the end of class by a student asking, "What exactly does namaste mean?" It's a great question since many of us just go through the yoga practice, or daily life, without stopping to understand why we do what we do and the meanings behind these actions, traditions, or in this case a simple but powerful word.

Namaste, derived from Sanskrit, translates roughly to "the light in me bows to the light in you." The Hindi version, jai bhagwan, expresses the same intention; both are common in the West as a final word we offer to one another at the close of a shared practice. In traditional Indian daily life, however, namaste is spoken as a greeting, an acknowledgment in passing, and a last parting word.

Most yoga classes use the term only at the end of class to part ways. The closing of class is usually a calm and serene time for most; many are still in a meditative state from savasana, the final resting pose - their bodies are tired, in a relaxed state of awareness - which is the ideal mindframe from which to offer namaste to others.

Below I describe how we end a class, but it can also be a guide to a short meditation on your mat at home. Take a few minutes to sit in a quiet place and slowly build awareness through a deep calm...

Come to a comfortable seated position - you can be crosslegged. Bring awareness to the sit-bones grounding you down into the Earth as the crown of your head lifts you up, lengthening the spine to support you. With palms touching in front of your heart, bring awareness to the pulsation within you as you feel your breath flowing in and out, connecting you to our prana, or energy force.

Bowing our heads in respect for the practice, the space, and one another, we share a quiet moment of acknowledgment.

This is often the most communal part of a class for me. Once our bodies and minds have been engaged fully, the students are finally able to rest and be in the stillness; letting go of all internal dialogue, bringing awareness to their bodies in the space and among others, generating a feeling of oneness -- this creates the Peace we each carry into our day.

From me to you all, on this beautiful Spring morning,
Namaste!