At the end of every yoga class, the teacher will place her hands in prayer position, against the heart chakra and, with eyes closed, bow to the class, uttering "namaste."
Students new to yoga are sometimes unsure as to what this means and if, or how, to respond.
But new students are not always the only ones to face this predicament. It's quite normal for students to continue attending yoga classes for years, not understanding the ritual and never feeling able to ask the meaning.
For those of you wanting to know, here is the explanation of this deep and wonderful ritual.
Namaste is a Sanskrit word. It can be literally broken down as "nama" (bow), "as" (I), and "te" (you), or "I bow to you."
But this only explains the literal meaning and resulting action of the word. It doesn't explain the real meaning behind either the word or the action.
The act of namaste has deep meaning.Yogis believe we are all divine; that God (however you view God) resides within us, within the soul or atman, which resides within the heart chakra.
Placing your hands in prayer position against the heart chakra is an act of connecting with the divine within you.
Closing your eyes is an act of disconnecting the mind and becoming the divine.
When the teacher bows to her/his students in an act of namaste, all ego is surrendered. There is a recognition of the divine soul in each and every one of the students within that room.
It is an act of both grace and union... union with the divine within and the divine without.
A teacher should initiate namaste with the intent of humility and gratitude.
For just as the teacher is a teacher to the students, the students are teachers to the teacher.
Namaste.