Revealing the meaning of Namaste greetings in yoga

In yoga, Namaste is not only a greeting but it is also a gesture of respect and gratitude to the teacher and other practitioners.

If you are a person who likes to practice yoga, surely Namaste is not a strange term. Although familiar, in fact, not everyone really understands the meaning of this greeting.

If you are also one of them, do not hesitate to spend a little time with easyhealthylive.com to learn the meaning of Namaste greetings in yoga through the sharing below.

Namaste is a term that is mentioned very often in yoga classes. However, most of us think that this is just a greeting without fully understanding the meaning behind it. The reason for this is partly because the term has so many interpretations.

History of Namaste greetings

Namaste is an ancient Sanskrit word originating from Vedic Hinduism. This term has been used as a greeting for thousands of years. Currently, there are many translations that explain the meaning and usage of Namaste.

However, in general, the main meaning of this gesture is still to show respect. Although the word Namaste has been around for a long time in the East, in the West, the word has only gradually become popular as more and more people are interested in yoga and meditation.

Meaning of Namaste

Namaste is a gesture that shows your respect for others. You can use it as a greeting or a goodbye. That’s why, in yoga classes, you can hear the teacher say Namaste at the beginning or the end of the class.

Namaste is a gesture that shows your respect to others

In Sanskrit, “Nama” means “to bow”; “as” means “me”, “te” means “you”. That’s why, literally, the term Namaste means “I bow to you”. This greeting is not just an ordinary greeting but it comes from the heart connecting with the heart, along with your gratitude for me.

In addition to this meaning, Namaste can also have other meanings such as:

• Hi
• Wellcome
• I see you
• I respect you
• We are one
• We are equal
• Goodbye or goodbye

In the relationship between the yoga teacher and the student, the Namaste greeting is the connection, letting go of the individual ego and forgetting the concept of time. If you perform the greeting “Namaste” with sincerity, teachers and students will find full empathy and respect for each other.

How to practice greeting Namaste?

Ready to honor yourself and others with a Namaste greeting but still don’t know how to say it correctly? In fact, there is no convention on how to say Namaste, so just pronounce this greeting correctly with all due respect and gratitude.

There is no convention on how to say Namaste, you just need to pronounce this greeting correctly with all respect and gratitude.

When saying Namaste, usually, you will put your hands together in front of your chest, close your eyes, smile slightly, and bow your head forward. Hands clasped in front of you will show sincerity, bowing your head shows respect, and closing your eyes helps the soul become relaxed.

Besides, you can also put your hands together, place them in the center of your forehead, lower your head and pull your hands down in front of your chest. This is an act of deep respect for the other person. In India, sometimes you just need to perform the above gestures, without saying it, the other person will still understand it as the Namaste greeting.

While Namaste is a universal and liberal greeting, there are times when you shouldn’t do it.

When should you not say Namaste?

Although Namaste is a common gesture used by yogis, it is not mandatory. If using makes you uncomfortable, you can ignore it. Just like when your body is not ready to do difficult yoga poses, perhaps your mind is not yet ready to say Namaste.

Instead of using Namaste, you can say “Thank you”; “I respect you”; “I appreciate you”…. All of these sentences are expressing a similar meaning to the Namaste greeting.

Only you can decide how to use the Namaste greeting in practice and whether it makes sense to use it when communicating with others.

If you don’t like it, you can still express your respect in many different ways without having to use this word. Respect and listen to yourself, when ready, your mind will tell you.

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Reference source

The Meaning of Namaste: Why Do We Say Namaste In Yoga? https://thriveyogawellness.com Date of access: 7/26/2020