30 Nov The meaning of "Namaste"

Question: So, what does Namaste mean anyway?

My yoga teacher concludes every practice by saying “Namaste”, and I’ve always wanted to know what it really means.

The gesture Namaste represents the belief that there is a Divine spark within each of us that is located in the heart chakra. The gesture is an acknowledgment of the soul in one by the soul in another.  Nama means bow, as means I, and te means you. Therefore, namaste literally means “bow me you” or “I bow to you.”

When to incorporate Namaste into your practice

Ideally, Namaste should be done both at the beginning and at the end of class. Usually, it is done at the end of class because the mind is less active and the energy in the room is more peaceful. The teacher initiates Namaste as a symbol of gratitude and respect toward her students and her own teachers and in return invites the students to connect with their lineage, thereby allowing the truth to flow—the truth that we are all one when we live from the heart.