Namasté

Namasté (nah-mah-stay) - You hear this word at the end of every yoga class, but do you know what it means? Namasté, also known as Namaskār in Sanskrit.

Namasté, in Sanskrit, is a combination of two words, Namayati (bow) and té (to you). Namasté is usually said with a slight bow and hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointing upwards, thumbs joining in front of the heart space or between the brows. This mudra (gesture) is called Añjali Mudrā - a deep form of respect. In India, the gesture itself signifies Namasté even without saying it.

On the surface level, Namasté is a way to seal the sacred container of the yoga practice and for the teacher and students to thank one another. At a deeper spiritual level, the most common translations of Namasté are: “The divine soul that resides inside me bows to the divine soul that resides inside you.” "Let the good in me salute to the good in you."

Namaskār (Namasté) is believed to be the most sattvic form of greeting.