RITUALS The Ritual of Namasté Anti-Aging Serum, Glow Collection, 30 ml

Product Information

As long as you are making an honest attempt and are pronouncing Sanskrit terms as best you can, you can feel comfortable saying the word, our experts say. But if you want to practice the correct pronunciation, listen to Deshpande in the video above. When do we use it?

While she stops short of saying that namaste has no place in yoga class, Barkataki suggests that if it is used, it’s best used as a considerate greeting, not a pseudo-spiritual way to signal ‘class is over, y’all can go.’” We bring the hands together at the heart chakra to increase the flow of Divine love. Bowing the head and closing the eyes helps the mind surrender to the Divine in the heart,” he says. Whatever you do, do not turn the term into a pun or play on words. “Nama’stay in bed” pajamas or “Namaslay” gym shorts are an offensive misuse of a term that our experts describe as extremely powerful and spiritually resonant. Barkataki discussed this further in the below video: See also: Yoga for Beginners: The Ultimate Guide to Starting Your Practice What is the meaning of namaste? Writer Deepak Singh describes a visit to a holy Hindu town in Rajasthan—a spot that receives many tourists seeking a spiritual awakening. “When I got there, I noticed locals…striking the pose and saying ‘namaste’ to every tourist who passed by. The smile, tone, and style of namaste were exactly like that of the teacher in my yoga class in the United States.”

When do we use it?

The last syllable starts with a sound that will be familiar to speakers from South Asia, but may take some practice for native English speakers. The “st” in namaste is a little softer than the English pronunciation, Deshpande says. Rather than a hard “t” sound, she describes it as a “th.” The tongue touches behind the front teeth to create what might be described as a clipped lisp. If you use Anjali Mudra and bow, you don’t necessarily have to say the word namaste,” Palkhivala says. “In India, it is understood that the gesture itself signifies namaste, and therefore, it is unnecessary to say the word while bowing.”

Aadil Palkhivala began studying yoga with B.K.S. Iyengar when he was seven and was introduced to Sri Aurobindo’s yoga three years later, eventually becoming an advanced Iyengar teacher. He is the founder-director of the Alive and Shine Center in Bellevue, Washington and The College of Purna Yoga. He is the author of Fire of Love for Students of Life for Teachers of Yoga and co-author of yoga manuals with his wife Savitri.The scene at the end of a typical yoga class: The teacher sits cross-legged at the front of class, takes a deep breath and, pressing hands together in a prayer position, leans into a deep bow and reverently intones the word “Namaste.” Dutiful yoga students mirror the pose and bow low in return, whispering namaste in unison. It’s so common that yoga doesn’t seem like yoga without this ritual.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! But recently, yoga practitioners have been looking more carefully at how, when, and why they’re using the word “namaste.” Do we actually understand the meaning of namaste? Are we using it properly? Should we use it at all? Some yogis are concerned that the term, which holds cultural significance in South Asia, has been so misused that it has lost its true meaning—and thus its significance. Susanna Barkataki, M.Ed., E-RYT-500, C-IAYTI, is an Indian yoga practitioner in the Hatha yoga tradition. She is the founder of the Ignite Yoga and Wellness Institute; leader of Embody Yoga Trainings; and a diversity, accessibility, equity, and inclusion educator. She is the author of Embrace Yoga’s Roots: Courageous Ways to Deepen Your Yoga Practice.The gesture associated with namaste is called Anjali Mudra—pronounced UHN-jah-lee MOO-dra. Anjali evolved from the Sanskrit word “anj,” which means to honor or celebrate. In my personal experience living in India and with my elders and family here in the U.S., Namaste or Namaskar is said when I meet and greet an elder. Not when I leave,” writes Susanna Barkataki, author of Embrace Yoga’s Roots: Courageous Ways to Deepen Your Yoga Practice.