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Namaste is no ordinary greeting gesture of the hand. The name Namaste can be broken down into Nam (bow)-as (I)-te (to you) (which means I bow to you). It has a deeply philosophical system of thought working behind it. This system encompasses not only the universe in which we live but also the human self that exists within it.
The Philosophy behind 'Namaste'
The gesture of Namaste works on the idea that inside the heart chakra of all humans is located a Divine spark. When you do Namaste to each other then the spark inside you is communicating to the spark located inside the next person.
How To Do Namaste?
Doing Namaste is easy. There are two ways in which you can do a Namaste.Type 1: In the first type of Namaste you have to join your hands at the point where your heart chakra is, close your eyes and then bow your head forward.
Type 2: In the second type of Namaste you join your hands together and take them to where your third eye would be (usually in the middle of your forehead). You then close your eyes and bow your head gently forward. To complete it, you bring your hand back to where your heart chakra is.
The Significance of The Gesture
Each action in Namaste is significant. Bringing your hands together at the heart chakra eases the current of Divine love flowing from your heart to the other person's heart. The closing of eyes and bowing of head suggests a surrender of the self to the Divine residing inside the heart. Namaste is not merely a method of greeting the other person. As pointed out, it also allows a possibility to immediately connect with the other.
Namaste In A Yoga Class
The place where doing Namaste is most important is inside a yoga class. Yoga class (or for that matter any class) is a meeting point of a teacher and students. A bonding between the two is of utmost importance as it would facilitate the process of learning. What is also important is the loss of the egoistic self; it can hamper acquisition of knowledge.
Namaste fulfills all these objectives. It removes the barrier between a teacher and a student and connects them with a timeless bond. Performing Namaste establishes a direct link between the divine spark in the teacher and student's heart. The egoistic self is also sacrificed in the process of recognizing the divine inside the other.
When Should Namaste Be Done?
The best time to do Namaste is at the beginning and end of the yoga class. However, it is more profitable when done at the end of the class. The mind is the least active at that time and the class room is filled with nothing except peace.
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