The Meaning of Namaste: How to Perform the Namaste Gesture

Namaste (nah-mah-stay) is a Sanskrit word that means “I bow to you.” Namah or Namas translates to “bow,” while Te means “to you.” In Indian culture and Buddhist and Hindu belief systems, namaste is a respectful greeting or salutation and a sign of deferential respect and goodwill. The Sanskrit word Namaskar is used interchangeably with namaste in some parts of India, though it is a more formal way to show reverence.

In the West, namaste is most commonly used at the end of a yoga class by the yoga instructor to close the session and recognize and honor the relationship between teacher and student. Yogis will return the greeting to the yoga teacher with their hands at the heart center as a mutual sign of respect and gratitude before bringing their thumbs to their third eye center and bowing down to seal in their own practice.

Yoga instructors also use namaste to greet yogis as they enter or exit the yoga studio.

The namaste gesture, also known as the Anjali mudra, often accompanies the greeting. Here are some tips to consider for proper formation and usage:

• Hands in prayer position. Join your hands in front of your heart. Press your thumbs into your sternum and press each finger and palm into its opposite. Spread your fingers apart wide.
• Slight bow. Whether you are using namaste to greet someone or at the end of class, a slight bow is customary while your hands are at your heart. If you are ending a yoga class, bring your joined hands up between the eyebrows, and touch your thumbs to space, symbolizing a joining of the head and the heart.
• Reciprocation and eye contact. When using namaste as a greeting, make soft and gentle eye contact. If someone says namaste to you, it is considered polite to reciprocate the greeting.

Unroll your mat, get a MasterClass Annual Membership, and get your om on with Donna Farhi, one of the most celebrated figures in the world of yoga. Follow along as she teaches you the importance of breathing and finding your center as well as how to build a strong foundational practice that will restore your body and mind.