Sanskrit: Namaste
Pronunciation: nah-mah-STAY
Translation: Nama = bow, As = I, Te = you. Literally: I bow to you.
What it is: A greeting and gesture of respect used at the close of a yoga class. Spoken with the hands pressed together at the heart centre with a slight bow of the head.
Meaning: An acknowledgement of the light or soul in another person. Often interpreted as the light in me honours the light in you. In class, it marks the closing of practice and expresses gratitude between teacher and students.
Usage: While commonly associated with yoga in Western culture, Namaste is an everyday greeting in India and Nepal.