Learning About Namaste Yoga

Namaste yoga is a style of yoga based on the Hatha Vinyasa yoga practice. Namaste is an Indian greeting and blessing that is literally composed of nama which means I bow and te which is you, and we have I bow to you. The formula is equally used when meeting people or departing. As for Namaste yoga, the practice focuses on the importance of breathing; the breath works as the guide and the body follows on the lines imposed by the breath. When greeting with namaste, one places one’s hands together in front of one’s eyes, bowing the head, and afterwards the hands drop down to the heart. The gesture expresses a profound form of respect. Westerners perceive namaste in a different way than it is performed in India: westerners would speak the word Namaste while making the gesture described above, while for Indians the gesture itself carries in it the word, making it unnecessary to pronounce the word while bowing.

Namaste yoga is usually practiced together with other styles of yoga. The gesture namaste, the salute per se, is believed to increase the flow of divine love; when one closes the eyes and bows, he/she surrenders the mind to the divine in the heart. Ideally, Namaste yoga should be practiced both in the beginning and at the end of a yoga class, but it is usually done before completing the work routine, because it is considered that the peace of mind and body is superior then, not to mention the higher level of positive energy in the room.

The core of Namaste yoga is combined with the principles of Gautama Buddha, a guru from India and the father of Buddhism. Therefore, as in the case of all styles of yoga exercises, one most important fact should not be forgotten: it is a way of life, rather than some kind of sport to keep one in shape and flexible. Nevertheless, this doesn't mean that one cannot benefit from Namaste yoga from the point of view of the physical fitness alone, it only means that if one gets interested in Namaste yoga, one will get to learn more than just how to get in a great physical shape. The yoga instructor offers Namaste as a token of respect and acknowledgment for the students, and in return invites them to connect with their lineage starting the energy flow from their hearts. It is rather difficult to properly perform various yoga positions, it requires practice until one is able to do them with minimal effort.L