At the end of a visit with friends or family, I often say good-bye bowing my head slightly, the palms of my hands placed together, and whisper, “Namaste.” If you have ever taken a yoga class, you probably have done this, too.
But what does this internationally accepted tradition mean exactly?
Sarah McLean, Director of Feast for the Soul, Inc., offers us this explanation. She says, “This gesture is called “gassho.” It’s a Japanese word that means, “palms of the hands placed together.” It helps to establish an alert and reverential state of mind. Bringing opposite hands together can represent awareness of other opposites as well: you and me, light and dark, ignorance and wisdom, life and death.”
Sarah continues, “You’ll see a similar gesture as a traditional greeting in India, and probably in a yoga class. Namaste means paying homage or showing respect to one another. It tends to be defined as some derivation of, “The divine in me bows to the divine in you.””
Namaste means paying homage or showing respect to one another. It tends to be defined as some derivation of, “The divine in me bows to the divine in you.”
– Sarah McLean, Director of Feast for the Soul, Inc.
Here at Fuzzy Red Socks we like to say it means, “The light in me recognizes the light in you.”
On my self-care journey I have become better at seeing and believing there is a lot of goodness inside me. I want to remind you that I see your light, your positive characteristics, and your goodness.
My hope is that you will see it all in yourself, too.
For more info about Sarah McLean go to Feast For The Soul
For more ideas on how to self-care go to Fuzzy Red Socks