Namaste: The Ultamite Greeting

We use the word Namaste at the end of each yoga class.  It means: I acknowledge and bow to the divine within you.

In India, no matter who it is, friend or stranger, they are treated in the same manner.   Acknowledging first the divine in ourselves and then to see it in others is a powerful practice.

Saki Santorelli, the director of the Stress Reduction Clinic at UMass Memorial Medical Center, says:  “I believe that the active remembrance of this reality is crucial to our lives, our work, and our well-being. Our willingness to relate with another in this way is fundamentally healing.”

This way of relating comes from the heart, and it is difficult in our mind driven culture.  It is a beautiful practice to relate to others in this way.  It opens our hearts and we soften in a way that impacts our body, mind and spirit.

Next time you are in the presence of a family member or someone you do not know well, see if you can shift your perspective to see them in this way. Look for the divinity in them and let me know in the comments below what your experience was.