For the past year I have practiced yoga regularly - about 6 times per week. I have done lots of vinyasa in the Baptiste style, lots of Bikram, and a little bit of Yin stretching. Regular yoga practice is an empowering and humbling endeavor. Many things that I thought I was capable of turned out to be untrue. But I also found strength in myself, body and mind, that I never knew was there. The physical exertion - the strength and flexibility - is hard to pretend. Some days are effortless. Some days are a struggle. Each day is different, and that is a lesson too.
Each day of practice ends with an Indian greeting and show of respect - Namaste. We place our hands together as if in prayer next to our hearts. We bow our heads. Some say the word Namaste. It is an act of recognition of the self and those around us. Many describe Namaste as saying “the divine in me salutes the divine in you.”
Namaste requires, above all, a recognition and respect for the self. We must believe that there is value and even “divinity” within ourselves. Once we can recognize our divine self, we start to see others more clearly. When we bow our heads in Namaste at the end of a class, I remind myself that no matter how different we all are and no matter why we are here, we are all here together in the same place so we can't be that different. One person might be here to relax, another to focus, another to exercise, another to heal her back. Despite our seemingly different intentions we are in the same place at the same time when we could be anywhere doing anything. We are more similar that we may recognize. Any strength that I imagine to be within myself is also within those around me.
Namaste works the other way too. When there are days that I am feeling weak or depressed, I use Namaste to remind me of the divinity within myself. If I am in the same place at the same time doing the same practice as the strong and dedicated people around me, I too must be strong and dedicated. It is a powerful phrase. A powerful idea.
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