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Over the course of the decades living abroad I have had so many strange people (yes, strange people who were also strangers) randomly yell a "namaste" to show off their Indian speaking abilities (usually they are also the people who think all Indians speak Indian and are not aware that we have 15 official languages, and English is not one of them). I have learnt to politely smile and say a hello and walk on. If there was one thing my parents taught me, and my community did it was to be polite and courteous.
But you don't yell a namaste. It's wrong. It's not done. You see the namaste slowly disappearing in India as the "Hi!"s and handshakes take over. It's often (in the cities) seen as something backward and un-modern thing to do. I seem to catch the elders by surprise sometimes when I do a namaste!
This morning as I was running into my class my yoga teacher was getting her cup of black tea. She stopped, put her cup down and did the most sincere, genuine namaskar that I have not seen even an Indian do in the longest of times. It stopped me dead in my tracks and I reciprocated.
If done right, it's unbelievably calming, it helps you bring yourself together, to focus on one thing, the being in front of you. It also makes you put away your smartphones and whatever other modern gadgets that interrupt most everyone's conversations these days! ;)
We were brought up on campus to say namastes to all uncles and aunties. No shortcuts allowed, although we occasionally snuck away with it. Even today when I see the uncles and aunties I stop and do a proper namaste. As we grew up and in the west, it's turned into a nod of the head/a quick bow (like gentleman just touching the tip of his hat) with a spoken namaste.
I am not all religious and all but spiritually I see it as a way to acknowledge finding the other person important and valued. It shares some positive vibes and I can still feel that wonderful energy from the teacher, her smile, her warmth, and her welcome!
But you don't yell a namaste. It's wrong. It's not done. You see the namaste slowly disappearing in India as the "Hi!"s and handshakes take over. It's often (in the cities) seen as something backward and un-modern thing to do. I seem to catch the elders by surprise sometimes when I do a namaste!
This morning as I was running into my class my yoga teacher was getting her cup of black tea. She stopped, put her cup down and did the most sincere, genuine namaskar that I have not seen even an Indian do in the longest of times. It stopped me dead in my tracks and I reciprocated.
If done right, it's unbelievably calming, it helps you bring yourself together, to focus on one thing, the being in front of you. It also makes you put away your smartphones and whatever other modern gadgets that interrupt most everyone's conversations these days! ;)
We were brought up on campus to say namastes to all uncles and aunties. No shortcuts allowed, although we occasionally snuck away with it. Even today when I see the uncles and aunties I stop and do a proper namaste. As we grew up and in the west, it's turned into a nod of the head/a quick bow (like gentleman just touching the tip of his hat) with a spoken namaste.
I am not all religious and all but spiritually I see it as a way to acknowledge finding the other person important and valued. It shares some positive vibes and I can still feel that wonderful energy from the teacher, her smile, her warmth, and her welcome!
