Why I stopped ending my classes with Namasté

Yes, this word carries a great message but I’ve heard it’s actually a bit odd to end classes with Namasté.

Read on to find out what reminder I’m invoking instead. 

Namasté is traditionally a greeting in India. Several Indian yoga teachers that I follow (including Susanna Barkataki) have stated that it’s a bit odd that in the West we end classes with this word. 

I am sensitive to the opinions of Indian yoga teachers because I practice yoga as a white person and yoga comes from India. The last thing I want to be doing is being insensitive to this tradition or culturally appropriating. Cultural appropriation of yoga by white folks may be challenging to discuss but it is so important to do so to fully honor and respect the tradition, process and experience of yoga.

Hopefully by talking openly about it, it will become a little clearer to navigate and be respectful to these traditions. 

Namasté roughly means “The light in me sees and honors the light in you”. It is a reminder that it’s all the same light, passing through different “windows” or eyes and that we are ultimately all connected.

This is a beautiful greeting and I used to say this at the end of my classes because that’s what I heard others in my community doing.

Now however, instead of invoking this at the end of my classes I have begun to say “Sat Nam” instead. 

Sat Nam is another way to end classes and it’s what I am currently invoking at the end of my offerings. This may (and probably will) change in the future but for now this is where I’ve landed.

“Sat” translates to truth and “Nam” translates to name. Altogether “Sat Nam” translates to “Truth is your identity.” 

This is another reminder that we are all connected and come from the same universal light or truth. I like ending classes with this reminder these days. 

I am not saying it’s wrong to end classes with namaste, but I do think white folks (and everyone) teaching yoga have a responsibility to look at how we are representing yoga. Some of us teaching this sacred thing are a part of the dominant structures of culture whether we like it or not. It’s no longer good enough just to not be racist, we have to be anti-racist.

Being actively anti biased and antiracist means not shying away from topics such as this. I believe considering things like this topic of Namasté is an integral part of the journey to equity and true peace for all. 

What do you think about this topic? Leave a comment below. 

Photo credit: Brennah D’Layn