Namaste. Courtesy photo

By JACCI GRUNINGER, MS, C-IAYT
Los Alamos

If you’ve taken yoga before, you probably noticed that at the end of class we bring our hands together and say Namaste and/or if you’ve taken class with me, I say Jai Bhagwan. In India, these words and hand posture/mudra are common ways of saying hello and goodbye. Jai Bhagwan is specifically used in the upper northwest area of India known as Gujurat, which is where my tradition of yoga hails.

It’s important to remember that Sanskrit words often have many meanings. If we break down the word Namaste into its parts, we get Namah, As and Te. Namah means “bow, adoration or respectful salutation”. As translates to “I” and Te at the end means “to you”. The literal translation is “I humbly bow to you.”

In my tradition we say, “the light in me sees and honors the light in you, we also translate it as “may your yoga and your life be victorious.” In Yogic Philosophy it is stated that a small spark of the divine is in all of us (called Atman or Brahman).

It is traditional at the end of class for the teacher to say Namaste or Jai Bhagwan and the students to say the words back. Then in my tradition, we turn to one another and say “Jai” for victory and thanks to one another.

Anjali Mudra, or prayer hands is also part of the closing at the end of class. This gesture is a sign of respect and peace. When we bow our heads to our hearts with this gesture, we are bowing our mind (manas) to our heart – a form of surrender and gratitude for being alive.

Remember – it’s OKAY to not use the hand gesture or words if they aren’t comfortable for you. You can just bow and be silent or say a different word to yourself that feels better.

The OM/AUM symbol might be the most common yoga symbol. It is often chanted at the beginning and end of class. In Yoga philosophy we are taught that the sound or vibration of OM unifies everything in the Universe. One teacher taught me that if everyone in the world were speaking at the same time, we’d hear the sound OM. Whether it’s true or not, it’s a cool thought. Also, I feel that babies in the womb hear the sound OM from their mother’s heart. The symbol of OM represents the goal of yoga – to know yourself and connect your mind, body and spirit.

OM/AUM has four distinct sounds and represents the Hindu Trimurti (Brahma the creator – A, Vishnu the sustainer – U, and Shiva the transformer – M). The final sound is silence.

The symbol itself can also be broken down into four meanings:

• The bottom left curve represents the Ahhh and the waking state of consciousness (conscious mind and our five senses).
• The bottom right curve represents the Oohh sound and the dreaming state of consciousness (active unconsciousness and our dreams).
• The top left curve represents the Mmm sound and the deep sleep state (the universe).
• The dot at the top represents the silence after the sound (stillness and bliss)

About Jacci Gruninger:

Jacci Gruninger is a Certified Yoga Therapist, Thai Yoga Massage Therapist and Focusing Coach. She has been teaching for over two decades. She regularly helps clients manage the ups and downs of life with yoga, meditation, breathwork and bodywork. Her Yoga Therapy Center is at 190 Central Park Square #212. For her in person and online teaching schedule and information on her other services, visit her website at www.yogawithjacci.com.

The symbol of OM. Courtesy photo