Rina Deshpande, Ed.M., RYT-500, grew up with yoga philosophy shared by her parents in Florida, and was inspired to reconnect with her own roots in India after she became a New York City public school teacher in 2004. She is a teacher, illustrator, and poet as well as a researcher designing yoga-based interventions for scientific research at Harvard Medical School. Rina teaches yoga in New York City.

While she stops short of saying that namaste has no place in yoga class, Barkataki suggests that if it is used, it’s best used as a considerate greeting, not a pseudo-spiritual way to signal ‘class is over, y’all can go.’” Namaskar brings harmony between two polarities within,” says Isha Foundation leader Sadhguru. It levels out any internal sense of duality. See also: Yoga for Beginners: The Ultimate Guide to Starting Your Practice What is the meaning of namaste?The last syllable starts with a sound that will be familiar to speakers from South Asia, but may take some practice for native English speakers. The “st” in namaste is a little softer than the English pronunciation, Deshpande says. Rather than a hard “t” sound, she describes it as a “th.” The tongue touches behind the front teeth to create what might be described as a clipped lisp. The gesture doesn’t have to be directed toward another being. You can express namaste to yourself and use the gesture as a form of personal meditation. Writer Deepak Singh describes a visit to a holy Hindu town in Rajasthan—a spot that receives many tourists seeking a spiritual awakening. “When I got there, I noticed locals…striking the pose and saying ‘namaste’ to every tourist who passed by. The smile, tone, and style of namaste were exactly like that of the teacher in my yoga class in the United States.”

But recently, yoga practitioners have been looking more carefully at how, when, and why they’re using the word “namaste.” Do we actually understand the meaning of namaste? Are we using it properly? Should we use it at all? Some yogis are concerned that the term, which holds cultural significance in South Asia, has been so misused that it has lost its true meaning—and thus its significance.In my personal experience living in India and with my elders and family here in the U.S., Namaste or Namaskar is said when I meet and greet an elder. Not when I leave,” writes Susanna Barkataki, author of Embrace Yoga’s Roots: Courageous Ways to Deepen Your Yoga Practice. To perform the Anjali Mudra—a physical expression of namaste—press the hands together, fingers touching and pointed up, with the thumbs at the breastbone. Close your eyes and bow your head or bend at the waist. Alternately, Palkhivala says, “It can also be done by placing the hands together in front of the third eye, bowing the head, and then bringing the hands down to the heart.”

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! If the word and gesture are used in yoga settings, Palkhivala says it may be done both at the beginning and at the end of class. The first will be a greeting of respect. “At the end of class, the mind is less active and the energy in the room is more peaceful,” he says. “The teacher initiates Namaste as a symbol of gratitude and respect toward her students and her own teachers, and in return invites the students to connect with their lineage, thereby allowing the truth to flow—the truth that we are all one when we live from the heart.” See also: The Art of the Silent Bow What is the namaste gesture? Shot of a group of people doing yoga Photo: PeopleImages / Getty Images As long as you are making an honest attempt and are pronouncing Sanskrit terms as best you can, you can feel comfortable saying the word, our experts say. But if you want to practice the correct pronunciation, listen to Deshpande in the video above. When do we use it?

What is the namaste gesture?

Spend some time asking yourself why you’re using the term. “Are you using namaste as yoga lingo to create a certain vibe in your studio or as a heartfelt greeting?” Barkataki asks. Is it to signal your position as a spiritual teacher? Are you glamorizing or exoticizing the term? Has it become just a mindless habit? Be intentional and respectful in its use. Susanna Barkataki, M.Ed., E-RYT-500, C-IAYTI, is an Indian yoga practitioner in the Hatha yoga tradition. She is the founder of the Ignite Yoga and Wellness Institute; leader of Embody Yoga Trainings; and a diversity, accessibility, equity, and inclusion educator. She is the author of Embrace Yoga’s Roots: Courageous Ways to Deepen Your Yoga Practice.

Nama means bow; as means I; and te means you,” says yoga teacher Aadil Palkhivala. “Therefore, namaste literally means ‘bow me you’ or ‘I bow to you.’” If you use Anjali Mudra and bow, you don’t necessarily have to say the word namaste,” Palkhivala says. “In India, it is understood that the gesture itself signifies namaste, and therefore, it is unnecessary to say the word while bowing.”

What does namaste mean? How is it pronounced? And when should you use it (and not)? Here's everything you need to know about this widely used—but often misunderstood—yoga term.

For a teacher and student, namaste allows two individuals to come together energetically,” Palkhivala says. “If it is done with deep feeling in the heart and with the mind surrendered, a deep union of spirits can blossom.”