now I talk a lot about yoga on this blog.
There are two reasons for this –
1. Yoga is awesome
2. Yoga continues to teach me new things all the time.

I’ve been thinking about the ending of yoga, especially in a public class, where we bow to each other and say “Namaste”

This word is actually pretty well known these days, as yoga isn’t such a hooey thing that only hippies and treehuggers participate in.
But as much as people know the word, they don’t always know what it means.

Here’s the definition:

Really.
That’s what it means.
One word, encompasses all of that.
You can simplify it a bit by saying that the divine in me recognizes the divine in you, but this complete definition is a lot more powerful.
Look at it again –
My soul honors your soul.
I honor the light, love, truth, beauty and peace within you – because those things are also in me – and like sees like.
When we see those things in each other, we are one.
We see our sameness – our shared humanity.

Right now, in this country, we aren’t seeing a lot of sameness.
We’re focused all on difference.
And some of those differences are important.
When it comes to justice and privilege, then yes, recognizing and acknowledging difference is SO important to be able to make changes and fight for justice and equality.
But when we only see difference – when we look at someone and make a judgement based on their candidate of choice or who they love or the color of their skin then we have the kind of world that is breaking out today.
One that demonizes difference and leave no room for nuance and individuals.

It’s time for a little more namaste, people.

It’s time to look at the people who are in direct opposition to me and see them for the light, love, truth, beauty and peace within them.
It’s time to recognize the good in people.
And call it out in each other.
Get to know people for who they really are, inside.
Get to know the light, love, truth, beauty and peace of each person in your life – especially those who aren’t the same as you.

At the end of each yoga class, after we’ve struggled and breathed and laughed together – we say namaste in unison, recognizing how we each have things that we bring to the class, to each other, and to the world.  We see the light in each other and we lift it up.  We offer at the end a deep reverence for the other.

Say it with me: namaste.