Being a lifelong learner is a pillar of a consistent yoga practice. We’ve all experienced the magic of lifelong learning that unfolds so subtly in the yoga room—the pose that was out of reach is now making itself known in your body; the moment of intention setting that seemed confusing and elusive is now a favorite part of your time on your mat; the philosophy that a teacher shares during class over time rests comfortably in your heart after a struggle to understand.

Learning is hopefully what we do til we are no longer here. So, last year I learned that saying “Namaste” at the end of a yoga class is something that Western yoga teachers and practitioners adopted incorrectly and passed down the line to scores of unsuspecting teachers and students like me, and then I passed it on, and so on, and so on…. It is an example of cultural appropriation, and it can be hurtful.

Namaste is simply “hello” in some Hindu cultures today. What I learned early in my yoga studies was that Namaste meant, “the light in me bows to the light in you.” That is a beautiful expression and intention. But it’s incorrect and, having read about the harm the word causes when people of South Asian descent hear it being used incorrectly or as a play on words, I realized I needed to not say it. Here is one article that explains the issue.

So that's why we've changed the way we end class. Now, we bow to honor the origins of yoga. We bow to the earth that holds us, to the breath that sustains us, and to the heart that beats within us and all living beings. We bow in gratitude for all our blessings, and we finish with a silent prayer for peace. If we choose, we can close with the words, “The light in me bows to the light in you.” It is a loving and important message to share with another person. It’s just not Namaste.