At the end of each class we say, "Namaste". It means something like "The good within me recognizes (or salutes) the good within you." I give the translation each and every class because without understanding it is just a word, and it is definitely not just a word.
I can remember the first time I actually experienced this. I think I was 15... hmm... about when I started yoga, though I can't say for sure it's related. It changed me to truly recognize and appreciate the good in people. It was more than I had ever imagined. I am not ignorant of the bad in people, but like the native american story of the good wolf and the bad wolf. The one we feed is the one who wins. Namaste can remind us to not only feed the good in ourselves but in those around us.
I can remember the first time I actually experienced this. I think I was 15... hmm... about when I started yoga, though I can't say for sure it's related. It changed me to truly recognize and appreciate the good in people. It was more than I had ever imagined. I am not ignorant of the bad in people, but like the native american story of the good wolf and the bad wolf. The one we feed is the one who wins. Namaste can remind us to not only feed the good in ourselves but in those around us.