A Lesson in Sanskrit

Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. You hear your yoga teacher at the end of class say it, after the om-ing, before the namaste, what exactly does all of this sanskrit mean?

Om, the reverberation of sound. The vibration produced by chanting Om in the physical universe corresponds to the original vibration that first arose at the time of creation. The sound of Om is sustains life and runs through Prana or breath, which is also referred to as Pranava. Om also represents the four states of the Supreme Being. The three sounds in Om (Ah, oh, mmm) represent the waking, dream and deep sleep states and the silence which surrounds Om represents the state of spaciousness and all knowingness that exists within each of us.

Meditation on Om:
Sit quietly. Allow the body to be as it is, which is always different and unique to each new moment. Every day the body is different, the thoughts are creating new stories, just allow what is there to be, as you take this next segment of time to drop inside.
Come into the here and now. Connect with the area in between the eye brows, the center of consciousness and intuition, and quiet the conscious mind. Allow Begin to connect with the sensation of "Om", allowin "om" to vibrate within as you mentally cultivate the sound and listen deep within yourself. "Om, om, om", feel it, silently listen to the feeling that the om is creating, while associating the ideas of infinity, eternity, and spaciousness. Feel the reverberation from the base of the spine all the way up, clearing away energy in the low back, middle back, upper back, shoulders and out through the crown of the head. As every part of your body is vibrating with the sensation of being all-knowingness, space, limitless consciousness, rest here until you feel called to move forward into life, carrying with you the energy of "om" and the power of being at one with the Universe.

Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.
Peace, Peace, peace. Shanti simply means "peace" in Sanskrit. To end your yoga practice with peace means to begin your life with a state of peacefulness within, that will reverberate to all whom you think about, feel and come in contact with. This is highly recommended, as you roll up your mat, that you remind yourself of the benefits of the practice, set an intention to use the energy that you reclaimed from your yoga to move forward from that peaceful place of beingness. As you do so, you will be reminded that the space you hold is vital to not only your personal serenity, but impacts the world in which you live.

Guidelines for incorporating shanti into your practice:
1. Practice yoga or meditation.
2. At the end of your session, take a moment, or a few, with your hand together at your heart center, thumbs resting on your sternum in a mudra to symbolize self love. Call on the forces to ground this sensation of love within yourself.
3. Chant, Om, shanti, shanti, shanti, om..
4. Rest in the feeling of peacefulness within, as you set the intention to spread peace to the world today.

Namaste.
namah + te = namaste, in Sanskrit, means “I bow to you”, in other words, "I honor the light in you". The root of namaste is word ‘namaha’ and can also be interpreted as "na ma" (not mine). Namaha It has a spiritual significance of reducing one's ego in the presence of another.

Practice Namaste today!
1. Keep the palms together at the center of the chest, elbows bent.
2. Bow your head by lowering the chin slightly towards the chest.
3. Feel the heart center soft and open as you acknowledge the teacher within, as well as the teachers in your life (all around you).

Shantilove,
Namaste,
Waller

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