I like ritual in my classes.  It adds a structure and a serious tone to the class.  In my yoga classes I always start with the ringing of a Tibetan bowl.  I end class with Namaste.  In my tai chi classes I start with the ringing of my Tibetan bowl and the formal greeting of the International Wushu Federation (Wushu is the Chinese term for martial art). I officially end the class with the same Wushu greeting.

What then is the significance of these greetings? Primarily both greetings convey mutual respect.

Namaste

I learned the meaning of Namaste many years ago but over the years I have heard many interpretations of the meaning of this word.  My favorite description of this term may not even be true but the insight and beautiful wording work for me and so when I give this greeting I am thinking of the reply from Gandhi to Einstein as given below.

Albert Einstein, after watching newsreel after newsreel of Mahatma Gandhi, was especially intrigued how Gandhi placed his hands together as if in prayer and bowed in greeting to people in the streets. Einstein wrote Mahatma Gandhi to ask what was being said. Gandhi replied, “Namaste”. Einstein wrote Gandhi again to ask the meaning of the Hindu word “Namaste”. The reply from Gandhi:

“ I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides.

I honor the place in you of light, love, truth, peace and wisdom.

I honor the place in you where, when you are in that place, and I am in that place, we are both one.”

Tai Chi Greeting

The Tai Chi Greeting is a little different.  In this greeting we meet each other with strength, friendship and humility as conveyed by the two hands arranged in this way:

The right hand is formed into a soft fist to denote strength

The left thumb is bent inwards to denote humility

The fingers of the left hand are held straight and close to each other, meaning friendship

The two hands are held together with the right fist under the left palm.

This arrangement of the hands might mean that strength bows to friendship and humility or that strength is the basis and backbone of friendship and humility.  Either way, this greeting given with a slight bow to each student offers mutual respect.

So whether the class is yoga or tai chi, starting and ending with a positive meaningful greeting tells my class participants that I value each of them as individuals and have respect for what we are doing in each class.