Namaste Yoga - a spiritual gesture

The name, Namaste yoga, is derived from a popular Indian salutation. Namaste means: I bow to you. It is a kind of regards which we show to others with our hands together in a steeple posture and bowing at the same time, this type of position is generally practiced in the beginning and at the end of yoga class and the words "Namaste" is said while practicing the yoga. One can do Namaste to oneself as a meditation technique to go deeper inside the heart chakra; when done with someone else, it is also a beautiful, albeit quick, meditation. Namaste yoga is just one of the many different types of yoga that you can choose to participate in.

Origin: Namaste yoga originated from the Indian greeting. Although Namaste is most associated with South Asian cultures, the gesture is used in other parts of the world as well. In Japan, the Anjali mudra is known as gassho. In Thailand, it is called wai. The Namaste gesture is called the Anjali mudra in eastern religions. The purpose of the Anjali mudra is to show that you are making the effort to rise above potential differences with others. The Anjali mudra, a sign of love and respect, helps you to connect to the person to whom you are bowing. Namaste yoga practice is used in conjunction with other yoga practices. For example, you could commence and end the session with "namaste" and in the middle for example do the sun salutation or awhat ever you like.

The benefits include

A purposeful opening of the heart
Reduces stress and anxiety.
Creates flexibility in the hands, fingers, wrists and arms.
A calm centering of the mind
Opens the heart.

Here is an exmaple different postures of Namaste Yoga:

namaste yoga posture1

Posture 1:

Begin in cross-legged pose, the body evenly positioned on the buttocks.

Bring your hands together lightly at the fingertips. There should not be any pressure in this movement, but you do want to feel the heat between the palms.
Draw the hands to the breastbone, elbows straight and parallel to the floor, thumbs against the chest.
Keep your torso straight and upright, and draw your shoulder blades down into the back.
Use this posture as your gateway to meditation by breathing fully, holding the position for up to five minutes.

Posture 2:

Begin the posture by getting into a comfortable sitting position like Easy Pose.
Lengthen your spine out of your pelvis and extend the back of your neck by dropping your chin slightly in. Now, with open palms, slowly draw your hands together at the centre of your chest as if to gather all your resources into your heart.
Repeat that movement several times.
After which, you can feel slightly off balance as though the centre of gravity had shifted!
Then you can shift back to the centre and then gently touch your thumbs into your sternum (the bony plate at the centre of the rib cage).
Broaden your shoulder blades to spread your chest open from the inside. Feel space under your armpits as you bring your elbows into alignment with your wrists.
Stay here for some time and take in your experience. There may be shifts in mood and consciousness.
Next, imagine that you are beginning your yoga practice. Take Anjali Mudra again, but this time slightly part your palms as if to make a cup, so that your hands resemble the bud of a lotus flower.
In order to reveal the power of the hands at the heart, you can also try and shift your hands to one side or the other of your midline and pause there for a moment.

Posture 3:

Drop your chin towards your chest. It is important that this offering be true to yourself as that will be the most effective and uplifting for you. And you can align your mind (awareness), feeling (heart), and actions (body) within this gesture.
When you feel your invocation is complete, draw your fingertips to the centre of your forehead and pause there feeling the calming effect of your touch.
Bring your hands back to your centre to ground your intention within your heart.

Namaste`s very essence is encapsulated in the hold of both palms held erect together in front of the bosom in greeting. If anyone gestures were to be recognized as representative of Brand India, there is no doubt it is the simple, humble and overpoweringly significant Namaste. Namaste Yoga is the best for beginners.

(Sources: health.indianetzone.com, health.indianetzone.com, yogapundit.com, yoga.lovetoknow.com, weightlosswand.com)