As of September 2021, I have stopped using the Sanskrit word "namaste" at the end of my yoga classes. A plethora of reading on this subject contributed to this decision, and I found the perspective provided in this this NPR article to be particularly helpful (see also Appreciation versus Appropriation)

Instead of namaste, I am using "om shanti," a wish for peace. According to this post from the Yoga for Healthy Aging blog, the repetition of shanti three times is for "peace in the body, mind, and emotions." This aligns perfectly with my background as a psychologist and my view of yoga as a mind-body practice. Om shanti, shanti, shanti om, peace, peace peace.

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