Namaste is a Sanskrit phrase that is used as a greeting. It is actually two words, with "namah" translating to terms like "praise," "honor," "bowing," "reverential salutation," and "adoration," and "te" meaning "to you". The most literal translation of Namaste is "I bow to you". In India, it is a way of showing respect to elders and is equivalent to saying hello. In the West, it is often used at the end of a yoga class as a way of showing gratitude and respect to the teacher and other students.

It is important to note that while Namaste has spiritual and cultural significance in India, it has been appropriated and used inappropriately in the West. Many people in the West think it has a more divine or spiritual meaning than it actually does. Saying Namaste is not necessarily an unwelcome form of appropriation, but it has been inappropriately used in contexts of yoga practice.