Closing Invocations, by Lisa

Although different yoga teachers wind up their classes in different ways, many teachers chant mantras to keep the energy and blessings acquired through the practice with us, as well as bringing in a sense of offering. Most teachers close by chanting OM (which Nicole wrote about in depth in last month's newsletter); here's a bit more detail about some other closing invocations.

In the Buddhist tradition it is common to end a practice with The Four Immeasurables, or the Dedication of Merit:

May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness.
May all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering.
May all beings never be parted from Freedom's true joy.
May all beings dwell in equanimity, free from attachment and aversion.

This Dharma-method of dedicating the merit allows us to share all the blessings and goodness that we have cultivated through our practice. We can send out these benefits, that would otherwise accrue just in ourselves, to all sentient beings.
Each of the four verses corresponds to a mental state: loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and peace (or equanimity).

Chanting Shanti three times is also a way to offer up the practice. Shanti means "peace", and it is said that it is chanted three times to correspond to three different and distinct wishes: once for peace in ourselves, once for peace for our loved ones and community, and once for peace in nature and the world.

Finally, at the very end we can express our gratitude to the gurus by praising them with:

Om Bolo Sat Guru Maharaja Ki--JAI!
Namaste

Om is (of course) om, bolo is 'to speak or proclaim' (a greeting), Sat Guru is the inner, or true teacher, maharaja is a respectful name of lord or higher being, and ki is 'to'. Jai can be directly translated as 'victory' , but I find that translation falls far short. It can better be described as more along the lines of an exclamation of wonderment, joy, blessings, and all things positive.
The mantra can be translated in a few ways: "Speak the praises of the realized being", referring to honoring our outside teachers as well as ourselves. "Greetings and blessings to the inner teacher, or the true teacher" is another way to discover the meaning. The "Jai"! can be a joyous call and response exclamation.

Finally, Namaste is a combination of the two Sanskrit words, nama (to bow) and te (you), and can be translated as: "The divine in me sees and celebrates the divine in you"~
a way for the teacher to honor herself and her students, and have that mirrored back.

So at the end of your next class, delight and revel in honoring your true teacher while consciously sharing and dedicating the merit and blessings of your practice.

JAI!