How To Wai
To wai, place the palms of your hands together and hold them close to and in front of your chest. Then slowly lower your head (how much you lower it will depend on whom you are waiing).
There is a saying that making a wai is like making the shape of a lotus bud. The lotus is the most important symbol for Buddhists.
1. This wai is used by an older or superior people in response to the wai of someone younger or of lower status. It is also used by people of the same age or social status when they wai each other.
2. This wai is used towards an older or superior person. For example, a student will wai this way to a teacher, or a child to his or her grandmother.
3. The last type of wai is used for showing respect to a monk or a Buddha image, whether you are standing or sitting. You may also see Thais waiing monks by half-lying down, placing the hands on the floor in a wai, then lowering their head to their hands.