"When a person prostrates him/herself, they are physically breaking the straight line of their body. Spiritually, this represents a breaking of negativity or concealment [Kidushin 29b]. Bowing is a movement that allows for an [alleged] immutable outer reality to crumble, and a new reality, one that reflects an inner truth, to emerge." ~ Rav DovBer Pinson, courtesy of Shirat Devorah
Beis Yosef, in particular B'nei Rachel, are responsible for maintaining integrity in both the Art of the Handshake and the Martial Art of the Bow and should not be lacking in either department. Clearly, Westerners are losing the former and will never grasp the latter.
