Surya Namaskār Surya Namaskār Surya Namaskar (Sanskrit: सूर्यनमस्कार ; IAST: "Sūrya Namaskāra"), Salute to the Sun or Sun Salutation, is a Yoga practice incorporating a sequence of gracefully linked asanas. The nomenclature refers to the symbolism of Sun as the soul and the source of all life. Mark Singleton argues that the sun salutation is relatively a modern practice that developed in the 20th century. Some scholars attempt to attribute modern Surya namaskar practice to a student of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, the yoga teacher K. Pattabhi Jois. It includes modern day Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and the Visesha Vinyasa Sun Salutation subroutine from Vinyasa
Ashtanga vinyasa yoga the teacher is to guide as well as provide adjustments or assists in postures. In other locations, twice per week Mysore-style classes are now substituted with led classes, where the teacher takes a group through the same series at the same time. The inclusion of two led classes per week was only included in P. Jois' senior years. Usually an Ashtanga practice begins with five repetitions of Surya Namaskara A and five repetitions of Surya Namaskara B, followed by a standing sequence. Following this the practitioner begins one of six series, followed by what is called the closing sequence. The