surya namaskara

Surya Namaskara 

Surya Namaskara, or the Salutation of the Sun, which is very commonly practiced in most forms of yoga, originally evolved as a type of worship of Surya, the Vedic solar deity, by concentrating on the Sun for vitalization. The practice supports development of the koshas, or temporal sheaths, of the subtle body.^[16]Main article: Surya Namaskara

The physical aspect of the practice 'links together' twelve asanas in a dynamically expressed series. A full round of Surya namaskara is considered to be two sets of the twelve asanas, with a change in the second set where the opposing leg is moved first. The asanas included in the sun salutation differ from tradition to tradition.^[17]

Benefits[edit]

The physical aspect of what is called yoga in recent years, the asanas, has been much popularized in the West due to the vast amount of benefits.^{[18][19][20][21][22][23][24]} Physically, the practice of asanas is considered to:

• improve flexibility^[25][26]
• improve strength^[25][26]
• improve balance^[25][26]
• reduce stress and anxiety^[25][26]
• reduce symptoms of lower back pain^[25][26]
• be beneficial for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)^[25][26]
• increase energy and decrease fatigue^[25][26]
• shorten labor and improve birth outcomes^[26]
• improve physical health and quality of life measures in the elderly^[26]
• improve diabetes management^[27]
• reduce sleep disturbances^[25][28]
• reduce hypertension^[29][30]
• improve blood circulation^[31]
• reduce weight^[32][33]

Formative Vs Summative Assessments

A. Formative vs. Summative Assessments

Classroom assessments can include a wide range of options -- from recording anecdotal notes while observing a student to administering standardized tests. The options can be roughly divided into two categories -- formative assessments and summative assessments.

Formative assessments are on-going assessments, reviews, and observations in a classroom. Teachers use formative assessment to improve instructional methods and student feedback throughout the teaching and learning process. For example, if a teacher observes that some students do not grasp a concept, she or he can design a review activity or use a different instructional strategy. Likewise, students can monitor their progress with periodic quizzes and performance tasks. The results of formative assessments are used to modify and validate instruction.

Summative assessments are typically used to evaluate the effectiveness of instructional programs and services at the end of an academic year or at a pre-determined time. The goal of summative assessments is to make a judgment of student competency after an instructional phase is complete. For example, in Florida, the FCAT is administered once a year -- it is a summative assessment to determine each student's ability at pre-determined points in time. Summative evaluations are used to determine if students have mastered specific competencies and to identify instructional areas that need additional attention.

Assessment for learning

Assessment for learning

• comprises two phases—initial or diagnostic assessment and formative assessment
• assessment can be based on a variety of information sources (e.g., portfolios, works in progress, teacher observation, conversation)
• verbal or written feedback to the student is primarily descriptive and emphasizes strengths, identifies challenges, and points to next steps
• as teachers check on understanding they adjust their instruction to keep students on track
• no grades or scores are given - record-keeping is primarily anecdotal and descriptive
• occurs throughout the learning process, from the outset of the course of study to the time of summative assessment