Ali Cramer

 Ali Cramer

Safe Name

Reading: Passage from “The Singing Guru” about Guru Nanak, the First Sikh. This is a conversation between Guru Nanak and his faithful servant, Mardana. Mardana is frightened of their journey, and asks Nanak for an amulet or something he can carry with him for protection. Guru Nanak says that he will give one to Mardana. 

“What is it? Give it to me please, Baba”

“But will you remember to keep it?” 

“Of course I will keep it. Only a fool wouldn’t. 

“It’s a word. Made of air, of breath.”

“What word?” 

“A Name.” 

“Whose?” 

“The Beloved’s. It’s the only amulet I have.”

And then he leaned into my ear and whispered, “Wahe Guru”. 

Start with Bhumisparsha mudra. Left hand on heart, right fingertips tented on the ground outside of the right hip. 

It’s hard to feel safe these days. I’ve lived in New York City for twenty five years now, and for some reason, I am now hearing more sirens. I’m not sure what’s changed-if there ARE actually more sirens, or if I have become more sensitive, or both. 

I have gone to Sudan twice to teach yoga. I teach young and old women, some nurses, some teachers, some refugee counselors. I stay in Khartoum, the capitol city in the North. We have to keep it very underground, chanting “OM” instead of “Allah” could be construed as insurgency. It is always extremely difficult to get a visa, they don’t want Americans there. I am trying to go back in January, and I am keeping the faith that my visa will come through. My parents were never crazy about me doing it, but I never felt scared there...once, there was a riot outside my house there, the police came with tear gas, so we all had to stay inside, but that was the only incident. When I walked the streets, I was covered, so I didn’t attract attention. I felt safe. I had time there for 2 hours of practice a day-asana, meditation, pranayama, mantra-all of it. 

This year, my father asked me not to go. I replied that it was possible that I was safer there than here in my beloved city, the Center of the World, the Home of Donald Trump. (don’t get me started). 

The above reading resonated with me for that reason. In a sense, we are never safe, and we are always safe. It can be a choice to turn it over, to trust God, the Guru, the Teacher within and without, or to try to continue as our simple selves, depending on guns, words, talismans, and our own fear to protect us. I have made the choice to stay with “Wahe Guru”. 

For this sequence, I chose to do all low to the ground, to NOT depend on Surya Namaskar and standing poses to build heat and get my hips open. I am sequencing towards eka pada raja kapotasana, as a tribute to NYC. 

1. Chant “Wahe Guru” with harmonium, 9 times. 
2. Sukhasana with forward bend, change legs, repeat
3. Child’s pose, first with arms forward, then back
4. Adho Mukha Svanasana
5. Plank, drop knees and come to vajrasana. Reach right arm up, fold behind head, hold elbow with left hand, or use a strap for Gomukhasana arms. 54 Kappalabhati breaths. Repeat other side, for a total of 108 breaths. 
6. Anjanayasana with hands folded in namaskar behind head, elbows in. Heel toe leg wider and come down to...
7. Lizard (wide leg lunge) coming onto fingertips, walking hands forward (but not down to elbows), both sides, stepping back to Down dog in between. Lower elbows from DD, walk feet back, drop hips and come to...
8. Sphinx pose
9. Half bekasana, both sides, option to press up to hand from forearm. 
10. Full bekasana 
11. Back to Sphinx
12. Forearm plank
13. Pinca Mayurasana or prep for PM
14. Parigasana with Gomuk arms
15. Eka Pada Raja Kapotasana, use strap if necessary.
16. Supta padangusthasana, constructive rest, savasana. 

Namaste and much gratitude, Ali Cramer