My Mother and I CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS 2018: BALEWADI STADIUM, PUNE, INDIA BY LAURA LASCOE AND REBECCA LASCOE
Up front at the Yoganusasanam intensive, Laura Lascoe sits behind Lois Steinberg and Rebecca Lascoe sits behind Laura. Copyright RIMYI. Photograph by Shael Sharma
LAURA Last August, my mother announced that she was planning to travel to Pune for the centenary celebrations. I was pleasantly surprised yet shocked and a little nervous—for both of us. I know from personal experience that Pune can be overwhelming. Having grown up in a family that loves to travel, I was fortunate to have experienced many other countries before my first trip to India in 2015. However, my other travels did not prepare me for India and its endless dichotomies— women dressed in colorful saris precariously seated on the back of mopeds, cars honking from every direction, and fragrant spices and foods that cut through the pollution, traffic, and poverty. India is a gem, and the sensory stimulation I felt there is unlike any other I have ever experienced. My mother gave me the gift of yoga. She planted the seed when I was three. During vacations from school, my sister and I often attended classes with my mom. Her teacher, Annie Ralston (CIYT), encouraged our participation by teaching us “fly on the wall” (Ardha Chandrasana) and other fun shapes. Over the years, my mother helped me grow my practice—
Yoga Samachar Spring | Summer 2019
My mother gave me the gift of yoga. She planted the seed when I was three. —Laura Lascoe
sending sequences for various emotional and physical issues, helping me find a teacher during my college years, and encouraging me through the certification process. She proudly supported my first trip to Pune in 2015 to attend Yoganusasanam, a month of study at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI), and on to Bellur to visit Guruji’s birthplace and the yoga hall. Reminiscing about my own yogic journey came to an abrupt halt when I realized the significance of my mother’s decision to attend the centenary celebrations. At the age of 61, she was making her first trip to Pune to explore another dimension of her yoga practice. Finally! And what a perfect way for her to delve further into this tradition and deepen her own practice. ***
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