My Mother and I, Centenary Celebrations 2018: Balewadi Stadium, Pune, India Laura and Rebecca Lascoe

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—

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.

I feel blessed to have received teachings from Prashant and Geeta and to have shared this incredible

experience with my daughter. —Rebecca Lascoe

REBECCA

In the late summer, there was a buzz in the Iyengar Yoga community. Everyone was talking about the December intensive and centenary celebrations, and many of my friends and teachers were attending. I have been a CIYT for five years; I knew this was the perfect opportunity to make my first trek to Pune to learn directly from the Iyengar family. I felt that my mind and body were up to the task, and I knew my daughter would be by my side for the journey.

We sat together during the 10-day intensive and received knowledge and wisdom from Prashant and Geeta Iyengar. Prashant taught the first five days. We could only comprehend a microscopic speck of his knowledge. At one point, Prashant said, “This is but a drop in an ocean of knowledge although to you it feels like a storm.” After experiencing his ability to challenge the mind, we were then graced with Geeta’s presence for the next five days. Her energy, enthusiasm, and love of the subject pervaded the stadium. She pushed the room of over 1,200 students (from 56 different countries), yelling, “Do or die!” She explained that she yelled because she loved us.

On the second day of Geeta’s classes, we were asked to enter the asana room without any props. Suddenly a swarm of children ran into the stadium and took their places in the middle of the room. I was excited at the prospect of watching them demonstrate poses for us, but Geeta announced that everyone was joining the class. What a surprise. After an hour or so of jumping in and out of poses without any props, I was elated that I was able to keep up with the class. I felt like I was 12 years old again. I had never before taken a class like that.

The knowledge and presence of Prashant and Geeta left us fulfilled, feeding our mind, body, and breath.

During the last two days, we celebrated the anniversary of Guruji’s birth by watching movies and listening to various lectures. A highlight of the celebrations was a presentation by students from Bellur who demonstrated beautifully choreographed sequences, which they have been exhibiting at various competitions. I was delighted by their skill and precision.

After the celebrations came to an end, my daughter and I boarded the plane and began our journey home. My trip began with some trepidation of traveling to an unknown country for an extended period of time and ended with so many

Rebecca and Laura Lascoe at the centenary celebrations in Pune. Copyright RIMYI. Photograph by Shael Sharma

wonderful memories. I feel blessed to have received teachings from Prashant and Geeta and to have shared this incredible experience with my daughter.

LAURA

I can imagine what it must have been like for my mother watching me grow into my yoga practice. Now the tables had turned and given me this opportunity to see my mother experience an important milestone in her yoga studies and practice. During our trip to Pune, I saw the wonder and amazement on my mom’s face on a daily basis. I was thankful to be by her side.

On our way home, as we landed in Delhi to catch our connecting flight to Los Angeles, we learned of Geetaji’s passing. When Geeta was 29 years old, her mother passed away. When I was 29 years old, the matriarch of yoga left her physical body. A child sees strength in the mother to move forward, and so too a mother can see strength in her child to voyage forward. Our final days learning from Geetaji sparked progress in our practice, a gift we will forever cherish.

Laura Lascoe is a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher and IYNAUS Board co-chair for public relations and marketing. She lives in Los Angeles, CA.

Rebecca Lascoe is a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher and editorial assistant for Yoga Vidya and lives in Calabasas, CA.