Discovering The Unseen - By Tracy Barbuto

Six years ago if you asked me what I knew about yoga the answer would have been – “very little”.  My knowledge on the topic was limited to what I had seen on television and anyone who practices yoga knows that this is never a good example. It was only at the urging of a dear friend who was a yoga teacher that I decided to give it a try.  She had invited me to her class on more than one occasion but I was no less than mortified at the thought of a going to a group class.  So she offered to practice with me at her home.  She led me through the primary series of Ashtanga and wow!  I was hooked!  I had no idea up until that point that yoga could be a total body workout.  

 With my interest peaked I started taking her classes. Every week I sat in "watchasana” amazed at the things that the people in the class were doing!  They made it look so easy.  Standing on their heads balancing on their hands not to mention the acts of contortionism!  I kept going back with the hopes of one day floating up effortlessly into tripod from a wide legged forward bend, sitting in a perfect pigeon pose, and maybe one day balancing beautifully in scorpion.  I was really only interested in what it would do for me physically or what shape I could get my body into.  I had no idea at the time that this yoga would change my life.

Fast forward 6 years, a 200 hour Ashtanga teacher training and countless classes taught.  It is a beautiful and wonderful thing the way that a yoga practice grows and evolves over time.  It just kind of sneaks up on you when you are least expecting it.  You are going about your business of sun salutations, warrior poses and Ujjayi Pranayama and all of the sudden...something changes.

Like so many other yogis, over time my practice has become less about asana and striving for that perfect posture and more about the internal work.  Don't get me wrong...I'm still in awe of the grace and strength of the floaters and flyers and the flexibility of the contortionists.  But when I think about what my practice means to me and what it is that keeps me coming back to my mat not only to practice but to teach, it is always the things that you don't see.  It's the clearer mind and the gift of presence in every moment of my life.  It's being able to embrace my limitations and to accept where I am in my practice and in my life with gratitude.  It's the deep inner peace and calm and the quiet strength and confidence that has grown out of knowing I can do what I once thought was impossible...on and off of my mat.

Namaste

Tracy Barbuto
Yoga Teacher 500RYT | Smyrna, TN
tracybarbuto@gmail.com
Click here to learn more about Tracy