Shavayatra Meditation

Shavayatra, “Traveling through the Corpse” 
A body scan technique taught in the Gilbert Yoga Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Program
This technique travels through the “61 Points of Light” in the human body. This is referenced in the ayurvedic text, The Sushruta Samhita, the origin of this technique is ancient. 
It has many benefits: 

• Balances energy field
• Relaxes marma points
• Increases mental harmony
• Increases capacity to focus
• Trains the mind to turn inward
• Increases self-awareness
• Increases sensitivity to internal states

How to conduct a Shavayatra body scan: 
Relax the body, observe the natural rhythm of your breath.
Sense your body as it breathes, as you are being breathed. 
Now focus on the point between the eyebrows. Breathe there. Imagine a pinprick of light here. Allow the light to travel as your awareness journeys through the relaxing body...
Hollow of the Throat Center.
Right shoulder. 
Right elbow joint. 
Wrist joint.
Tip of all fingers on the right hand
The right wrist joint
Right Elbow joint
Right Shoulder joint
Hollow of Throat center
Left shoulder joint
Left Elbow joint
Left Wrist  joint
Tips of all five fingers on the Left hand 
Left Wrist joint
Left Elbow joint
Left Shoulder joint
Heart’s Center, Center of the Chest
Travel down to the heart center, more of the chest. Breathe into this kind of light energy there.
Right side of the chest
Heart’s Center, Center of the Chest
Left side of the chest
Heart’s Center, Center of the Chest
Travel from the heart to the naval center
Pelvic center
Right hip joint
Right Knee joint
Right Ankle joint
Right big toe
Right Second toe
Right Middletoe
Right Fourth toe
Right Pinky toe
Right Ankle joint
Right Knee joint
Right Hip joint
Pelvic center
Left hip joint
Left knee joint
Left ankle joint
Left big toe, second toe, Middle toe, third toe, fourth toe, pinky toe
Left Ankle joint
Left Knee joint
Left hip joint
Pelvic center
Naval center
Heart center
Throat center
Eye Center, Space between the Brows
 
Now sense your body in space as these points of light 
The breath, carrying prana -divine light- upon it
The body breathes, is breathed
You are a field of awareness, occupying the whole space
The space within this body
And all of the space outside of the body.
Divine Light. All Love.
Begin to breathe more deeply as you bring life and movement back into your body.

*Shavayatra technique sourced from the Gilbert Yoga AYTT Manual. All rights reserved.