The 5 Tibetan Rites - Fountain Of Youth Or Urban Legend?

[FeelGoodNow]

For those of you who haven't heard of the Five Tibetan Rites, it's a set of yoga-esque movements you perform every day, and according to the official book and other sources, it will keep you young and vital WAY beyond your years. According to the official book, people who have performed the Rites daily live to be 150 years and beyond, with physical appearances of 40-year olds.

I've tried doing them for a stretch of about 1 month, and I must say that it made me feel exceptionally healthy.

I'd love to hear from others who have been doing them for even longer than that - what are your results?

For convenience, here is a site that offers the official book in condensed form, including full instructions on how to do them. The site is 100% free: Print Version - Five Tibetan Rites

[ginkgo]

These are very good yoga exercises. Dr Oz has his patients do yoga. That is what it is says on the cover of this yoga book by an MD.
Yoga as Medicine: The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing by Timothy McCall M.D.

[designAlignment]

I learned these exercises from Chris Kilham's book, "The Five Tibetans."
(I think a revised edition is going to be published for it sometime later this year.)

I haven't done them long term, but think they are some of the best physical/energy exercises I've ever used. I've noticed a strong energy "rush" (usually after restarting them after not having done them for a while) that I haven't felt with any other exercise. They're also great for naturally improving body alignment and flexibility in your spine.


Besides the mysterious origin of the exercises themselves, the book that the exercises are from also has an interesting history.

Peter Kelder originally published his book, The Eye of Revelation in 1939. In 1946, he republished the book, adding additional information. Since then, the technique for the exercises have been reprinted many times under his name (most recently as, "The Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth"), but with many changes made.


For example:

In modern reprints. the exercises are said to stimulate the 7 chakras, but in the original manuscript, the 7 vortexes described are NOT the chakras (the positions are in completely different locations for some, such as two of them being in the knees).

Instructions for breathing were not included.

Rite number 3 is almost universally described differently from in the original.
It is supposed to start in a kneeling position with your head held normally (aligned with your back). You begin by leaning forward as far as possible, with your chin against your chest, then lean back as far as possible (ending in the position show in the pictures).


While breathing isn't described in the original, I agree that it should be coordinated as described in the link previously given.

For anyone interested in reading the 1946 version (everything in Kelder's words, including grammatical errors), it is available here.

[FeelGoodNow]

Great contribution, thanks!

[KaleidoskopicVision]

I've been doing the 5 on and off for a year. They are an extraordinary set of exercises which leave me feeling revitalized and alert after practice.

Do them slowly, do not rush through the movements! Except for the first Rite, in which you spin clockwise. The better you get at balancing when spinning, the faster you should spin until you actually develop centrifugal momentum.

These rites are meant to be progressive, with time you become better and better at them and they will always remain a challenge to improve upon.

A yoga stance I added to the rites is 'the wheel'.
I do it after doing the fourth rite, the table. It loosens the body for the next rite (down dog, rising cobra).

Meditating after doing the 5 rites is immensely powerful. The rites move and dislodge stagnating energy and physical particulate. When you sit down to meditate, all of the loosened debris begin to settle like silt on a riverbed, only they are eventually washed away because they have been dislodged.

The rites also strengthen the spine and it is imperative to sit with the posture of a mountain while meditating. This isn't easy to do with a weakened, twisted spine.

I recommend not replacing your normal yoga and exercise routine with the 5 rites (if you have one that is). The rites are meant to be a monastic practice which a monk/nun would be engaged in constantly. Unless you can do that, just think of it as a complimentary practice.

[FeelGoodNow]

Originally Posted by KaleidoskopicVision

I've been doing the 5 on and off for a year. They are an extraordinary set of exercises which leave me feeling revitalized and alert after practice.

Do them slowly, do not rush through the movements! Except for the first Rite, in which you spin clockwise. The better you get at balancing when spinning, the faster you should spin until you actually develop centrifugal momentum.

These rites are meant to be progressive, with time you become better and better at them and they will always remain a challenge to improve upon.

A yoga stance I added to the rites is 'the wheel'.
I do it after doing the fourth rite, the table. It loosens the body for the next rite (down dog, rising cobra).

Meditating after doing the 5 rites is immensely powerful. The rites move and dislodge stagnating energy and physical particulate. When you sit down to meditate, all of the loosened debris begin to settle like silt on a riverbed, only they are eventually washed away because they have been dislodged.

The rites also strengthen the spine and it is imperative to sit with the posture of a mountain while meditating. This isn't easy to do with a weakened, twisted spine.

I recommend not replacing your normal yoga and exercise routine with the 5 rites (if you have one that is). The rites are meant to be a monastic practice which a monk/nun would be engaged in constantly. Unless you can do that, just think of it as a complimentary practice.

I love it, thanks!

[Bluth]

So whats the general consensus on what it helps you with?


Third day doing the 5, btw......

[KaleidoskopicVision]

Originally Posted by Bluth

So whats the general consensus on what it helps you with?


Third day doing the 5, btw......

The rites were designed to keep monks in the Himalayas in shape and fit for meditation practice and the rigors of living in the mountains.

[FeelGoodNow]

Originally Posted by Bluth

So whats the general consensus on what it helps you with?


Third day doing the 5, btw......

Overall energy increases massively, flexibility, and general health mega benefits.

[Bluth]

Originally Posted by KaleidoskopicVision

The rites were designed to keep monks in the Himalayas in shape and fit for meditation practice and the rigors of living in the mountains.

Originally Posted by FeelGoodNow

Overall energy increases massively, flexibility, and general health mega benefits.

So it won't halt my aging process? What a jip.

[votoshka]

Hmm I have to start doing these again. I've been doing them on and off (far more off than on lol) for errm about 17 years LOL. I sorta wish I'd been doing them constantly on

I always tell myself I should start doing them again, and then I never get around to it. I need to set myself a 30 day challenge or something and just do them!

[marinik]

Originally Posted by votoshka

Hmm I have to start doing these again. I've been doing them on and off (far more off than on lol) for errm about 17 years LOL. I sorta wish I'd been doing them constantly on

I always tell myself I should start doing them again, and then I never get around to it. I need to set myself a 30 day challenge or something and just do them!

I'm in!

[FeelGoodNow]

Originally Posted by Bluth

So it won't halt my aging process? What a jip.

I do think it will halt the aging process, yes. Perhaps not as dramatically as claimed in the book, but the fact that it keeps you healthy, flexible and full of energy alone is enough to preserve youth.

[votoshka]

I think it's sort of hard to tell whether something halts the ageing process or not Maybe it does and maybe it doesn't! I guess if you performed the rites religiously for 10 years, and seemed to age only about 2 years in that time, you could assume that they're doing something. Of course, if you were doing other things in that time (eating well, meditating, etc. etc.) then maybe that could also affect your results!

Still, I found that when I was doing the rites I felt better and more energetic, and at one stage even lost weight (I was probably eating better as well, but that could have been a flow on effect).

So from tonight I'm starting again!!

[FeelGoodNow]

Originally Posted by votoshka

I found that when I was doing the rites I felt better and more energetic, and at one stage even lost weight (I was probably eating better as well, but that could have been a flow on effect).

So from tonight I'm starting again!!

That's actually why I started this thread - to get inspired to start doing them again, lol. And it's working!

[Andrew Brunelle]

I'm sure these poses are a great way to stay in shape and become healthier in every way. As for being the fountain of youth, I'd have to try them out and see if I become 12 again after doing them. Wish me luck.

[marinik]

I'we done then 2 days in a row and must say I feel energized!

[votoshka]

I did the rites last night, and I feel quite energetic now. Did a lot of housework today too! I'll go do them now again before bed, and see if I can keep this thing going I'm not really concerned with getting younger, but if it could slow down the ageing process at all, then I'm all for it!

[marinik]

Originally Posted by votoshka

I did the rites last night, and I feel quite energetic now. Did a lot of housework today too! I'll go do them now again before bed, and see if I can keep this thing going I'm not really concerned with getting younger, but if it could slow down the ageing process at all, then I'm all for it!

I do them when I wake up. When are they supposed to be done?

[votoshka]

Originally Posted by marinik

I do them when I wake up. When are they supposed to be done?

I do them before bed (maybe a bad time lol!!). But you can do them twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening once you've built up to it!

[Bluth]

I wish on the third rite you could put your hands on your lower back rather than your hamstrings. It provides tons more support.

[relaXman]

Hi everbody ,

I did this exercise last year for one year.
This is not miracle as its books told, it is marketing and exaggeration.
not miracle, but I can say , it is one of the best exercises.
I agree the ideas of KaleidoskopicVision about this exercise.

I applied this exercise last year almost everday for one year.
I reduced exercise days into two a week because it makes me thinner , because it really stimuletes all sides of body.

Yes it is usefull for almost everything,
bad sides of this exercise are boring, not enjoyable or fun and not easy.

because of that I began learning Tai chi.

I think Thai chi is more usefull and enjoyable, like a dance .

[lifetimelearner]

Originally Posted by FeelGoodNow

For those of you who haven't heard of the Five Tibetan Rites, it's a set of yoga-esque movements you perform every day, and according to the official book and other sources, it will keep you young and vital WAY beyond your years. According to the official book, people who have performed the Rites daily live to be 150 years and beyond, with physical appearances of 40-year olds.

I've tried doing them for a stretch of about 1 month, and I must say that it made me feel exceptionally healthy.

I'd love to hear from others who have been doing them for even longer than that - what are your results?

For convenience, here is a site that offers the official book in condensed form, including full instructions on how to do them. The site is 100% free: Print Version - Five Tibetan Rites

thanks for the link !

[votoshka]

Originally Posted by Bluth

I wish on the third rite you could put your hands on your lower back rather than your hamstrings. It provides tons more support.

Hmm...I think you're possibly doing the exercise wrong then?! The way I see it, you're not really bending your back, but leaning back from the knee (if that makes sense). I mean, your back does curve, but it's the knee where you bend, you don't just arch your back (which is the only reason why I think you'd get more support from putting your hands on your lower back).

[irunthereforeiam]

Originally Posted by KaleidoskopicVision

I've been doing the 5 on and off for a year. They are an extraordinary set of exercises which leave me feeling revitalized and alert after practice.

Do them slowly, do not rush through the movements! Except for the first Rite, in which you spin clockwise. The better you get at balancing when spinning, the faster you should spin until you actually develop centrifugal momentum.

These rites are meant to be progressive, with time you become better and better at them and they will always remain a challenge to improve upon.

A yoga stance I added to the rites is 'the wheel'.
I do it after doing the fourth rite, the table. It loosens the body for the next rite (down dog, rising cobra).

Meditating after doing the 5 rites is immensely powerful. The rites move and dislodge stagnating energy and physical particulate. When you sit down to meditate, all of the loosened debris begin to settle like silt on a riverbed, only they are eventually washed away because they have been dislodged.

The rites also strengthen the spine and it is imperative to sit with the posture of a mountain while meditating. This isn't easy to do with a weakened, twisted spine.

I recommend not replacing your normal yoga and exercise routine with the 5 rites (if you have one that is). The rites are meant to be a monastic practice which a monk/nun would be engaged in constantly. Unless you can do that, just think of it as a complimentary practice.

I have been doing it for the 3rd day now and I felt the same way about meditation. It was relaxing to sit for few minutes to really relax and it felt great. I'm excited to see somebody else having the same experience.

[Bluth]

Originally Posted by votoshka

Hmm...I think you're possibly doing the exercise wrong then?! The way I see it, you're not really bending your back, but leaning back from the knee (if that makes sense). I mean, your back does curve, but it's the knee where you bend, you don't just arch your back (which is the only reason why I think you'd get more support from putting your hands on your lower back).

Ah, I see what you're saying......thanks

[Dreamweaver]

Once upon a time I went through a pretty unsettling break up. I had gotten into the 5 Rites and been performing them infrequently. Once the breakup happened, I had a lot of spare energy that was just mainly going to me feeling like crap - so instead I focused it into doing the 5 Rites morning, noon (sometimes) and night. At the end of a week, I felt like a new person, at the end of a month I couldn't believe how slim, trim, and sleek I felt, looked, and was! I ran out of breakup steam, and was riding a wave of looking great and let go of the practice and gradually slid back into my 'resting' weight.. :/ BUT
I can say that I throw them into my exercise routine occasionally and always feel GREAT!

[irunthereforeiam]

I'm wondering if anybody's appetite has gone up on the days people do 5 rites. I'm noticing that my metabolism kicks into high gear. Wanting to eat constantly is annoying

[relaXman]

Originally Posted by irunthereforeiam

I'm wondering if anybody's appetite has gone up on the days people do 5 rites. I'm noticing that my metabolism kicks into high gear. Wanting to eat constantly is annoying

yes , it is normal, because all side of your body is stimulating much.

[Jeebles]

This sounds excellent, thanks for linking to that site