Five Tibetan Rites

The system of exercises commonly known as The Five Tibetan Rites was likely first brought to the attention of the general population in a booklet by Peter Kelder entitled "The Eye of Revelation", originally published in 1939. The booklet describes the experiences of a retired British army colonel, Colonel Bradford, with a sect of monks in the Himalayas, presumably during the early 1900s.^*" target="_blank" >Although the origins of the Rites are disputed by skeptics, they are believed to be a form of Tibetan yoga similar to the more well-known forms of yoga that originated in India. The primary difference is that Tibetan forms emphasize "a continuous sequence of movement" whereas Indian forms focus on "static positions".[http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/464_1.cfm The Five Tibetan Rites are also commonly referred to as The Five Rites, The Five Tibetans and The Five Rites of Rejuvenation.

History

While stationed in India, British army officer Colonel Bradford (a pseudonym for the Colonel created by Kelder) heard a story about a group of Lamas who had apparently discovered a "Fountain of Youth". The "wandering natives", as he called them, told him of old men who inexplicably became healthy, strong and full of "vigor and virility" after entering a particular lamasery. After retiring, Colonel Bradford went on to discover the lamasery and lived with the monks where they taught him five exercises, which they called "Rites". According to the Lamas, there are 7 spinning vortexes (chakras) within the body. As we grow older, the spin rate of the chakras diminish resulting in "ill-health". The spin rate of these vortexes can be restored resulting in improved health by performing the Five Rites on a daily basis. Bradford was also instructed in how to perform a Sixth Rite (an abdominal breathing exercise), which the Lamas only recommended for those willing to choose a lifestyle of celibacy.

Benefits of performing the rites

It is claimed that The Five Tibetan Rites have curative powers and that some of the benefits of regular daily practice include:

Relief from joint pain and arthritis
Relief from back pain
Improved memory
Improved vision
Hair growth
Weight loss
Increase in physical strength, energy, endurance and vigor
Improved physical and mental health
Increased sense of well-being
Sound sleeping
Rejuvenation and looking younger

Specific benefits attributed to each exercise are explained here.

How to perform the exercises

First Rite (Clockwise Whirling)
Second Rite (Head and Leg Raises)
Third Rite (Camel)
Fourth Rite (Tabletop)
Fifth Rite (Up and Down Dog)
Sixth Rite (Uddyana Bandha Abdominal Breathing Exercise)

For more complete details, instructions, information and photographic representations, see the #External links below.

References

Kelder, Peter: The Eye of Revelation. Peter Kelder; (1939), Borderland Sciences Research Foundation; (1975).
Kelder, Peter: Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth. Harbor Press; (1985,1989) Revised, modernized and expanded edition of The Eye of Revelation, copyright 1939 by Peter Kelder.
Kelder, Peter: Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth: Book 1. Doubleday; (January 20, 1998) Further revised, modernized and expanded edition of The Eye of Revelation, copyright 1939 by Peter Kelder.

Additional reading

Kilham, Christopher S.: The Five Tibetans: Five Dynamic Exercises for Health, Energy and Personal Power. Healing Arts Press; (April 1, 1994)

External links

Exercise | Health | Yoga