The Five Tibetan Rites is a yoga routine based on a ritual of exercises discovered in the early 1900's, by a British army colonel, Colonel Bradford, who was living in a Himalayan monastery. They are practiced around the world and are said to prevent aging. In 1939, Peter Kelder published "The Original Five Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation," which helped spread the rites in the western world. Mr. Kelder has since updated the book "The Eye of Revelation - The Original Five Rites of Rejuvenation," Borderland Sciences Research Foundation, 1989, ISBN 0-945685-04-1.
The rites are comprised of five different movements (with a sixth added for good measure), with each movement performed up to 21 times (Tibetans believe 21 is a perfect, mystical number). It is best to start with 3 repetitions of each exercise and gradually increase the repetitions. The entire routine can be completed in less than 10 minutes.
For thousands of years, medical practitioners have maintained that the body has seven principal energy centers which correspond to the seven endocrine glands, also known as chakras. Chakras are essentially energies within spinning vortexes. As a vortex is increased, the life force becomes stronger and more directed. More about Chakras
Recent medical research has uncovered convincing evidence that the aging process is hormone-regulated. The five ancient Tibetan rites are said to normalize hormonal imbalances in the body, thereby holding the key to lasting youth, health, and vitality. The rites stimulate the energy system in the body, wake up the chakras, and get energy moving from your core outward to your extremities. The theory behind the rites is that your Kundalini (spiritual energy) is stored and lies at the base of your spine and that these rites access that energy in a very efficient, fast, and user-friendly way.
An important part of the Tibetan exercises is a conscious synchronization of breathing while performing physical activity. Before beginning the exercises, practice the basic 4 - stage breathing technique.
Inhale.
Hold filled lungs.
Exhale.
Hold empty lungs.
No exercise should be so intense that it makes you feel exhausted. For example,
if you are "loosing your breath", it indicates that your body is in
an anaerobic (low oxygen) condition and that you should slow down. If you can
not talk normally after performing an exercise, you should slow down. When performing
the exercises, the main emphasis should be on breath synchronization and fluency,
rather than on speed and number of repetitions.
Some call these rites isometric exercises. Although they are helpful in stretching
muscles and joints and improving muscle tone, this is not their primary purpose.
A slow vortex causes that part of the body to deteriorate, while a faster one
causes nervousness, anxiety, and exhaustion. Abnormal vortexes produces abnormal
health, deterioration, and old age. The rites normalize the speed of the spinning
vortexes by keeping them spinning at the same rate and working in harmony.
Anyone can practice The Five Tibetans we have modifications and variations
for all manners of flexability. Practising within a group encourages you to
be motivated to continue your home practise., and it is fun at YAHA we always
end our practise with a form of Nada Yoga Sound Meditation and Yoga Nidra rest
period.
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