The 5 Tibetan Rites to Eternal Youth
Many years ago a British officer, Colonel Bradford, who was stationed in India, decided to go on a little adventure. During his time in this enchanting country, he'd often heard stories from wandering villagers about a group of monks living in a remote monastery who knew the secret to eternal youth. At first the Colonel thought it was just a
fantastical story, but as he kept hearing it repeated by several other people familiar with these monks, his curiosity grew into a strong desire to discover if it was true.
Thus, he decided to set out to find this monastery and meet these miracle monks for himself. The only problem was that no one knew the exact location of the monastery.
Undaunted by this obstacle, he kept gathering as much information as he could. He marveled at the stories told to him about old men becoming young again after they'd lived among these monks for a time. Illnesses mysteriously vanishing before their eyes.
Could this really be possible?
Although he was only 40 at the time, Colonel Bradford was already experiencing the signs of premature aging. The rigors and stress of a lifetime of military service was taking its toll on his health. If there was a way to reverse the aging process, he would be the first to participate – if only he could find the source for this Fountain of Youth.
His curiosity quickly turned into an obsession and while he didn't find the location of the monks while in the service, it had never quite left his mind. Years went by and the retired Colonel moved to California, lived his life and continued growing old. As he reached his twilight years, he decided that he must give this Fountain of Youth thing
one more shot. He gathered up all of his notes and returned to India determined to not give up until he found the hidden monastery.
Bradford relied on his years of experience while in India to piece together a more exact location for the fabled remote area. Through his network of contacts there he felt he finally had enough credible information to set off on an expedition to the remote
regions of the Himalayan Mountains. This was no small task for an elderly man to take on, but there was nothing in this world that was going to stop him now.
After a difficult trek, Colonel Bradford laid eyes on the legendary monastery that held the secret to eternal youth. The friendly monks welcomed him in and he was free to stay there as long as he wished. One of the first things that he noticed was that there were no
"old" people living there. In fact, he was the oldest person among them. All of the monks were filled with lots of energy and youthful vitality. They were strong, healthy and mentally fit as a fiddle.
At a later time, when he was recounting his story, he remarked, "I was like a fish out of water. I marveled at everything I saw, and at times could hardly believe what was before my eyes." Being an old man who needed the assistance of a walking cane, he knew that he was in for quite an experience of a lifetime.
After spending many weeks at the monastery and following some of the practices of the monks, one day he found himself inside of a library filled with ancient manuscripts.
This room contained centuries old secrets that have been carefully preserved in this remote place.
However, it wasn't the manuscripts that caught his attention; it was the full length mirror sitting in one part of the room. This was the first time he'd had a chance to see his reflection since he'd arrived – and the image he saw in that mirror startled him.
As Colonel Bradford stepped in front of the mirror, his eyes were fixated on the man he saw before him. It took him a few moments to accept that the man he was looking at was indeed him. Why, he looked 15 years younger!
Amazed, he realized that all of the stories that the villagers had told him about the remote monastery that caused old men to become young again were true. He knew because it had now happened to him. To achieve this miracle reversal of time, all he had done was eat a simple, healthy diet, listen to their teachings and follow the 5 Rites as the monks had instructed.
The monks believe that the body has 7 energy centers called Chakras that are like spinning wheels that move at a high rate of speed. This is the same mind/body health philosophy that is popular in other Asian countries. However, the monk's teachings included their own brand of yoga that was created to invigorate these energy centers and promote good health and longevity.
This style of yoga would later become known and the 5 Tibetan Rites or T5T for short. A few more years passed before Colonel Bradford returned to California. The people who knew him before he left could barely believe their eyes. He had left there an old man and came back a youthful one. Most people who didn't know him well guessed his age to be somewhere in the early 40s, but he was really in his early 70s! Not content to keep this Fountain of Youth to himself, he shared his knowledge of the T5T with others in India and in America. Soon, it spread throughout the U.S.
How to Do the 5 Tibetan Rites
The T5T are a group of yoga exercises that was developed by Tibetan monks living in a rugged mountain region. These movements were designed to be performed in a
continuous fashion and are excellent for increasing stamina and strength. They should be performed early in the morning or in the evening for 10-20 minutes. The maximum number of repetitions you should do is 21.
You should start out very gently and do only a few repetitions at a time until you get used to each movement. Most people will need an adjustment period to build up their agility and strength, so don't be concerned if you can only to a few reps at first. If you cannot do a specific movement at all, it's okay to skip it. Or, you may find a way to modify it and make it easier for you to perform.
If you are healthy and fit: You should start out by doing 3 repetitions of each exercise.
Gradually increase the repetitions as you gain strength and endurance.
If you are overweight, have health problems or are out of shape: Do only one out of the first 3 exercises for the first 3 days. This allows you to slowly build up strength. If you feel like continuing, then add on one more exercise per every 3 days. Keep repetitions low until you gain strength and endurance. You can also prepare your body for the 5 Rites by walking every day.
These exercises are meant to be a positive addition to your life, so don't force yourself to do something that makes you uncomfortable. Each movement has its own health
benefits so feel free to use one or all.
A word of caution: If you have any pre-existing medical conditions like heart problems, multiple sclerosis, arthritis of the spine, Parkinson's Disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, hyperthyroid problems, vertigo or take medication that makes you dizzy,
please consult your doctor before doing these exercises. The above health conditions may be aggravated by spinning and stretching movements. If you experience any uncomfortable side effects after doing these movements, please consult your doctor.
Proper Breathing
An important element of the 5 Tibetan Rites is proper breathing while you are
performing the movements. You will inhale and exhale at certain points of the exercise.
Deep Breathing Practice
Inhale
Hold breath in your lungs for a beat Exhale
Hold your empty lungs a beat
Rite #1: Spinning
Spinning is probably something you did as a young kid for fun. You twirled around and around until you got dizzy and this made you laugh. It just so happens that the very first rite brings back this old childhood favorite. This is a very simple move that is designed to get the chakras in your body spinning energetically.
Because you are now an adult, you should not attempt to do a large amount of spins starting out. After about 6 repetitions you will begin to feel very dizzy, this is common for beginners. When you do get real dizzy, this is your cue to stop. Sit down or lay on the floor and allow your body to recover. In fact, it's better to not even let yourself get to the point of extreme dizziness. When you feel mildly dizzy you should end there.
Here's a tip to reduce your dizziness during this movement. Dancers and figure skaters are famous for their ability to spin around like a revolving top for many repetitions without stopping. When they are learning how to do this, they are told to focus their eyes on a specific point and stare straight ahead. As your body turns, keep your eyes on that point for as long as possible. Turn your head around quickly and focus your eyes again on that same point. Mastering this trick cuts down a lot on the dizziness.
Let's Get Started
Important: Always spin from left to right.
Stand completely erect and stretch both arms out to your sides in a horizontal direction.
Your arms should be lined up with your shoulders and your palms should be facing down. Begin spinning your body around like a top for up to 21 repetitions.
Breathing: Inhale and exhale deeply while doing each spin movement.
Rite #2: Head and Leg Raises
The second rite continues the stimulation of your chakra centers. For this movement you'll need to lay down on the floor. It's best to lay on a rug, carpet or exercise mat. This movement is also very simple to do and you probably have done it before in the past.
When you lay down on the floor you want to keep your body as straight as possible.
If you are older or out of shape, please do not overexert yourself on this one. Remember that everything is achievable with time and effort, so if you find that you cannot lift your head or legs up off the floor that much, do what you can and feel good about making the effort. Eventually, it will get easier.
The Colonel relates a story about an elderly man who was in one of his T5T classes. The man was very old and weak and could barely lift his legs into a straight position.
Instead of giving up on the movement, the man decided to bend his legs while hanging them a little in the air. This was all he could do and he was comfortable with it.
Gradually, he gained his strength and at the end of three months could do the movement perfectly.
Let's Get Started
Lie down on the floor or mat and place your arms tightly against your body. Lay your hands flat on the floor alongside of your hips. Keep your fingers close together. Raise your head off of the floor while tucking your chin into your chest. At the same time, raise your legs off the floor, while keeping your knees very straight, in a vertical position. Hold this position for a moment or two, and then allow both your head and body to lower back down to the floor. Repeat this movement up to 21 repetitions.
Breathing: As you lift up your head and legs, breathe in deeply. As you lower your head and legs, exhale.
Rite #3: Back Arches
Rite number three is a movement that allows you to focus your attention inward. The monks believe that everything that we are as human beings begins from within us. The Colonel noticed that while he watched the monks perform these rites in unison, they seemed to turn off all outward distractions. The full force of your energy is hidden inside of you and by focusing inward; you can harness this energy to rejuvenate both mind and body.
Back arches should be done immediately after the head and leg lifts. The first three movements work in harmony to stimulate your energy levels and get you mentally centered.
Let's Get Started
Kneel down on a rug or mat and keep your body fully straight. Arms should be down at your sides and palms laid flat against the hips. Slowly bring your head forward and tuck your chin against your chest. Next, bring your head all the way back and lean your body back as far as possible. As you does this second movement allow your arms to
bend. Brace your arms against your back hips for support. Return to an erect position and relax for a moment. Repeat this movement up to 21 times.
Breathing: Inhale deeply as you arch your back. Exhale as you return to an erect position.
Rite #4: The Table
Now we are at a point where you will need to extend a little more effort to do this particular movement. Starting from a sitting position, you're going to turn your body into a table. I know it doesn't sound comfortable, but it's really not that bad once you get used to doing it. Remember, your body is very flexible and can be stretched into various positions once the muscles are trained.
Many elderly and out of shape people have a difficult time doing this fourth rite when they first attempt it. It requires a certain amount of strength to be able to lift your body up into the table position. Colonel Bradford admits that he had a really tough time with it in the beginning, and so did the older people in his classes. However, with persistence most were able to complete the movement after a while and add on many more
repetitions as time went on. This may be a movement that you'll need to modify for the time being and then go at your own pace until you become stronger. For instance, you can use an exercise ball or a bench to help you.
Let's Get Started
Sit down on the floor and put your legs straight out in front of you. Spread your feet about 12-inches apart. Your back and torso should be straight. Your arms are at your sides and your palms are face down on the floor a little ways from your hips.
Lean your head forward and tuck your chin into your chest. Gently drop your head backward as far as it can go. Using your arms and legs for support, raise your body up off the floor while keeping your arms straight. Your knees should bend to form the
"legs" of the table. When you are in the correct position, the top of your body should be completely flat – just like a coffee table.
Tense up your muscles and hold this position for a few moments. Allow your muscles to relax as you return to the original sitting position. Rest a moment or two before repeating up to 21 repetitions.
Breathing: Inhale deeply as you raise your body up into the table position. Hold your breath as you tense your muscles. Exhale fully as you relax and return to a sitting position. Keep up your rhythmic deep breathing during the rest period.
Rite #5: Modified Cobra
This fifth and final rite increases your strength, flexibility and balance and is done as one continuous movement. By now, your chakra centers are fully stimulated and you are supporting this renewed energy and extending your longevity. The previous exercises should have warmed your body up by this point, making this movement easier to perform.
Important: Your hands and feet should be two feet apart during the entire movement.
Let's Get Started
Lie down with your face towards the floor. Lift your torso up by extending your arms up straight (similar to a push up). Palms are flat on the floor. Support your legs with your toes. Lean your head back as far as it will go and arch your back at the same time.
Push your hips up off the floor as far as you can until your body forms an upside down
"V" position. Tuck your chin into your chest and hold for a moment. Relax your muscles as you allow your body to come back down into the original position. Perform this movement up to 21 repetitions.
Breathing: Inhale deeply as you raise your body. Exhale as you lower your body.
Benefits of the 5 Rites
There are many people who perform these 5 Tibetan Rites every day and report that they enjoy them and have a renewed mind and body. It is said that Colonel Bradford's gray hair actually returned to its original color. While this may not happen for you, some of the widely reported benefits others are experiencing are:
Improved vision Improved memory Improved posture Improved digestion Feeling more energized Reduction of mood swings
Relief from stress and muscle tension Body toning and elimination of excess fat Feeling relaxed and generally more happy
Increased physical strength, stamina and flexibility
Maybe by now you're wondering if these 5 simple exercise movements can really do all of this for a person. Well, one thing is for sure, you'll never know unless you give it a try. Everyone is different and your results may be the same or unique from other people's experience with this. The important thing to remember is that these rites have been done for centuries by monks and others who live in remote regions of Asia.
Some people consider these simple isometric exercises and dismiss them because they are so simple. But, hey, consider that the monks live in a mountainous region where they don't have a big supermarket or mall to grab what they need. If they need food, clothing or material goods, they must often make it themselves or travel for miles on
foot. These simple movements are necessary to keep them alive and strong enough to endure their living conditions.
Why does the key to a longer life have to be so complicated?
You certainly won't find health and rejuvenation in any of the pharmaceutical drugs commonly available in our society. Although, many would like you to believe those colorful pills are the only things that will extend your life.
The 5 Tibetan Rites work so well because they ARE simple to do.
The 5 Tibetan Rites work so well because they ARE simple to do.