The Five Tibetan Rites

by Amber Wolf PhD and Sid Wolf PhD

In 1985 a book called The Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth, by Peter Kelder, was published which for the first time fully described an exercise program for "youthing". This is an exercise program used by Tibetan monks to live long, vibrant and healthy lives.

The Tibetan monks claim that these exercises activate and stimulate the seven key chakras, which in turn stimulate all the glands of the endocrine system. The endocrine system is responsible for the body's overall functioning and aging process. This means that the Five Rites will affect the functioning of all your organs and systems, including the physical and energetic systems and control the aging process.

The Tibetan exercises can be great for everyone: (see *Special Caution) they stretch and stimulate every major meridian system in the body, they rejuvenate the hormonal system and every organ and gland, increase muscle mass, carve curves, reduce or eliminate double chins, bulging midriff and stomach and slack upper arm muscles. They enhance and boost your metabolism, and balance and harmonize the chakra energy centers. Within 3 months of daily practice, the Tibetans can make you look pounds lighter and feel year’s younger and stronger, in just minutes a day. They are easiest to do on an empty stomach in the morning.

Rite 1

Stand erect with arms outstretched, horizontal to the floor. Spin around clockwise. Be sure to ‘spot’ while spinning. When complete, place your hands on your hips, feet apart, and take two ‘cleansing breaths’; inhale deeply through the nose, exhale by blowing out through the mouth. (Blink your eyes rapidly when you stop if you are dizzy.)

Breathe naturally and rest for as long as you were spinning.

Rite 2

Lie flat on the floor, face up. Fully extend your arms along your sides, and place the palms of your hands against the floor, next to your hips, keeping the fingers close together. Exhale, raise your head and shoulders off the floor (without using your hands), tucking the chin against the chest.
As you do this, lift your legs, legs straight, into a vertical position. If possible, let the legs extend back over the body, toward the head; but do not let the knees bend. Then slowly lower both the head and the legs, legs straight, to the floor. Allow all the muscles to relax. Repeat, breathing in the same rhythm.

Inhale deeply as you lift your legs and exhale as you lower your legs. Take two cleansing breaths upon completion. Rest for as long as it took to do the repetitions.

Rite 2

Rite 3

Kneel on the floor, knees hip width apart, toes turned under, the body erect. The hands should be placed against the thigh muscles or heels of hands below the waist on the glutes. Begin by inclining the head and neck forward, tucking the chin against the chest. Inhale, bring the head and neck backward, arch the spine, opening the entire neck and chest and abdomen. Do not bend past the waist.

As you arch, brace your arms and hands against the thighs (or glutes) for support. After the arching, exhale, and return to the original position, head forward, and start the rite over. Inhale deeply as you arch the spine; exhale as you return to an erect, head forward position. Finish with two cleansing breaths and rest for as long as it took to do the repetitions.

Rite 3

Rite4

Sit on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you and your feet about 12 inches apart. With the trunk of the body erect, place your palms on the floor alongside the hips, fingers forward. Tuck the chin against the chest. Inhale and put the head backward gently, as you raise your body so that the knees bend and the arms remain straight, in a ‘table’ position. The trunk of the body will be in a straight line. Then, tense every muscle in the body.

Relax your muscles, exhale, and return to the original sitting position, and rest before repeating the procedure. Inhale as you rise up, hold your breath as you tense the muscles, and exhale completely as you come down.

Take two cleansing breaths and rest for as long as it took to do the repetitions.

Rite 4

Rite 5

Begin a prone position. Place hands, palms down against the floor directly below the shoulders. The toes are in a flexed, turned under. Throughout this rite, the hands and feet should be kept straight. Start with your arms perpendicular to the floor, and the spine arched, so that the body is in a sagging position, head up (upward dog).

Then, bending at the hips, bring the body up into an inverted 'V', heels off the floor. At the same time, bring the chin forward, tucking it against the chest. Inhale deeply as you raise the body, exhale fully as you lower it.

Take two cleansing breaths and rest for as long as it took to do the repetitions.

Modification: When I (Amber) perform the fifth rite, I start in downward dog position, hips raised (second photo), palms on the floor shoulder width apart, heels off the floor, and feet hip width apart. Then proceed as above.

Rite 5

We suggest starting off at 3-5 repetitions per day per week and increasing the amount by 2 per day (each) per week until you reach the full 21 repetitions per day. It takes less than 20 minutes to do the full 21 repetitions, once your body has strengthened. Always do the proper breathing; the cleansings breaths after each exercise, and the resting after each exercise.

If the exercises seem too strenuous at first, refer to the book, Ancient Secrets of the Fountain of Youth, Part 2 published by Doubleday for starter exercises and modifications. With these you can build up strength to do the full recommended set.

*SPECIAL CAUTION: Spinning and stretching through the following exercises can aggravate certain health conditions such as any type of heart problem, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, severe arthritis of the spine, uncontrolled high blood pressure, a hyperthyroid condition, or vertigo. Problems may also be caused if you are taking drugs that cause dizziness. Please consult your physician prior to beginning these exercises if you have any difficult health issues or if you have any other concerns.



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