The Five Tibetans - Expert Advice, Support & Information

2011-11-02T08:17:00.003+11:00

New Five Tibetan Rites Poster

To supercharge your practice - try using these T5T affirmations when you physically practice the The Five Tibetan Rites. They really work. Free Poster Download.

At the time of the development of the Five Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation, the ancients believed that their world was composed of Five Elements; water, earth, air, fire and spirit (energy).

In psychology the Five Elements are used to personify different human traits, such as the personality types categories by Carl Jung (feeling, sensing, intuiting, and thinking) and those associated with the astrological signs of the zodiac. I experimented with the concept of assigning an element to each of the Rites, and found the results to be amazing.

In each case, the physical movement of the Rite was a metaphor for what we were trying to achieve mentally - awareness in a different aspect of life. For example the Spin takes the element energy, and the vortex that the movements create allows you to replenish your body from the larger energy all around us. The Tabletop takes the element earth, and its movements focus on stability, foundation and balance, giving us a solid base from which to form new ideas.

In holistic exercise it can sometimes be hard to marry the physical state with the mental state, and having a metaphor helps people enormously to align the two, and to present a clear picture of what they are working towards.

Having assigned an element and a modern name to each Rite, I then experimented with creating an affirmation that expressed the 'energy' of each movement. The result is a method of reinforcing and focusing upon the positive benefits of each Rite physically, mentally and spiritually. This has a ripple effect on every area of your life.

Rite # 1 (Energy) - The Spin -- "I am full of energy"
Rite # 2 (Air) - The Leg Raise -- "My mind is clear and calm"
Rite # 3 (Water) - The Kneeling Backbend -- "I am flexible and receptive"
Rite # 4 (Earth) - The Tabletop -- "I am strong and balanced"
Rite # 5 (Fire) - The Pendulum -- "I am positive and motivated"

Try using them when you practice next time - they really work!

In T5T emphasis is also placed on the mind/body connection. The physical movement of each Rite is a metaphor for the desired mental state.

2010-12-15T10:52:00.003+11:00

FIVE TIBETAN RITES - FREE DOWNLOADS

Here's something nice for you! Our FREE downloads are now available on the website.

1. Eye of Revelation the authentic 1939 AND 1946 editions - e-book (59 pages)
2. Poster of the 5 Rites on one page
3. Poster of Five Rites warm-ups
4. Five Tibetans Brochure/info sheet
5. 7 Undulation to Relieve Office Tension

2010-09-03T08:17:00.003+10:00

Possible Detox Effects of The 5 Tibetan Rites

Due to the increased elimination of impurities and wastes, and increased oxygen in your body, you may experience some minor detox effects. You could also experience some unblocking of the human energy system (chi, qi, prana etc). Some people experience no symptoms at all, while others experience one or more of the following:

slight headache, as if you have given up coffee or fasted for the day
a metallic taste in the mouth
achy joints for a day or so
darker, stronger-smelling urine
diarrhea or strong bowel movement
initial constipation
slight nausea
initial fatigue as the body balances itself
cold or flu-like symptoms that last a day
a runny nose as sinuses clear
a tic or involuntary muscle movement over one eye
a mild rash or pimples
moodiness, either a bit snappy or teary

Consult your physician if these symptoms are severe or if they continue for longer than a few days to a week

To Download "The Eye of Revelation" Free - Click Here

To Learn T5T - and get your chakras spinning more rapidly - Click Here

If you wish to publish this article on your website you may do so, provided that you assign copyright to the author exactly as written below:

2010-08-03T10:42:00.005+10:00

The Tibetan Five Rites: Should We Breathe Through the Nose or the Mouth When We Practice Them?

You should breathe only through the nose. The nose is designed for breathing. The nose is the first line of defense, warning you of harmful smells, and trapping and filtering out particles and bacteria.

When you breathe through your nose, it is easier to regulate your breathing rate and depth. When you breathe slowly and deeply it stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system associated with digestion, assimilation, calm and relaxation.

When you breathe rapidly into the upper chest you stimulate the sympathetic nervous system associated with ‘flight or fight’ response of the body. By controlling your breathing you can initiate the ‘relaxation response’ of the body which reduces stress.

An expert on breathing whilst exercising is Dr John Douillard whose breathing techniques have been used by dozens of world-class athletes, including tennis greats Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King.

He is a great advocate backed by research who says we should bring the intensity of our exercise down to a point where we can breathe through our nose. He has shown that this improves performance, stamina, focus, and coordination.

He believes that we should breathe through our nose when exercising because it stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system associated with regeneration and rejuvenation. When we exercise to intensity whereby we breathe through the nose in a rapid upper chest type emergency breath, this degenerates us and causes stress to the body.

He says ...”In Ayurveda, the first requirement for health, fitness and longevity is that the body’s life force or “prana” must flow effortlessly into every cell of the body. This is accomplished primarily via the breath. It is the proper use of the breath during exercise that will bring harmony between the mind and body and create a measurable experience of calm and rejuvenation in each workout.

Exercise can act as a double edge sword where it can either incur stress or remove it depending on the quality of the breath. The best way to consistently breathe into the lower lobes of the lungs is by nasal breathing. The nose is really an intricately designed breathing apparatus that will prepare the air perfectly for access into the lower lobes. In short the nose filters, moistens and rarifies the air before it penetrates the lower lobes.

Probably the most unusual feature lies in the turbinates of the nose, which act as turbines to swirl the air into vortices that drives the incoming air into the small and distal alveoli of the lungs. It is when these distal lobes are fully perfused that the body produces a neurological state of composure even while under extreme stress - thus the eye of the hurricane."...

He quotes tennis great Billie Jean King saying, ...“I would transport myself beyond the turmoil of the court to a place of total peace and calm."...

The Importance of Correct Breathing

Breathing well is incredibly important, because a number of clinical studies have proven that how well you breathe is literally an indicator of how long you will live

Poor breathing patterns can seriously affect your physical health as well as your mental and emotional well being.

With a high percentage of raw foods the respiratory system is responsible for eliminating approximately 70% of your metabolic waste. The remainder should be eliminated through defecation 3%, urination 8% and perspiration 19%. So, if you think that going to the bathroom every day is important, or that of working up a sweat now and then is healthy - think again about the value of full free optimal breathing!

If you want to find how well you breathe – try breathing expert & contributor to T5T®’s breathing techniques; Mike White whose free online breathing tests – have been done by around 50,000 people so far.

To get the most out of any type of healing work and more importantly life - developing optimal breathing habits is one of the most valuable things you can do.

T5T® has incorporated breathing with the Five Tibetan Rites because it supercharges their effects by boosting your vitality & improving health & wellbeing.

If you are taking the time to do a daily energy raising exercise routine like The 5 Tibetans– it makes perfect sense to include natural full breathing with the movements. Breathing in fills your body with life-giving oxygen; and breathing out eliminates toxins and wastes.

T5T® teaches you how to breathe slower, deeper, fuller and with less tension. Our ‘Energy Breathing Technique’ is completed 3 times between each Rite. Plus we instruct you on how to breathe correctly while performing the Rites.

..."Breathing slower, deeper and easier is vital for longevity, health and vitality. I believe that T5T can help most people become more conscious of their breathing. It can also release tension in their breathing, and often gradually expand their breathing capacity as well as slow their breathing rate. T5T will help many people to achieve the above, however there are those who may have an undetected dysfunctional breathing or what I call UDB whose next step would be my Optimal Breathing Techniques."... Michael Grant White, “The Breathing Coach” - Executive Director of www.breathing.com and the Optimal Breathing School

To Download "The Eye of Revelation" Free - Click Here

To Learn T5T - and get your chakras spinning more rapidly - Click Here

If you wish to publish this article on your website you may do so, provided that you assign copyright to the author exactly as written below: A pdf version is available on request.

2010-07-27T13:50:00.004+10:00

Should You Practice "The Five Tibetan Rites" When Menstruating?

The monks who practiced the original Rites were celibate and male. There were no instructions given regarding menstruation!

However, my experience and the feedback of many of the women I have taught, is that T5T seems to improve the symptoms of menstruation. Some women report less bloating, moodiness, anxiety, cramps and sore breasts. Others say they feel less congested and the flow is improved.

I believe that because you are doing a little bit of yoga & core training (T5T) everyday - your body becomes conditioned to it - and you benefit from the cumulative effects of regular practice.

The monks said that the purpose of the Rites is to get the chakras (energy centers) of the body spinning rapidly and evenly again. The chakras are located above major nerve plexi (bunches of nerves) and the major endocrine glands of the body. In this way, they are said to improve hormonal function.

An example of this hormonal stimulation is that I taught one women who reported an increase in the production of her breast milk!

During menstruation some women's physical energy is not as strong as usual. In this case - maintain the pattern of your practice so as not to lose the motivation of the daily ritual - but perhaps to do less repetitions. Or revert back to one of the easier versions of the postures. However, some women experience increased energy during their period - so there is no one size answer to fit all! Exercise is good for you, and in fact is normal! Our sedentary lifestyle has turned exercise into an option!

Certainly if you have a condition that requires you to receive treatment from a doctor - you should definitely discuss this with him/her. There are some people who have underlying conditions such as cysts that have become aggravated through practicing the Rites (or doing other forms of exercise). If you experience any irregular spotting then you should see your doctor.

If you are exercising so much that your period stops, then that is not healthy. You would have to be working out at very high intensity for this to occur from exercise alone.

It is worth considering that in many rural cultures women work whilst having their period. They also work right up to the day before giving birth and return immediately after delivery! Of course their bodies are conditioned to ongoing physical labour, whilst those of us in urban communities need to be more cautious. The point I am making here though is the human body is pretty tough!

Personally I share the opinion of Barbara Benagh - a yoga teacher, seminar teacher and columnist on Yoga Journal

..."Since I know of no studies or research that makes a compelling argument to avoid inversions (eg. Rite No 5) during menstruation, and since menstruation affects each woman differently and can vary from cycle to cycle, I am of the opinion that each woman is responsible for making her own decision.

The bottom line is that hatha yoga is full of contradictions and varied opinions, leaving each of us ultimately responsible for our own choices. Pay attention to your body and discover what works and what doesn't — not just during your period but every day."...

Geeta Iyengar (yoga expert) says that the practice of Uddiyana Bhanda (the 6th Rite) should not be done during menstruation.

I do not incorporate the 6th Rite in any of my teachings as the monks said you must be celibate to practice it. Rather than express (waste) their sexual energy in a sexual manner; they used this powerful energy for creating higher spiritual awareness, by channeling it up the major energy lines of the body. Read my article "Why We Don't Teach The 6th Rite From The Five Tibetans" for more in-depth information.

The bottom line is that the Rites appear to help stabilize the periods. I have not had one report of ongoing increased blood flow or stopping of menstruation through practicing the Rites. What I do hear about is people saying that they are less moody, have less cramps and reduced bloating - but maintain a craving for chocolate!!!

To Download "The Eye of Revelation" Free - Click Here

To Learn T5T - and get your chakras spinning more rapidly - Click Here

If you wish to publish this article on your website you may do so, provided that you assign copyright to the author exactly as written below: A pdf version is available

2010-07-22T12:27:00.007+10:00

FREE - Five Tibetan Rites e-book

Receive the original story of the discovery of the monks for free and learn their ancient secrets to anti-aging, health and wellbeing.

The book was written by Peter Kelder in 1939 and is called "The Eye of Revelation." It comes in a pdf format so you can print or read it in seconds.

Just put E of R in the subject line and I'll email it to you straight away. No strings attached, no obligations - AND NO no keeping of your email address or using it for any purpose whatsoever.

Enjoy!

2010-07-20T17:02:00.009+10:00

Five Tibetan Rites - Should The Heels Touch The Floor In the 5th Rite?

It's up to you really! You can perform it exactly as instructed (heels raised above the floor) in the original book "The Eye of Revelation" - written in 1939 about the discovery of the monks - or you can lower the heels to the floor for the reasons mentioned below. It won't make any difference to the intended purpose of the Rites, which is to get the chakras spinning more rapidly so Qi can circulate freely throughout the body.

Image at right from "The Eye of Revelation" 1939 which you can (Download Free Here)

This pose is made up of two parts. Downward Dog (upside down V shape) and a variation of Upward Dog as illustrated in the 2nd picture below.

Image at left with further instructions available from Yoga Journal

Image at left from www.T5T.com

Many yoga postures are derived from observing the movement of animals. Rite No 5 is a very common yoga posture known as Downward Dog or Adho Mukha Svanasana in Sanskrit. It resembles a dog stretching after a nap. In today's terms; having the heels elevated off the floor is a classic beginner's version of Downward Dog. Beginners leg muscles are often very tight and many would not be able to lower their heels to the floor without overstraining. Over time as muscles stretch, most people are able to comfortably lower their heels to the floor - and this increases the beneficial effects of the stretch.

However, everyone is built individually including the size & proportion of their bones. In some people the bones of the ankle and the foot compress, preventing any further movement. They will never be able to place their heels flat on the floor (I am one of them) - because that is the way they were born. Once bone and bone compress, there is nowhere else to go. You can release tension in the muscles but you can't stretch bone! For fascinating information on compression and tension - and why some people can't do certain yoga postures the same way as others - see Paul Grilley's "Anatomy for Yoga" DVD.

Downward Dog is recommended for:

for energising the body
Stretching the shoulders, hamstrings, calves, arches, and hands
Strengthening the arms and legs

Yoga Journal describes this 'Deepening of The Pose' as follows:

..."To increase the stretch in the backs of your legs, lift slightly up onto the balls of your feet, pulling your heels a half-inch or so away from the floor. Then draw your inner groins deep into the pelvis, lifting actively from the inner heels. Finally, from the height of the groins, lengthen the heels back onto the floor, moving the outer heels faster than the inner."...

A precedent for having the heels touch the floor can be found in the ancient 8th Century Tibetan Yantra Yoga as taught by the Master Chogyal Namkhai Norbu. On page 174 of his book "Yantra Yoga - The Tibetan Yoga of Movement" published by Snow Lion Publications - the text and the corresponding illustration instructs students "to place the heels on the floor."

Therefore I suggest you make a personal decision as to whether you want to stick to the pure original or 'deepen the stretch' as we do in the T5T® version of The Five Tibetan Rites.

During the 2nd part of the movement in the T5T® method, we avoid doing the posture on our tip toes (as illustrated in The Eye of Revelation) to avoid compression of the vertebrae and discs.

To Download "The Eye of Revelation" Free - Click Here

To Learn T5T - and get your chakras spinning more rapidly - Click Here

If you wish to publish this article on your website you may do so, provided that you assign copyright to the author exactly as written below: A pdf version is available on request.

2010-07-19T13:47:00.006+10:00

The Five Rites - Why We Don't Teach The 6th Rite

There are 3 reasons we at T5T: The Five Tibetans & Energy Breathing Program don't teach the 6th Rite

1. Celibacy

In the "The Eye of Revelation" published in 1939 (download free here) Colonel Bradford informs a group of men that he is teaching that there is one more Rite they can do if they really want to become 'supermen'.

..."These five Rites also make one appear more youthful; but if you really want to look and be young in every respect there is a Sixth Rite that you must practice. I have said nothing about it until now because it would have been useless to you without first having obtained good results from the other five.”

The Colonel then informed them that in order to go further with the aid of this Sixth Rite it would be necessary for them to lead a more or less continent (Abstaining from sexual intercourse; exercising restraint upon the sexual appetite; esp., abstaining from illicit sexual intercourse; chaste. [1913 Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary] ) life.

He suggested that they take a week to think the matter over and decide whether or not they desired to do so for the rest of their lives. Then those who wished to go on would be given Rite Number Six. There were but five who came back the next week, although according to the Colonel this was a better showing than he had experienced with any of his classes in India."...

It is important to remember that the monks who developed The Five Tibetan Rites were all male and in common with those pursuing a spiritual path; they practiced celibacy. Being celibate is not a choice many men would choose to make as Colonel Bradford himself acknowledged when he began to teach The Rites.

We have found in teaching the many thousands of people we have, that the Five Rites themselves are sufficient to obtain the great benefits mentioned by Colonel Bradford. Refer to our Testimonials to read some of them.

It is not that we don't think the 6th Rite is worthy - simply that there is insufficient demand for it.

2. 6th Rite and Tantra

From my experience, people attracted to the 6th Rite will either try it and see what happens - or carry out further research. They may seek out teachers or study traditional texts on Tantric practices to which the 6th Rite belongs.

..."The Tantric practitioner seeks to use the prana (divine power) that flows through the universe (including one's own body) to attain purposeful goals. These goals may be spiritual, material or both. Most practitioners of tantra consider mystical experience imperative. Some versions of Tantra require the guidance of a guru."...Wikipedia

The information about the 6th Rite in the "Eye of Revelation" - is very basic yet enticing. I believe those interested in the 6th Rite should undertake further research. Those choosing to study and follow a Tantric path require far greater information than that which is provided in this limited text.

In the process of working with energy, the tantric practitioner has various tools at hand: Yoga, visualizations, yantras, mantras, mudras, meditation, mind training, identification & internalization of deities, mandalas, feasts, purification achievements, initiations and more.

There is a persistent viewpoint that many of these practices should only be made available to advanced students - for concern that inexperienced practitioners may misuse or misunderstand them, adversely affecting their health or sanity.

..."Secrecy is a cornerstone of tantric Buddhism, simply to avoid harming oneself and others by practicing without proper guidance. It is not even allowed to explain the full symbolism and psychology of the practice to the uninitiated, which can easily lead to misunderstanding and dismissal by the uninitiated."...

..."H. H. XIV Dalai Lama (1999). The Heart of the Buddha's Path. Thorsons. pp. 100–101. ISBN 0-7225-3932-0. ..."What is required for a Tantric practitioner is to develop the capacity to utilize one's faculties of bliss and the blissful experiences which are specifically generated due to the flow of regenerative fluids within one's own energy channels. It is crucial to have the ability to protect oneself from the fault of emission."...Wikipedia

Colonel Bradford himself cautions "In The Eye of Revelation"

..."Please understand that in order to perform Rite Number Six it is absolutely necessary that a man have full masculine virility. He couldn’t possibly raise up and transmute procreative energy if there were little or none to transmute. It is absolutely impossible for an impotent man or the one with little virility to perform this Rite. He shouldn’t even attempt it, because it would only lead to discouragement, which might do him great harm. Instead he should first practice the other five Rites until he has full masculine power, and this regardless of how young or how old he may be. Then when the first “full bloom of youth” is experienced within him, he may then go on to the business of being a SUPERMAN."...

...“Again I say, let no man concern himself with the upturning of the sex currents until he is thoroughly satisfied in his own mind and heart that he truly desires to lead the life of the MYSTIC; then let him make the step forward, and success will crown his every effort."...

3. The 6th Rite Is One Of The Three Bandhas Known As "Uddiyana Bandha"

The bottom line is: I don't teach the 6th Rite because I feel it is important to let my students know more about 'spiritual energy' before they make the decision to practice this Rite or not.

There are actually three bandhas; mula, uddiayana (the 6th Rite) & jalandhara bandha. When practiced together they form the maha bandha. Bandhas are energy (prana) valves. They are practiced together or individually at specific times during yoga postures; breathing; visualisation; meditation and other yogic practices.

They direct the flow of prana throughout the body so that blockages are released and the corresponding areas nourished
Bind or 'lock' the prana to prevent dissipation from the body
Redirect prana in a healing and energising direction
Activate the 'energy body' of a person, bringing awareness to the mental, neurophysiological & energetic patterns behind the physical body

Uddiyana means flying upward energy lock. It moves energy upward, releasing stuck energy which flows into the heart centre opening the Vishnu Granthi (the knot of the heart). One of three knots (locks or obstacles) which when released allow the flow of kundalini up the central energy canal in the subtle body called the sushumna nadi. The sushumna nadi runs up the spinal column & connects the base chakra to the crown chakra.

There are 72,000 nadis or more in the body through which prana (the flow of consciousness) travels.

Kundalini relates to a reservoir of psychic energy coiled up like a snake at the base of the spine. When the Kundulini awakes we experience an expansion of consciousness & become aware of the Divine Truth. It brings with itself pure joy, knowledge and love.

A spiritual teacher is recommended to guide the aspirant in his/her understanding of spiritual energy as well as instructing them in careful strengthening & purification of the body & nervous systems beforehand. Negative experiences such as psychic disturbances, mental stability or even permanent mental damage can occur if proper guidance and advice is followed.

Colonel Bradford explains that the 6^th Rite

…”should only be practiced when one has an ‘excess of procreative energy; when there is a definite desire for expression. It can be done so easily that it can be performed anywhere at any time. When one feels the powerful reproductive urge, here is all that is necessary.’…

He says that repeating the complete sequence (breathing exercise) around three times is …“required to subdue a most powerful urge and to turn the powerful procreative or reproductive forces upward.’…

…“In the average virile man,” said the Colonel, “the life forces course downward, but in order to become a Superman they must be turned upward. This we call ‘The Newer Use of the Reproductive Energy’. Turning these powerful forces upward is a very simple matter, yet man has attempted it in many ways for centuries and in almost every instance has failed. Whole religious orders in the Occidental World have tried this very thing, but they, too, have failed because they have tried to master the procreative energy by suppressing it. There is only one way to master this powerful urge, and that is not by dissipating or suppressing it, but by TRANSMUTING it -- transmuting it and at the same time lifting it upward. In this way you really and truly have discovered not only the ‘Elixir of Life’, as the ancients called, it, but you have put it to use as well, which is something the ancients were seldom able to do.”…

As you can see this topic is quite vast and not one that we feel we can adequately address in a short amount of time! That's why we don't teach it. It is of course up to you whether you practice it or not, and there are those who do.

Why don't you write a post on this Blog and ask people to contribute comments, knowledge or actual experience?

To Download "The Eye of Revelation" Free - Click Here
To Learn T5T - and get your chakras spinning more rapidly - Click Here

If you wish to publish this article on your website you may do so, provided that you assign copyright to the author exactly as written below: A pdf version is available on request.

2009-05-14T11:54:00.005+10:00

Criticism of the Diet of The Five Tibetan Rites' Monks

In my last post I outlined the recommendations of the monks who developed The Five Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation. Similar to the dietary practice known as 'Food Combining'.

The following article basically negates food combining and is given to you not because I believe it - but simply to give the two opposing view points so you can assess for yourself (or do more research).

22 t h e s k e p t i c Vol 16, No 2
Food Combining
NUTRITION
Glenn Cardwell

The TV puppet characters Wallace and Grommet constructed a rocket to take themselves to the moon. The only provisions they took was a packet of crackers, for the moon is made of cheese. Stilton? Wensleydale? They couldn’t decide, but cheese it certainly was. I have never met anybody that believes the moon is made of cheese. The Australian Dairy Corporation discounted all ideas of moon-sourced cheddar once the NASA moon landings of the 1960s proved beyond doubt that the moon had no cheese-like properties, at least on the surface.

Why is it then that people believe in food combining, a concept based on a similar ancient fantasy that has been proven time and again to be false? We know so much about the digestive system that the idea of food combining has the same credibility as lunar Edam. I can only guess that espousing the value of food combining suggests you have superior nutrition knowledge based upon a platform belief that the current food supply and eating patterns are inherently evil. Frankly, I don’t know.

Food combining is based on the premise that protein and carbohydrate cannot be digested together and such a combination will putrefy or ferment inside the stomach causing severe fatigue. Dr Martin Rehfuss is one of many in the medical fraternity who has used facts to try and discredit the food combining myth. “There is no evidence either in the literature or in my investigation to lead me to believe that proteins and carbohydrates are incompatible in the stomach” he said in an address to the American Medical Association on 15 June 1934, over 60 years ago!

He was referring to his own research studies and others published in the previous 20 years demonstrating the complete digestion of foods in all combinations. “One of their dictums is the presumed incompatibility of proteins and carbohydrates, the presumption being that proteins require an acid medium for their digestion while carbohydrates require an alkaline medium”.

“A fact that has apparently escaped the proponents of the carbohydrate-alkaline theory is that no carbohydrates are ingested which are not followed by a direct acid response on the part of the stomach” said Rehfuss. We had a fair inkling that protein and carbohydrates were digested simultaneously way back in 1833 when US Army doctor William Beaumont published studies on his patient Alexis St Martin. In a hunting accident St Martin suffered a gunshot wound to the stomach.

Once he had healed he still had an opening, or fistula, right into his stomach. Beaumont took the opportunity to conduct 238 experiments, including some where he put a range of foods on a piece of string through the hole into St Martin’s stomach. He found that all foods, regardless of the protein and carbohydrate content, disappeared through digestion. Beaumont had learned more about digestion than some people were ever to learn 160 years later.

Typical of the early food combining zealots was William Howard Hay who graduated from the medical school of the University of the City of New York in 1891. In his book How to always be well he believed that the combination of foods eaten was very important for health.

He wrote “Any carbohydrate foods require alkaline conditions for their complete digestion, so must not be combined with acids of any kind, as sour fruits, because the acid will neutralise. Neither should these be combined with a protein of concentrated sort as these protein foods will excite too much hydrochloric acid during their stomach digestion”.

The Hay System promotes the practice of eating three meals per day with meal one being alkaline foods only, meal two protein foods with salads, vegetables and fruit, and meal three comprising starchy foods with salads, vegetables and sweet fruit. There should be an interval of 4.0 to 4.5 hours between each meal.

In the 1930s Hay opened a sanatorium called Hay-ven in Pennsylvania where patients could try his philosophy of not mixing proteins with carbohydrates. Hay can be excused for his theory as textbooks of the time were not always clear on digestion.

In 1935 Dr Stewart Baxter proved that the pancreatic enzymes for digestion of carbohydrates and protein are secreted simultaneously regardless of the type of food eaten. The theory of protein carbohydrate incompatibility was in shreds. Every textbook of physiology since has covered this basic knowledge of digestion. Many self-proclaimed nutrition gurus have ignored the facts and continued to use Hay’s ideas. As they say, don’t let facts ruin your income generating potential.

A knowledge of basic physiology and digestion is not a claim that can be made by food combiners Harvey and Marilyn Diamond, authors of Fit for Life. In recycling myths of the last century, they say that meat needs an acid juice while potato needs an alkaline juice and if you eat the two together they neutralise each other (p40). The protein then putrefies and the starch ferments. ‘Because there’s all this putrefaction, fermentation, and resulting acid, what actually is in the stomach at that time is a mass of spoiled, rotting, foul-smelling food’ say the Diamonds. That’s the mathematical equivalent of claiming 2+2=5.

Let’s stick to the facts (or 2+2=4). Every morsel of food you swallow has two choices. It can be either regurgitated (not pleasant) or it can go through the digestive system (a lot more fun). Most takes the latter route. The stomach is acidic because the acids help kill the nasty bacteria in food and begin the process of protein digestion. All food must experience the acidity of the stomach before reaching the intestines, just like you have to go through primary school before attending secondary school. Like, there’s no choice.

By far the majority of digestion happens in the small intestine. It is alkaline to neutralise the stomach acids and provide the best environment for all digestive enzymes, mainly from the pancreas, to fully digest all the food components: protein, fat and carbohydrate.

The acidity of the stomach and the alkalinity of the intestines is very closely controlled by the natural processes of the body and isn’t affected by the type of diet or the combination of foods eaten. Indeed, the acidity of the body (pH 7.4) is kept within tightly defined limits independent of the acidity of foods eaten. If it wasn’t you would become very sick, very quickly. (A woman in the US died of severe acidosis with a pH of 6.9, thought to be caused by Kombucha, a home-made yeast drink).

Even if we rely on just a little commonsense, the concept of food combining doesn’t stand up. If you couldn’t digest protein and carbohydrate together most of the world’s population would be in serious trouble. The world’s favourite food is rice, a delicious combination of protein and carbohydrate. The same goes for bread, pasta, baked beans, breakfast cereals, milk, yogurt and many vegetables. What would you eat if all these foods ‘fermented’ in your body?

The Diamonds suggest avoiding milk and yogurt altogether, yet make the ludicrous statement that “if a food is a natural protein starch combination (such as beans) is eaten alone, the body is capable of modifying its digestive juices and timing their secretions in such ways that digestion can go on with a fair degree of efficiency” (p43). Wow! Any explanation or proof offered? Nope.

A major reason humans have survived as a species is because they were able to eat, digest and absorb the nutrients from any edible food that came their way. There isn’t a single culture that based their eating habits on food combining. It is only in recent years where food has been in abundance that people have had the luxury to fantasise about what they eat. Those who are starving eat whatever’s available, with not a thought for food combining.

Lost in the quackery is that there are some food combinations that can be useful to the body. For example, eating a vitamin C containing food as part of your meals improves the absorption of iron. A good reason to include fruit or vegetables (raw or quickly cooked) with your meals. On the other hand drinking tea or coffee with meals can reduce iron absorption. The tannins in tea and coffee combine with the iron to make it very difficult to absorb. (I also find that a good shiraz combines wonderfully with almost any food).

Probably the best example of humans being able to digest protein and carbohydrate together happens at the start of life. Breast milk is a perfect blend of protein, carbohydrate and fat. No woman has been born with one breast labelled ‘protein’ and the other ‘carbohydrate'.

So, the next time someone tells you that meat and vegetables cannot be eaten together, give them a quick lesson in history and basic digestion. Of course, if they ride a horse and cart, use a kerosene lamp and are still awaiting the outcome of World War 1 then their thinking could be up-to-date.

References
Deutsch RM. The New Nuts Among the Berries. Bull Publishing 1977
Rehfuss ME. Proteins versus the carbohydrates. JAMA 1934; 103 (21): 1600-1605
Sherwood L. Human Physiology.2nd edition. West Pub1ishing Company 1993.
Diamond H, Diamond M. Fit for Life. Eden Paperbacks 1985
Baxter SG. The parallel concentration of enzymes in the pancreatic juice. American J Digestive Diseases & Nutrition 1935; 2: 108-111

2009-05-14T11:35:00.005+10:00

Diet for The Five Tibetans?

In 1939 Peter Kelder published his book ‘The Eye of Revelation” about the discovery of the monks who developed The Five Tibetan Rites. In this book he also revealed the health-giving diet secrets of the monks which is fairly similar to what we call “Food Combining” today.

Listed below are the main details of the monks’ diet:

The monks ate wholesome, good food in the following manner:

They were vegetarians but ate eggs, butter and cheese in sufficient quantities to 'serve certain functions of the brain, body and nervous system'. They had no need of meat, fish or fowl since they are strong and virile from practicing the Rites.
One of the secrets of health they describe is to only eat one type of food at a meal, to avoid clashing in the stomach. Sometimes Colonel Bradford ate a meal consisting only of bread. At others he had fresh fruits and vegetables, or just a feast of one vegetable. At first he missed the variety of foods to which he was accustomed but after a short while came to enjoy the benefits he gained from sharing their diet.
The monks said you should keep starches, fruits and vegetables separate from meats, fish and fowl.
Starches clash with proteins. If you eat bread (starch) with meats, egg or cheese (protein) a reaction is set up in the stomach which not only causes discomfort, but more importantly contributes to a shorter lifespan.
You could however have several kinds of meats to a meal. You can have butter, eggs and cheese with the meat meal, but nothing sweet or starchy - no cakes, puddings etc.
Alternatively you could have all starches together, bread, butter, pies, cakes, puddings, fruit and fresh and cooked vegetables.
Butter is neutral, it can be used with a starchy meal or with a meat meal. However milk mixes better with meat.
Coffee and tea should always be taken black
The Lamas never ate whole eggs unless they were involved in hard physical labor, in which case they might eat one, medium boiled. However they did eat lots of egg yolks, discarding the white part. They say that one should never eat the while part unless involved in hard manual labor as the egg whites are used only by the muscles. The egg yolks on the other hand are used by the brain, nerves, blood and tissues. They recommend eating them raw not during a meal, but before or after it!
You must eat slowly, chewing your food to almost a liquid before swallowing it. They said food must first be 'digested' in the mouth to obtain the full nourishment of the food.
By obtaining the full nourishment from the food, less food needs to be eaten overall.
Around the same time (1933) Dr William Howard Hay published a ground-breaking book, A New Health Era in which he maintains that all disease is caused by autotoxication (or "self-poisoning") due to acid accumulation in the body:

Now we depart from health in just the proportion to which we have allowed our alkalies to be dissipated by introduction of acid-forming food in too great amount... It may seem strange to say that all disease is the same thing, no matter what its myriad modes of expression, but it is verily so. William Howard Hay, M.D.

Dr William Howard Hay, creator of the Hay diet, was born in Hartstown, Pennsylvania, USA in 1866. He graduated from the University of New York in 1891, and practiced medicine for the next sixteen years.

He then became very ill, and was diagnosed as having Bright’s Disease, high blood pressure and a dilated heart, and thought his career was over. He decided to treat his symptoms himself by eating a healthy, natural diet, and after three months, he felt much improved, to the surprise of his doctors. His experience strengthened his belief that the medical establishment was approaching the treatment of disease in the wrong way; that it should be attempting to remove the cause of illness rather than treating the end-results of a condition.

By 1911, Dr Hay was convinced that he had discovered a successful treatment for diabetes. For the next four years, he treated his patients through diet, and successfully demonstrated that people could achieve optimum health with the correct diet, providing there was no irreversible organic change. He thus developed over the years the dietary system now known as the ‘Hay Diet’.

His assertion was that disease had one underlying cause: an incorrect chemical balance in the body, caused by the production and accumulation of acid end-products of digestion and metabolism, which the body is unable to eliminate. The result of this is a reduction in the body’s alkaline reserve, which causes a breakdown in good health. He maintained that there were four main causes of this accumulation of acid end-products: over consumption of meat; over-consumption of refined carbohydrates, e.g., white flour and refined sugar; ignorance of the laws of chemistry in respect of the digestion of foods; and constipation. He taught his patients that, although people could build up a tolerance of incompatible foods, they did so at the expense of the body’s vitality. He also taught the importance of daily baths, exercise, fresh air, rest, and sunshine.

Despite Dr Hay’s enormously successful treatment of many seriously ill patients with his system, it was criticized vehemently by the medical establishment, which, at that time, was focused on the germ theory of disease, and the increasing use of drug treatment. However, he defended his system courageously, continuing to treat patients, and lecture, until his death in 1940.

The Hay Diet, also known as ‘food combining’, consists of five basic rules:

Do not eat carbohydrates with proteins and acid fruits at the same meal.
Eat vegetables, salads and fruits as the main part of your diet.
Eat proteins, starches and fats in small quantities.
Eat only whole grain and unprocessed starches, excluding refined, processed foods such as white flour, white sugar, and margarine.
Allow an interval of at least four to four and a half hours between meals of different types.
The above information about Dr Hay and his diet is from http://www.vitaminuk.com

In my next post you can read an interesting article on Food Combining written in “The Skeptic” Magazine Vol 16, No 2 in which the work of Dr Hay and others are basically trashed! I thought you’d find the two opposing views as interesting as I did.

2008-10-14T09:50:00.004+11:00

Five Tibetans - Student, Teacher & Master Trainer Workshops In Feb/March 09

Expert Teacher - Carolinda Witt (Founder & Developer of T5T - the abbreviation for her safer & supercharged version of The Five Tibetan Rites) is running the following training programs:

T5T Student Workshop
T5T Instructor Training Workshop
T5T Master Trainer Program

Due to the growth of T5T into other countries, and over the internet, I find I am unable to offer as many teacher and student trainings as I would like to.

I have therefore decided to train a select bunch of Master Trainers who will be training our future T5T Instructors in Australia, NZ, Canada, USA and even in China and Europe! This way I can focus on growing the business through the internet and media as well as developing new products and trainings.

We always run a student workshop in the middle of our teacher training programs, and the last one I am possibly running in Australia is in central Sydney on Sunday 1st March 09. I realize it is a long way off, but perhaps that might suit you?

Since the workshop is part of our Teacher Training and Master Trainers program, I am able to offer it to you at a very favorable price - $155 instead of ~~$245~~!

Sunday 1st March
Start: 9am
Finish: 4.30pm

This price includes your 176 page T5T book (T5T: The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites - Penguin) & Companion CD. If you want to bring a friend, I will give you a free DVD.

You will need to let me know by Monday 27th October if you wish to attend as there are very limited places. You will also need to secure your place with a non-refundable deposit of $50. The venue is likely to be in Crows Nest, North Sydney which is easily accessible by bus, train, etc - and car parking is available on-site.

Instructor Training Program

4 Day Program + Practical Test (1.5 hours)

Dates:
Sat Feb 28th
Sun 1st March
Mon 2nd March
Tues 3rd March

For more information please contact Carolinda directly info@T5T.com

2008-09-19T09:15:00.001+10:00

The Five Tibetan Rites - Free Poster

You are welcome to circulate or give-away this poster that I designed.

I call my version of The Five Tibetan Rites "T5T". This is because I have modified them whilst retaining the integrity of the original version. I have taught thousands of students to do the Rites and many teachers. Here are the differences between the original version and T5T (in brief).

The addition of core stability to each of the Rites. This ensures that the complete spinal colomn is protected and stabilised like the guidewires of a tent. Core stability protects the spine from injury, prevents incontinence, tones the reproductive muscles.
A much bigger focus on breathing. The original Rites just say "Take a Few Deep Breaths". How well you breathe is literally an indication of your lifespan. T5T teaches people how and where to breathe to get the best results. It expands your breathing capacity, removes tension from your breathing, and slows your breathing rate.
A step-by-step strength and flexibility build-up process. Strength is developed from the inside out - so you are not like a 'soft centered chocolate' (metaphor by Susie Lapin, Physiotherapist). Prevents injury or strain and super charges your benefits.
Modifications to prevent collapsing the discs and vertebrae of the spine and neck. Some of the movements are contraindicated for people with a previous injury or natural degeneration. Prevents injury and strain.
All the common problems and solutions so just about anyone can do them.
The use of Affirmations to empower the natural movements
Ascribing each movement to one of the five elements
Modern names that describe the movements rather than No 1, No 2 etc.

I wish you happy spinning and full, natural, deep breath.

Carolinda

2008-08-28T12:46:00.012+10:00

BREATHING WITH THE FIVE TIBETANS - HOW GOOD IS YOUR BREATHING?

In developing T5T (The Five Tibetans & Energy Breathing Program) I was very mindful of the importance that breathing plays in maintaining health and extending life. I was also aware that the original version of the Rites is very basic in its explanation on breathing, saying just 'Take a Few Deep Breaths'.

I therefore consulted a colleague; world renowned breathing expert Michael Grant White to help me develop the breathing philosophy and exercises in T5T. The result was "Energy Breathing" - a variation of the ‘three-part breath.' Energy Breathing expands your breathing capacity, slows down your breathing rate, raises energy in the body and calms your mind.

Mike has a series of breathing tests on his website that you can take for FREE. Over 40,000 people have taken these tests. Now is your chance to find out how well you breathe. Click on this link FREE BREATHING TESTS

He also has a free downloadable E Book on breathing which is incredibly informative and thought provoking.

Poor breathing patterns can seriously affect your physical health as well as your mental and emotional well being.

With a high percentage of raw foods the respiratory system is responsible for eliminating approximately 70% of your metabolic waste. The remainder should be eliminated through defecation 3%, urination 8% and perspiration 19%. So, if you think that going to the bathroom every day is important, or that of working up a sweat now and then is healthy - think again about the value of full free optimal breathing!

To get the most out of any type of healing work and more importantly life - developing optimal breathing habits is one of the most valuable things you can do.

There is more to breathing than just sucking in air once in a while. Click on the banner below and do the breathing tests for FREE.

I wish you all a full, deep, slow, easy breath!

Carolinda

2008-02-01T10:09:00.000+11:00

The Five Tibetan Rites Teacher Trainers Needed

We are looking for people who want to train others how to become teachers in the T5T method of doing the original Rites.

The T5T method is safer than the original version as it has been modified to suit anyone. The original method has some contra-indications for those with previous injury, degeneration, muscle weakness, poor body awareness, largely sedentary or unfit, overweight etc.

T5T has been developed in consultation with physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, occupational health, Pilates & Feldenkrais Practitioners. It also focuses on improving breathing since a number of clinical studies have shown that how well you breathe, literally dictates your lifespan.

You will need to have marketing/business development skills as well as a background in yoga, Pilates or fitness training.

If you want to know more, please see www.T5T.com or contact teachertraining@T5T.com

2007-09-05T16:32:00.001+10:00

The Five Tibetans on SKY TV Health News

The interview is too large for one You Tube video and has been divided into 4 sections. The interview runs in order from top video to bottom video.

2007-09-04T10:44:00.003+10:00

Are The Five Tibetan Rites Suitable For You?

The Five Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation have become a well-known anti-aging, health & fitness routine. Discovered in a remote Himalayan Monastery during the 1930’s by retired British Army Officer Colonel Bradford; they were introduced to the West in a book by Peter Kelder called The Eye of Revelation.

This unique sequence of 5 yoga movements was developed by the monks to slow down aging, increase energy, calm the mind and remain physically active and healthy well into old age. They take around 10 minutes per day to practice.

Click here to Download your Free T5T: The Five Tibetan Rites Poster

Many benefits are attributed to the Rites, such as improved energy, increased mental clarity, reduced stress, anti-aging etc. However due to exaggeration or oversimplification of the benefits of the Rites on the internet - designed to entice buyers to purchase downloadable e-booklets - the credibility of the Rites has come under question. This is unnecessary, because once armed with a dose of reality; The Five Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation are genuinely beneficial, and fit easily into daily life. I and thousands of other practitioners would certainly never stop doing them. To find out the truth about what benefits you can realistically expect read The Five Tibetans - What's Real & What Isn't?

Once you have read what you are likely to achieve from practicing the Rites, the next question to ask yourself, is "which method of learning the Rites should I adopt?"

The following questions, points and tips will help you assess what approach to learning The Five Tibetan Rites is best suited to you individually. If you have any doubts, or are beginning a new exercise program - you should consult your doctor.

About You?

Have you ever done yoga before? What is your current state of fitness? How stiff are you? Are you overweight? Have you ever had a back injury or experienced back or neck pain? Do you have weak wrists or other muscular weaknesses?

Have You Done Yoga Before, or Are You Reasonably Fit?

Is core stability part of your workout? Do you know how to establish and maintain neutral spine and neutral pelvis, whilst keeping your head and neck in line with your spine?

How good is your breathing?

Apart from being good at pranayama, do you know what natural, full breathing should feel like? Are all your breathing spaces able to open fully? Do you have tension in your breathing? How are your stress levels? Do you find yourself breathing rapidly in the upper chest, holding your breath, yawning or sighing? Carry out the Breathing Tests on T5T's breathing consultant and expert Michael Grant White's website, to assess yourself correctly.

What You Need to Know Before Beginning The Rites

Because of the Rites historic reputation for anti-aging, many marketers naturally target people who have noticed the first signs of aging and want to do something about it. This group is highly motivated to ‘stop-the-clock’ and are very susceptible to claims that this product, or that service, that will halt their physical and/or mental decline. This is however, the very group of people who need to pursue any form of new exercise with safety and caution.

In the opinion of myself and the many health practitioners I have consulted - the limited information/descriptions on how to do the Rites contained in one or two page articles or slim little downloadable booklets is NOT the way for this group of people (or indeed most other groups) to learn the Rites. Peter Kelder's original book "The Eye of Revelation" is a great read (which I recommend) about the story of the discovery of the Rites; but it is not a good teaching aid. The instructions and illustrations are very limited, and some of the movements are performed in ways that are contradicted today for anyone but the long-term and regular yoga practitioner (and even they would probably modify the parts that compress the spine). Here's why:

As we get older, it is a natural part of life, that we will experience varying degrees of degeneration of the spine, discs and joints of the body. This includes, calcification, bone spurs, arthritis, wearing down of the discs plus general wear and tear. In the original instructions contained in the booklet The Eye of Revelation, you are told to "throw your head back as far as it will go" - "allow your body to come slowly down into a 'sagging' position" and to "lean backwards as far as possible"

However if you follow these instructions to the letter, you are going to compress the discs and vertebrae of the spine which is generally contraindicated for the reasons mentioned above. I used to teach workshops using the original version of the Rites from Peter Kelder's instructions, and soon noticed a similar percentage of people developing back or neck ache.

I consulted physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, occupational health and other health practitioners to develop 'T5T' (my abbreviation for The Five Tibetans) which is a much safer and easier way to learn and practice the Rites both short and long-term. The integrity of the original movements remains intact, and the problems of the past have been almost totally eradicated.

It is worth remembering that the monks who developed the Rites would most likely have done these movements from a very young age. In addition, their lifestyle was much more menial than that of our modern western largely sedentary one. I took this into account when developing T5T.

In T5T you are taught how to prevent compression and strain etc. You are taught how to move correctly; how to align your body; how to build a strong foundation, have control of the movement, and to protect your spine. You are also taught the common problems and solutions to each move, which makes it much easier for you to practice correctly. Only the T5T method of learning the Rites teaches you this.

Most people have experienced back or neck pain at some stage in their lives. Unless they have completely rehabilitated the site of the injury through exercise and the application of various therapies - there is going to be some degree of weakness in the muscles, tendons, ligaments of the spinal column. To protect the spine, T5T has introduced the use of core stability training whilst you perform the Rites.

Core stability means to activate the deepest core muscles closest to the spine, which stabilize and protect it during movement. Core stability muscles when activated CORRECTLY, act like a natural corset or weight belt. Core stability is not a feature of any of the earlier version of the Rites: However through ultrasound experiments:

"Results suggest that the central nervous system deals with stabilization of the spine by contracting the multifidus and abdominal muscles before any limb movement. In other words, when you even just think of moving - the abdominal and multifidus muscles contract. They are the first muscles to contract even before the arms and the legs.” Hodges PW; Richardson CA SOURCE: Phys Therapy 1997 Feb; 77(2):132-42; discussion 142-4

What’s Involved in Learning The Rites?

The Five Tibetan Rites are a sequence of 5 movements, each repeated 21 times each. In my version (T5T) a breathing exercise called Energy Breathing is carried out between each Rite to further increase vitality and maintain health. A number of clinical studies have shown, that how well you breathe literally dictates your lifespan. The whole T5T routine takes around 10 mins per day on average.

Colonel Bradford and I both recommend that when you begin learning, you carry out just 3 repetitions of each Rite per day for the first week. Then you simply add just two more repetitions per week, until by 10 weeks, you are carrying out the required 21 repetitions of each Rite.

To get this into perspective, let’s do some maths! If you do your 21 repetitions per posture every day for one whole year, you will have carried out 7665 repetitions of each posture – or 38,325 for all five Rites. Can you see how very important correct alignment, posture, control, balance and the development of core strength is? Once again, only the T5T version contains this sort of information in depth.

Now I don’t want you to get frightened about the Rites, because they are absolutely wonderful, and people from 12 to 80 + practice them all over the world. However I do want you to benefit from the knowledge and experience I have (and share with you below), so that you can make the best choices for yourself.

Note: The information in dark red below is what we teach in T5T. 'T5T' is used to identify the modified system of the Rites that I developed in consultation with other health practitioners - and is not covered in any of the original texts on The Five Rites.

Do any of the following apply to you?

Muscle imbalances, muscle weaknesses? Yes? T5T teaches you what to look out for, and how to measure your alignment. Otherwise all you will do is compound your imbalances eventually leading to injury or strain
Poor postural habits, sitting, lying, standing, moving and slouching: Rounded shoulders, or one higher than the other etc? Yes? T5T teaches you how to determine what is good posture, what bad posture is and how to maintain good posture throughout all stages of the movements. Another very important point - T5T teaches you how NOT to perform the movements
Wrist weakness or inflexibility? Do you find it a bit of a struggle to unscrew jars/bottles etc? Yes? T5T teaches you how to build up your wrist strength & flexibility - and what adaptation or modification you can use in the meantime.
Are you overweight? Yes? T5T teaches you specific adaptations and steps to make the postures achievable, and to avoid any potential for strain & injury.
Largely sedentary? Are you at a point, where you think you had better 'do' something now, before it is too late? Yes? T5T teaches you the Rites in a step-by-step progression, with alternatives to those who need additional support and strength development. You will gain strength from the inside out rather than being what Susie Lapin, Physiotherapist calls "a soft centered chocolate".
There is no 'One size fits all' body. Some people have long arms, some short arms, some longer legs. All these variations have an impact on the way the Rites need to be performed. T5T teaches you what to do, and how to know when you have found your center of gravity, where your movement is most stable and pleasurable to perform.
What are the common problems and the solutions to any problems? For example what do you do if you can't kneel on the floor? Or what solutions are there if you experience dizziness or nausea in the very early stages of learning the Rites? This information is comprehensively covered by T5T from observing the experiences of literally hundreds of students.
How good is your breathing? As we age our breathing capacity reduces. Like any muscle, unless you use it you lose it. In one study, researchers measured the forced exhalation rate of people in nursing homes and found they could accurately predict which people would live the longest. In the original texts on The Five Tibetan Rites it merely says, "Take deep breaths". Most people take breathing for granted and have actually no idea how to breathe correctly – "I'm alive aren’t I"? Telling people with limited knowledge how to breathe deeply is not sufficient. They need to learn how to breathe from the belly, ribs, back, sides, collarbones. Most people think breathing is an up and down motion only, which is incorrect. T5T's breathing method "Energy Breathing" once learnt helps expand your breathing capacity, slow down your breathing rate and improve vitality in your entire body/mind.

So, now you’ve read all this – what do you do next?

I recommend you read the original story of the discovery of the Rites which describes their unique history in the language of the time. Online e-booklets cost USD $19.95, but you can also purchase the legitimate printed version from the publishers, Borderlands Science directly, which costs USD $5.95. The booklet contains 30 pages and 9 illustrations.

What about T5T?

T5T contains all the modifications, adaptations, common problems & solutions that have been tried and tested over thousands of students, through workshops, books, DVD etc. It is a modified version of the Rites that includes a step-by-step strength development system that incorporates core stability, and breathing. The T5T Books contain 176 pages and 202 photographs.

Becoming an Instructor.

Consider becoming a Registered T5T Instructor, so you can also help others improve their health and vitality.

What other learning choices are there

Find a yoga teacher who has trained in core stability, neutral spine etc
Find a Pilates teacher and run through the routine with her/him
Learn about all the books that are available on the Rites by reading my Blog post, Learning the Five Tibetans From Books

If you wish to publish this article on your website, you may do so provided that you assign copyright to the author, exactly as written below.

2007-08-27T14:47:00.006+10:00

The Five Tibetans - What's Real & What Isn't?

Claims for the benefits of performing the Rites have proliferated over the web, becoming increasingly exaggerated to a point where they have been made to sound like a 'miracle cure' – an ancient, secret snake oil medicine!

People are led to believe that the Rites will completely halt their aging, help them lose enormous amounts of weight; fix their cancer, heart disease, fibroid cysts, and numerous other serious health conditions. Their expectations are often set way too high, and they are bound to be disappointed. This is regrettable, as it steers people away from this truly beneficial routine which takes such a short amount of time per day.

This article is an attempt to restore credibility to the Rites by helping people gain realistic expectations, of what they might achieve from performing this powerful rejuvenation method.

A simple search on the web will show numerous sites offering downloadable e-booklets on The Five Tibetan Rites for around US$19.95 up to $39.95. These booklets are copies of the original book that introduced the Rites to the West during the late 1930's. Titled, The Eye of Revelation by Peter Kelder it outlines the story of the discovery of the monks in Tibet by his friend; retired British Army Officer, Colonel Bradford. According to one of his publishers Peter Kelder is still alive; albeit very old - and therefore the copyright on his book does not expire for another 50 years.

Since the selling of these booklets is purely a commercial enterprise; invariably there will be some internet marketers who exaggerate the benefits of the Rites, in order to entice buyers to purchase this product. Whilst this proliferation of marketers' offering the same booklet increases the visibility of the Rites, which is beneficial; I feel it is important to add a dose of reality to the whole subject.

If you are thinking of learning the Rites; good for you. However you might want to bear in mind that nearly everyone selling these booklets has never actually physically taught anyone. "So what", you might say: I'm coming to that...

So what gives me the right to comment? After all I also benefit commercially from selling T5T (my abbreviation for The Five Tibetan Rites) merchandise, workshops and teacher training. I'll be brief: My background is in teaching the Rites to thousands of people over the last 6 years. I’ve had two books on the Rites published, T5T: The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites (Penguin) and The 10-Minute Rejuvenation Plan (Random House). I’ve taught numerous workshops to hundreds of students; trained 32 instructors, filmed a DVD and made an audio CD.

So What are the Exaggerations, Non Truths or Over-Simplifications Claimed for the Benefits of the Rites?

Here are some examples I have found on the internet:

You can remove your wrinkles, a secret cosmetic surgeons don’t want you to learn. Absolute rubbish I’m sad to say!

Restores your natural hair color. In all the many hundreds of people I have taught only ONE said he ‘thought” his sideburns were going darker.

Guaranteed – you will look a shocking 30 years younger! Will turn you back to being 25 years old all over again! Imagine getting back the face, hair, strength and vitality you had at 25 years old! If this was true, it would be on the main news! The extra life-energy (Qi, prana) flowing through your body from doing the Rites definitely gives you a healthier and more vital look – but NO way do you become young again sadly.

Will correct your eyesight. In my experience, no-one yet has flung off their glasses saying, “I can see, I can see". There is a slight difference in your vision immediately after you have done the Rites, with a mild improvement overall. They certainly do not ‘fix’ eyesight problems.

Virtually anyone can perform them at any age, right up to 100 years old or more! The person who wrote this comment is a copywriter, NOT a teacher of the Rites! When I began teaching the Rites I used the original version as described in Peter Kelder’s books. In every workshop I noticed a pattern of lower back and neck pain occurring in a similar percentage of people. So I took the routine to physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, occupation health, Feldenkrais and Pilates Instructors to find ways of making them safer, and simpler for just about anyone to do. The result is T5T which incorporates core stability to protect the spinal column, as well as ways of moving that do not compress the discs and vertebrae of the spine. The problems of the past have been totally eradicated by this step-by-step process. I also consulted a well-known breathing expert as I felt breathing was very scantily addressed in Kelder’s books. A number of clinical studies have proven that how well you breathe literally dictates your lifespan. With the T5T method of doing the Rites, your breathing capacity is increased and your breathing rate is slowed. To find out if the Rites are for you or what to watch out for when you begin learning, see my article “Are The Five Tibetan Rites Suitable For You?’

Your energy levels become turbo-charged! There is no doubt that this is one of the principal benefits of the Rites. However most people will read this and think they can go out and run a marathon. Not everyone gets the super-charged variety. Most people get an obvious endurance type of energy as opposed to the six cups of coffee effect inferred by the use of the word turbo-charged! Unlike caffeine energy, the energy derived from the Rites is enduring (unless you stop doing them).

Martin Sheen the actor and John Gray from Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus credit the Rites for their youthful looks. This is not what they say at all! The quotes attributed to both of them on the Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth book covers, mention nothing about them "personally looking younger" because of the Rites. Incidentally, John Gray kindly reviewed my book project (and provided a personal quote) and noted the amendments I had made to the Rites. He told me that he too had modified the Rites to make them safer and easier for people to perform.

Every copy of the book was lost, until one was found recently. Completely untrue! The publishers say (on the Fountain of Youth No 2 book cover) they have sold over 2 million copies of the later version of the book. Borderland Sciences have been publishing the original book “The Eye of Revelation” for years and at a fraction of the cost $5.95 versus the $19.95 up to $39.95 that people are charging on the internet. It’s a great story by the way and well worth reading. It is not a great teaching aid though as the instructions and illustrations are extremely limited, and for the reasons mentioned above.

So, What Are The Real Benefits?

There has been no clinical research done on the Five Rites. Although there have been numerous studies done on yoga, from which the Rites are developed. Some of the Rite’s movements are well-known yoga postures; however these 5 movements are performed in a specific sequence with some unique adaptations. The Spin (1st Rite) for example is not part of any other yoga and is unique to the Five Rites. The only 'research' that has been done if you like, is by the millions of people (the publisher of the Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth claims 2 million copies of this book have been sold) who have practiced the Rites.

Other notable research is from Five Tibetan teachers, or yoga teachers who teach them to their students. I cannot speak for the others but here is a list of the benefits you can expect. This knowledge comes from the direct teaching experience of myself and my instructors in teaching the many hundreds of students who attended our workshops or received private tuition. We compiled this information from our workshop/private tuition feedback forms, correspondence, discussions, testimonials and completed questionnaires:

Since I have modified the Rites (without affecting their integrity) to make them safer and easier to perform; the list below relates to T5T (my abbreviation for The Five Tibetans).

Most people experience varying degrees of one or more of the following benefits:

A significant increase in energy - more the endurance type of energy as opposed to the revved up caffeine type of energy. You feel like you can keep going and going.
Feel calmer and less stressed – your buttons simply don’t get pushed as easily anymore.
Develop significant mental clarity with a razor sharp focus.
Feel stronger, more flexible and less stiff
Enjoy seeing muscles appear on your arms, stomachs, hips, legs and backs. Good for toning flabby arms and tightening the abdomen
Sleep better. Some people have more vivid dreams
Overall improvement in your health, don’t seem to catch colds etc as often
Helps with depression and anxiety - lifts mood and improves well-being
More centered and at peace
Improved self discipline and sense of purpose
Feel younger and more powerful
Improved breathing - deeper, slower & more conscious
Increased levels of Qi (chi, ki, prana, life-energy)
Better posture
Develops good core strength, which provides a strong foundation for any other form of exercise or modern living
Some people lose weight, most find it easier to control weight and desire healthier foods
Improved digestion and elimination
Helps with the transition and symptoms of menopause
Helps with the symptoms of menstruation
Improved libido

There are many individual cases of people receiving improvement to their health conditions. This does not indicate that everyone who has this condition will experience the same benefit. It also does not allow for the influence of other factors that may also have contributed to the improvement in their condition. Please see the Testimonials on my website that detail these personal experiences (full name's given).

I hope this information has helped you. If you are already doing the Rites and would like some tips on maintaining a long-term practice and interest - please read my article “Getting the Most Out of The Five Tibetans”

If you would like to really boost their effects I highly recommend you include core stability training with the Rites, and learn how to breathe correctly (both during and between each movement). If you do not have someone who can teach you this, I recommend you purchase my Book or my DVD which covers both subjects in great depth. In the T5T method, both these subjects have been tailor-made by myself and other health professionals, to fit and maximize your practice of the Rites.

If you are or have already practiced the Rites and are disappointed that your expectations have not been met, please read my blog post “The Five Tibetans - Not Getting the Benefits You Expected?" It includes comments from myself and others, offering suggestions to enhance your practice so you can obtain further benefits.

Finally, if you are considering learning the Rites for the first time, including those of you who are experienced yoga, or fitness practitioners; please read my article “Are The Five Tibetan Rites Suitable For You?

If you wish to publish this article on your website you may do so, provided you assign copyright to the author exactly as written below. Copyright (c) 2007 Carolinda Witt - author “T5T: The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites" and "The 10-Minute Rejuvenation Plan"

2007-08-27T09:08:00.002+10:00

The Five Tibetan Rites - Is There a Link to the Whirling Dervishes?

It would be natural to assume a link between the whirling described in Rite # 1 of The Five Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation, and the Whirling Dervishes - founded by the great philosopher and writer Rumi in the 13th Century. However, from the evidence I have found below, there is no connection.

Some practitioners and teachers of the Five Tibetan Rites have adopted some of the movements from the Sema (the Dervishes religious ceremony - such as spinning anti-clockwise and holding one palm facing upwards and one pointing downwards. However as you shall read below, this is purely a modern adaptation, and has no historical connection.

Although they both spin, the First Rite and the Sema (a religious ceremony) have different outcomes and vary significantly in technique. The Dervishes spin to induce a trance-like ecstatic state, whereas the Tibetan 1st Rite is performed to stimulate the vortexes into action.

The sema is the inspiration of Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi (1207- 1273) as well as of Turkish custom, history, beliefs and culture. It is part of a sacred ceremony in which the dervish rotates in a precise rhythm. Whilst whirling, the dervish aims to empty himself of all distracting thoughts. As he enters into a trance, he is released from his bodily awareness and conquers his dizziness. Dervishes believe that their souls are released from earthly ties, able to freely and jubilantly communicate with the divine.

Dervish literally means "doorway" and is thought to be an entrance from this material world to the spiritual, heavenly world. In the past the Turkish Sultans would often consult the Dervishes for guidance. They believed that the dervish was in prayer and that the spinning created a hypnotic and relaxing affect which opened his body to receive the energy of God.In the Tibetan First Rite, both palms are facing downwards towards the floor. The Dervishes however, place their right palm upwards to receive the power of the heavens, and their left palm turned downwards to direct this energy into the earth. They see themselves as the conduit of God’s power and do not try to hold onto or direct that power.

Extract from the official website of Rumi's family:

While whirling his arms are open, his right hand directed to the skies ready to receive God's beneficence, looking to his left hand turned toward the earth, he turn from right to left around the heart. This is his way of conveying God's spiritual gift to the people upon whom he looks with the eyes of God. Revolving around the heart, from right to left, he embraces all the mankind, all the creation with affection and love.

In Peter Kelder's books whereupon he outlines Colonel Bradford's direct teachings from the Lamas in the Tibetan Monastery, he mentions Bradford's discussion regarding the Dervishes as follows:

When I spoke to one of the Lamas about this, he informed me that while this whirling movement of the Dervishes did have a very beneficial effect, it also had a devastating one. It seems that a long siege of whirling stimulates into great activity Vortexes (Chakras) A, B and E. These three have a stimulating effect on the other two - c & D. But due to excessive leg action the Vortexes in the knees - F & G - are over-stimulated and finally so exhausted that the building up of the Vital Forces along with this tearing down causes the participants to experience a kind of 'psychic jag' which they mistake for something spiritual or at least religious.

However, continued the Colonel, we do not carry the whirling exercise to excess. While the Whirling Dervishes may spin around hundreds of times, we find that greater benefit is obtained by restricting it to about a dozen or so times, enough so that Rite Number One (The Spin) can stimulate all the Vortexes to action.

Another variation is that Bradford tells us to spin clockwise whereas the Sema is performed anti-clockwise. For more information on whether we should spin clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and anti-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere - see my article which gives you the correct information.

The true origins of the spin we can only speculate about. Spinning is so natural it almost certainly evolved from the careful observation of natural laws.

You can see evidence of spinning everywhere. The Earth spins around the sun and when viewed from space is covered in spiraling cloud formations, similar in shape to that of our galaxy. Your own body contains numerous spirals, from your DNA to the unique swirls on the tips of your fingers. Time-lapse photography enables you to see that sprouting seeds don’t shoot upwards as was previously thought. They germinate in a spiral.

The Ancients, have long taught that the universe is full of spinning vortexes, through which the energy of the universe enters and vitalizes your body and all other things. Some ancient cultures believed that the Earth’s energy gathers into vortexes, and in those places they built churches, temples and other places of worship and learning. Some people believe that the extraordinary structures of Stonehenge, the Pyramids and the giant stone monoliths of Easter Island represent places where the Ancients believed ‘special energies’ gathered.

Whatever the explanation for the Spin (1st Tibetan Rite) it does seem reasonable to think that there may be some universal significance in terms of connecting spinning with energy generation and dispersal.

The vortex form is integral to the universe. It’s a constant that recurs throughout all life. Through the revolving of the neutrons, protons and electrons of the atoms that form our basic structure, everything takes part in this revolving.

"The sky is round, and I have heard the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind in its greatest power whirls. Birds make their nest in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours.

The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves…" Black Elk, Sioux Holy Man

If you wish to publish this article on your website, you may do so provided that you assign copyright to the author, exactly as written below:

2007-07-03T11:59:00.002+10:00

The Five Tibetans Teacher Training Program

JUST LAUNCHED
DISTANCE/ONLINE INSTRUCTOR TRAINING PROGRAM

Finally a way to learn how to teach T5T® (The Five Tibetan Rites and Energy Breathing Program) that:

You can do at your own time and pace.
You don’t have to take time off work – just do it when it suits you.
Is less expensive than an on-site training - no travel, accommodation, venue or transportation costs involved

You learn how to teach T5T® to:

Private individuals
Small groups
Public workshops
Corporate training

Would you like to?

Have an additional source of income?
Earn money from something that keeps you fit, healthy & happy?
Help yourself and help others change their lives to the positive?
Add a complimentary skill to your existing qualifications?
Appear on the www.T5T.com website as a Registered T5T® Instructor?
Be part of a recognised brand? Share in the marketing & promotional efforts of T5T®?

What Does it Include?

It's easy for you to get your business up and running straight away. You don’t need to create your own brochures, advertisements, business cards etc, as they have already been attractively designed for you to simply personalise and print.

The T5T Business Manual

Every form you need to run the business immediately is provided: How to promote & market yourself; press releases for media; advertising and ready made adverts; prize winner letter; practitioner specials; testimonials etc. Handling objections; phone call inquiry script; enrolment form; indemnity form; workshop roll sheet; promissory note (for those who have to pay by payment plan); feedback form; health providers information pack (for those who need to check with their doctors); tuition rate card; poster for the door of venue; workshop check lists; stationary; letterhead; logo; price list of T5T merchandise; student certificate and much more.

The T5T Teaching Manual
Makes it so achievable for you to begin teaching T5T; almost immediately. The entire T5T workshop is written out for you to follow - in a bullet point format and an in-depth format. You use the bullet point version to follow along with during class so you don’t lose your place, and the in-depth version to study, practice and fine-tune your instructing skills. Naturally you will want to bring your own experience, stories and expression to the workshop, but the hard work has all been done for you (& tried and tested by over 800 people and 27 Instructors). Every student gets a copy of the T5T book, CD & Poster as part of their fee, so you can be sure that everything gets covered.

T5T Book (176 pages & 204 photos)
T5T: The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites (Penguin, Australia & New Zealand) or the

version The 10-Minute Rejuvenation Plan (Random House)

Companion T5T DVD
Filmed in both studio and outside locations. This makes if very easy for you to accurately learn the postures and breathing.

Companion audio T5T CD
Simply turn it on and follow the instructions. It helps you memorize all the fine points. It also contains the three T5T relaxation/visualisation exercises centered on breathing, which include the natural sounds of nature as well as enriching music.

T5T Poster
With the 5 Rites on the one side and the warm-ups on the other

Two Books for the Book Reports.

The Eye of Revelation by Peter Kelder which tells the original story of The Five Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation.
Free Your Breath, Free Your Life by Dennis Lewis which illustrates the natural full breathing philosophy of T5T

Paul Grilley’s DVD – Anatomy for Yoga
Which makes it so clear why some people can do certain postures and others can’t. Paul uses yoga teachers to show the difference between muscular tension or bone or soft tissue compression. This will explain why some people can do a perfect downward dog and others can’t!

On the completion of your training:

You become a Registered T5T® Instructor
You are licenced to teach T5T® to anyone with the exception of teaching other T5T Teachers.
You receive a professional Certificate (see picture above) recognising you as a Registered T5T® Instructor.
All workshop materials and merchandise are made available to you at wholesale prices.
You receive a personal User Login and Password to enter your personal information, workshops and private testimonials on the www.T5T.com website.
You share in the recognition, marketing, media and purchasing benefits of the T5T brand

Your Next Step if Interested

If interested please complete an Expression of Interest Form.

Upon receipt of this form you will be sent a Payment Form which gives details of the payment plan options.

Bratislav Petrovic - Yoga Teacher - Melbourne, Australia - I did the T5T instructor training in Melbourne at the beginning of February 06. The training was so detailed, practical and very informative. Even though I have been doing and teaching yoga for more than 10 years I learnt a lot from Carolinda about the 5 Rites. The training was so detailed that I feel confident that I could start teaching T5T immediately. Carolinda was so dedicated to teaching us every detail about T5T. We were given excellent notes to take with us.

The business part of the manual is so good and we don't need to spend any time for preparation the necessary documentation for teaching. It is specifically useful for me because English is my second language. I can go now with all that I need to promote the T5T workshops with a peace of mind because everything is done professionally.

Why would a yoga teacher go for this training? Carolinda has done so much research with various practitioners to create the safest program for teaching the 5 Rites. Students do each Rite step by step in order to do them safely and gradually develop muscles which will lift their self esteem. I am confident that many students of T5T would start doing yoga when they reach 21 repetitions of each Rite. Many of them probably would have never considered doing yoga before.

Each T5T instructor can have access to the T5T web page to advertise the workshops and get more students. Carolinda is there to help us if we need her.

2007-07-02T09:54:00.000+10:00

The Five Tibetan Rites on Facebook - Meet Others:

Meet others who are interested in performing- or who already doing the Five Rites. Share experiences, problems, tips, network.

Join Facebook to access - its free and you can create your own social network in addition to joining this group. Great way to network.

Just click on the link above to begin.

2007-06-28T12:09:00.000+10:00

The Five Tibetans - Not Getting the Benefits You Expected?

I received this email yesterday from Coatia:

I started practising 5 Tibetans a couple of months ago, but I don't feel that I have more energy (although I do 21 repetitions of every rite) and my improvement seems to be very, very slow. Is there anything I can do in order to have more benefit?

There is a lot of literature on the Rites on the internet, in books and in articles that claim incredible anti-aging benefits for the Rites. I think people's expectations can be very high, and they would naturally question or be disappointed in why they received only minor benefits from practicing the Rites.

In the original book by Peter Kelder (The Eye of Revelation) published in 1939 for example it says,

"It concerned a group of Lamas or Tibetan priests who, apparently, had discovered "The Fountain of Youth." The natives told of old men who had mysteriously regained health and strength, vigor and virility shortly after entering a certain Lamasery."

and

"No, I am not my son,'' he returned. "I am none other than your old friend, Colonel Bradford, the old man who went away to the Himalayas,"

I stood in incredulous amazement at his statement, then it slowly dawned upon me that this really was the Colonel Bradford that I had known; but what a change had taken place in his appearance. Instead of the stooped, limping, sallow old gentleman with a cane, he was tall, straight, ruddy-complexioned man in the prime of life. Even his hair, which had grown back, held no trace of gray.

Given the glowing language of the time and the mystical overtones, I don't think it is surprising that people believe the Rites to be a cure for all ailments and aging.

I for example, found the whole idea of the hair growing back dark rather far fetched, until Stuart French who attended one of my workshops reported that this had happened to his sideburns. Stuart eventually become a Registered T5T Instructor.

So what's the truth? There are numerous studies that prove the benefits of a regular yoga practice and its impact on health and wellbeing. This article from Yoga Journal says in part:

During the past 80 years, health professionals in India and the West have begun to investigate the therapeutic potential of yoga. To date, thousands of research studies have been undertaken and have shown that with the practice of yoga a person can, indeed, learn to control such physiologic parameters as blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory function, metabolic rate, skin resistance, brain waves, body temperature, and many other bodily functions." Though it's difficult to find most of these studies, some current, accessible research reports significant results for challenging medical conditions:

In the same article, Patrick Randolph, Ph.D., in Texas says, "The asanas help increase circulation to the limbs while the resultant relaxation addresses anxiety. "What many people report from doing yoga is that rather than being an exercise that takes energy away, it actually energizes."

Aside from all the measurable physical benefits, I believe that there is an energy component that we can't measure or quantify yet.

The Lamas told Colonel Bradford that the quickest way to regain health, youth and vitality is to start the magnetic centres of the body spinning again, through the practice of the Five Rites.

"The body has seven centers, which, in English, could be called Vortexes. These are kind of magnetic centres. They revolve at great speed in the healthy body, but when slowed down - well that is just another name for old age, ill-health, and senility.

Yoga Journal continues:

And Yoga's most ephemeral benefits, such as the opening of energy channels, are even more difficult to define and evaluate in a research setting. Dr. Brandeis believes it will take more scientists with a much greater experiential knowledge of yoga to begin measuring what might be classified as energetic changes. "Probably in the future [research will] try to translate energetic effects into concrete medicine, but right now there aren't enough practitioners with enough knowledge to generate that kind of interest," he says.

This article can be found online at http://www.yogajournal.com/health/115_1.cfm

My own experience & that of teaching so many people the Rites is that people do indeed achieve a wide range of benefits from small to pretty outstanding. People don't always trust Testimonials but they are a great overview of what people personally believe they have gained. Testimonials from qualified health professionals, fitness professionals to the general public all point to similar benefits. These can be read on http://www.t5t.com/testimonials.cfm and in the Peter Kelder books (Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth).

Having said all this, one cannot have a one-sided result with any form of exercise. One-sided means that it is all positive with no negatives. You have to have both - same as in life. You can't have a gain without a loss, or a loss without a gain. You can't have ugly without beautiful to tell you what ugly is and so on. Focusing only the positive benefits of the Rites will inevitably disappoint. Perhaps the negatives of having to make the time to do them, or getting up early to do them, or even making the physical effort, do not outweight the benefits. A great question to ask oneself would be, "What am I losing by doing the Rites?" Then, "What am I gaining by doing the Rites?"

Play with the positives and the negatives of all the answers until you reach a state of balance, where you are neither in fantasy about the benefits or resentful of practicing them. Neither state is a place where you will relax and enjoy them.

For me, I made a decision that aging doesn't get better! I knew I would need to do many things to get more out of my life for as long as I could. T5T is one of those. I don't need to think about it anymore, I just do it. I know it works, I know it will work in the long term and no more thought needs to be applied to it. I've heard of two 80+ year old men who have been doing the Rites 20 years. One of their sons recently told me his father is getting younger every time he sees him. Clearly that isn't true, but his father believes the Rites are the reason for his physical strength and wellbeing. Who is to dispute him?

Colonel Bradford himself says that the monks told him that you need to invest a strong amount of faith and belief in the Rites to maximise their benefit. If you think old, you become old. He suggests people stride instead of hobble for example.

So what did I say to the gentleman from Croatia?

For some people, the benefits are less dramatic. If you were going to get any major changes, this would be most noticeable in the first 2 weeks. Therefore the only long-term benefits I think you may get are in the area of strength and flexibility development, increased calmness emotionally and greater positivity. You may also notice that you get ill less often or that the symptoms are less.

Are you by any chance sleeping more with vivid dreams, or do you need less sleep?

Just like electricity our body is infused with life-energy, even though you can't see it. As you would know, the Rites stimulate the flow of life-energy through the body, unblocking stagnant areas and revitalising the body. This 'feeling' is more subtle than the typical physical sensations we are used to and you may need to fine tune your awareness. The best way of doing this is by becoming more present during and after your practice.

Try and be much more present (not thinking of the past or future events or things done or things to do) when doing the Rites. Yoga and the Rites are meditation in motion. Practice the ability to train the monkey mind to be still, by focusing on balance, precision, control, alignment, sensation, lack of sensation and of course the breath!
Often the best way to find out if you are getting any benefits is to stop doing them for a month at least! If you find you don't want to stop - then take notice! Your body knows it wants to keep doing them, even though you are not feeling any major changes.

Perhaps you should miss a couple of days and let your body have a rest. Then do your 21 repetitions and notice if there is a difference. Do you notice a change immediately after doing the Rites?

Wth regard to your question about what can you do to improve the effects: Are you doing T5T or the original version from one of the Peter Kelder books? He does not include much on breathing which is a major health and vitality improver. A number of clinical studies have shown that how well you breathe literally dictates your lifespan. T5T contains extensive knowledge in breathing and specialised breathing is carried out between each Rite.

I updated the Rites calling them T5T (The Five Tibetans) to make them more potent in light of modern exercise knowledge as well as to prevent a pattern of lower back pain and neck pain I observed from people practicing the original Rites - particulary from Rites 2 and 3. T5T focuses on developing strong deep abdominal muscles (core stability). These muscles wrap around and protect the spine like a natural weight belt preventing back injury (there are also neck stabiliser muscles which are also activated correctly during T5T). These actions are repetitive and correct alignment and control is very important. Strong core muscles also counteract the effects of gravity on the elimination organs as well as stimulate the reproductive glands.

If you wish to publish this article on your website you may do so, provided that you assign copyright to the author exactly as written below:

Copyright (c) 2007 Carolinda Witt - author T5T - The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites and The 10-Minute Rejuvenation Plan

2007-04-15T10:40:00.000+10:00

Five Tibetan Rites & Energy Breathing Workshops x 9
in USA April/May 2007

Timed to coincide with the book launch of The 10-Minute Rejuvenation Plan Carolinda Witt and Nancy Zevely are teaching workshops on the East and West Side of the US.

If you want to know more, check out the website www.T5T.com under 'Workshops' for info.

April 21st - Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Sunday April 22nd - Washington DC
Saturday April 28th - New York East Side
April 28th - Portland, Oregon
Saturday May 5th - Jacksonville, Florida
May 5th - Seattle, Washington
Sunday May 6th - Mooresville, North Carolina
Saturday May 12th - Las Vegas, Nevado
May 19th - San Francisco, California

2007-03-18T08:30:00.000+11:00

GIVING UP THE FIVE TIBETAN RITES!

We call it 'falling off the wagon!' Many people learn and practice the rites, and whilst many people continue to practice them for years and years (I know of one old man in his 80's who has practiced them for 20 years), others give up.

When I have asked them why, they say that they just 'got out of the habit' of doing them. Then they immediately say, 'But I felt so much better when I did do them. I'm going to get back to doing them again'.

There's the key! The ability to maintain a habit, pattern, routine, call it what you will, this is the No 1 difference between those that keep it up and others who give up.

Some of those who gave up had practiced them for years - then slowly cut out one day at a time, which then ran into two days, then 3 days, then a week and so on. Then the pattern was broken and other life events simply seeped into the cracks of The Five Tibetans time until suddenly they stopped! This is despite the wonderful benefits they received when doing the Rites - so what's going on?

Initially people say this is what happened:

I got sick
I went on holiday
I was too busy with a project at work
The place I am living is too small, or I'm concerned about waking others
I got lazy
My relationship broke up
Someone in my close circle died
I haven't any time

Regardless of the initial impetus that stopped people doing them, the real issue is breaking the pattern. Why do you break the pattern? Because you are no longer inspired to do them! Yes, you may have all the original benefits you wanted - more energy, calmness, stronger muscles and core, more flexibility, improved health and stamina - but you have got used to having those benefits. Now, you need something more!

So if you want to keep doing them, here is a great way of linking how doing the rites' can help you achieve your mission, purpose or goals in life. The truth is you need MORE reasons to DO them, than NOT to do them. This method comes from Dr John Demartini who appears on "The Secret" movie. You need to get a pen and paper! Write down the 7 areas of your life as headings:

Spiritual
Familial
Vocational
Financial
Mental
Physical
Social

In each area of your life, write down 25 to 30 ways in which doing this activity can help you fulfill your life mission/purpose/goals.

Get yourself inspired again and let me know how you go?

If you wish to publish this article for your website - you may do so, provided you assign the correct copyright and accreditation exactly as shown below:

2007-01-27T13:12:00.000+11:00

Five Tibetans Workshops in the USA
I will be in the US from 31st March to 23rd April. I am looking for people who are interested in hosting a T5T (The 5 Tibetans) Student Workshop during this period. Its fun and a skill that once learnt, lasts a lifetime.

My book The 10- Minute Rejuvenation Plan launches on April 3rd 2007 - Three Rivers Press (Random House), and local media (print, radio & tv) will be contacted.

As a host you will receive free tuition; a copy of the book (176 pages & 202 photos); a T5T CD and Poster.

If you have a network of friends or colleagues whom you think might benefit from this portable & manageable daily routine (10 mins per day once learnt) - please email me for an information pack.

Alternatively, you may want to suggest this to someone you know.

Most people experience one or all of the following benefits:

boosts energy, vitality & endurance
both general and core strength improved
increased flexibility
mind is clearer and sharper. Ability to focus
calmer & less reactive to stress
renewed sense of purpose & wellbeing
sleep & health improves
desire for healthier foods
more self disciplined
feel younger

Here's a group of happy people after a workshop.

2007-01-27T08:45:00.000+11:00

The Five Tibetan Rites - Do They Help You Lose Weight?

The 5 Tibetan exercises are truly remarkable! I believe to the depth of my soul that the regular doing of these exercises contributed greatly to the reduction in my body weight by 8 kgs in 2006. On 1 April I weighted 83 kgs and commenced T5Ts about the same time. By 25 November (my birthday) I weighted 75 kgs!! I am a believer in reducing weight slowly so I was so trilled with this. I did at one time weigh 94kgs and this is the lightest I have been in 20 years. I couldn't even do half a repetition of Rites No 4 & 5, yet I continually persisted each day just to do as much as I could. So little by little I improved in technique and strength. I was absolutely delighted with myself as I could do 21 rotations of each of T5T pose after ONLY 14 weeks. T5T gave me and continues to give me a wonderful sense of amazement - that my body can DO them; a sense of achievement; confidence; increased happiness; an incredible feeling of well-being and the increased my fitness level dramatically!! I would like to say 'thank you' to my friends Chris and Laurie who introduced me to them! They have changed my life!! " Shirley-Anne Lawler (51 years)

Over the years of teaching the Rites, I have noticed the following trends when it comes to losing weight. One thing for sure, is that there is no "one size fits all" answer to this question.

Prior to learning T5T (The 5 Tibetans) - people who have been doing very little exercise, seem to lose weight.
There are other people who have consistently done moderate amounts of exercise, who lose weight when they start practicing the Rites. See John's Testimonial below.

"I've been doing T5T every day for the last 3 years. I've lost 7 kilos in weight and it stays off without any additional effort!! I've got so much more energy and I feel better all-round. I am less stressed, happy and able to plan my days better. The stiffness in my fingers is much better - almost non-existent. My friends are always saying how much better I look. "John Clemones - Managing Director - Special Tools & Storage Systems Pty Ltd

Those that have lost weight tend to find it easier to maintain their weight loss
The Rites are said to work by stimulating the major hormonal glands of the body. Around menopause many women tend to put on weight. My own experience and that of many other women I have spoken to, is that daily practice of the Rites, definately helped reduce weight. Others report reduction and improvement in bloating, fluid retention and hot flushes. I can certainly attest to the last one!
Since I added core stability training to the Rites, all of us have firmer/flatter stomachs!
The upper arms become less flabby and look toned!
Doing T5T daily takes self-discipline. After a while, people find they become more self-disciplined in other areas of their lives. This is of great benefit to anyone undertaking a weight loss program.
As people's energy levels rise, they are more motivated to take up other forms of exercise like walking or gym work etc. They also start doing tasks that they have been putting off for years - like doing the garden, spring-cleaning the house, clearing out garages etc! They become more active generally and this would contribute to weight loss.
Reduction in craving for 'junk' food. It is a very common experience for people to start naturally changing their dietary habits. It seems to be that they feel 'cleaner' on the inside and have a natural desire to eat healthier foods.

In answer to this question, I prefer to say, "Some do, some don't. What they will do is help you control your weight, improve your energy so you feel motivated to be more active, improve your self discipline and your desire for healthier food. They will strengthen & tone your body, particularly your stomach, upper arms and back, which contributes to improved self-esteem."

If you wish to publish this article for your website or use the T5T name for each Rites with their associated affirmation - you may do so - provided you assign the correct copyright and accreditation exactly as shown below:

2007-01-05T10:45:00.000+11:00

4th Tibetan Rite - Are your hands too short?

I am a yoga teacher, and have Chris Kilham's book on the Five Tibetans, but your approach is so much more comprehensive...let me know when the book, etc., becomes available in the US. I also have difficulty with the 4th Tibetan...I have trouble swinging my butt back down far enough back to lay flat. It seems as if my arms are too short. What can I do to overcome this? Thanks!

Regarding the 4th Tibetan. If you are unable to return all the way to the sitting/starting position with your legs straight out in front of you, then it is quite likely your hands are too short to achieve this without a prop. This is not uncommon. To ascertain if this is indeed your situation there are a couple of tests.

Are you moving across the floor after each repetition? You should be able to simply roll onto your whole feet and then back down into the sitting position again.
If your arms are too short, it will be hard to slide or swing your buttocks all the way back to the sitting position.
In the sitting/starting position do you have to elevate your palms by doing a 'lift' onto your fingertips?
Do you begin in a hunched forward position after each repetition. Your back should be straight.

Depending on how short your arms are, you could use a couple of folded towels which you place under your full hands (see picture at top). Adjust the height until you are able to get your buttocks all the way back to the starting position.

Cushions are no good because they are not stable enough, & create muscular imbalances and pressure on joints. This is particularly important when you are doing repetitive movements. Books are not safe as they can slip from under you. Non-slip yoga blocks are great but they are normally too high and you may only need an inch in height or so. Blocks of wood cut to the height you want are fine - but be careful of splinters and avoid surfaces where they might slip from under you.

You could try doing them on your knuckles (thumbs on outside). You've got to be careful not too put too much weight on your shoulders if you use this method, so try pressing all 10 toes onto the floor and your knees over your ankles. See picture below.

Having said all that - in T5T we commence the posture differently to Kilham or Kelder's. You learn the posture in 3 chunks, making it easy for everyone to achieve. The goal is to have the centre of gravity evenly balanced between the arms and the legs so there is not excess weight on the shoulders.

With regard to the book, Random House launch it in the US/Canada on April 3rd 2007. It is called 'The 10-Minute Rejuvenation Plan' and you should be able to buy it in most bookstores or on my website www.T5T.com

If you wish to publish this article for your website - you may do so, provided you assign the correct copyright and accreditation exactly as shown below:

2006-12-06T13:40:00.000+11:00

Five Trusty Tibetans to Help Stay Healthy - If You Own a Small Business, You'd Better Stay Healthy.

by Des Walsh on Thu 30 Nov 2006 11:51 PM EST

As a follow up to my post yesterday, If You Own a Small Business, You'd Better Stay Healthy, I thought tonight I should mention something that has been very helpful for me and is very manageable in terms of space and time for even the busiest home based professional (or for that matter even those not home based).

The Five Tibetans are not a group of jolly monks (there may be such a group, but I don't know about it), but a shorthand term for the Five Tibetan Rites, as expounded in the book The Fountain of Youth by Peter Kelder. I learnt them from an amazing Australian woman, Carolinda Witt (pictured left), who has taken the original system and adapted it, to suit us more sedentary Westerners, into her T5T system.

Here's a short summary from Carolinda's website:

T5T (The Five Tibetans) is an ancient Tibetan rejuvenation technique that has long been credited with the ability to maintain youthfulness and vitality. Comprising five yoga-like exercises and an energising breathing technique – it is combined with modern exercise methods such as core stability to provide a 10 minute a day, step-by-step program - that can be done safely by anyone, anywhere and at any time.

I have to say when I heard the word "yoga" I had images of being required to stand on my head and twist my body into positions I regarded as being quite impossible for me. I need not have worried. Carolinda has given a lot of thought to how to make the exercises (the "rites") quite manageable even for those of for whom running onto a football field or other field of athletic endeavour is personally, as it is for me, a distant memory. So I started slowly and carefully built up my repetitions over a period of time, never straining.

The exercises are also great when you are travelling. You need no special clothing or even a gym and you can do the exercises in your hotel room before you go off to meetings or a conference. They only take 10 minutes out of the day and they more than repay that, in my experience and the experience of others.

There's also Qi Gong or Qui Gong, which I enjoy, and actually I have been doing that and not the Tibetans for a while, but have been enjoying getting back into the Tibetans.

Carolinda also has a blog called, yes, The Five Tibetans, where she shares from her extensive knowledge about diet and other health matters.

And I've just noticed on the blog that there will be a US edition of Carolinda's book in 2007: The US version of the book is called The 10-Minute Rejuvenation Plan and will be published by Random House on April 3rd 2007

Des Walsh is a Business Coach and blogging evangelist. He has a 7 Step Business Blog downloadable e-book in a practical, plain English guide to blogging, written for non-technical business owners. Since discovering business-focused weblogs or ‘blogs’ (highly interactive, personal websites) early in 2003, Des has seen blogging, with its powerful, accessible and low cost tools, as an ideal tool for small and micro businesses to get known globally and make more rapid progress.

His Thinking Home Business blog deals with blogging, social networking for business, and home based business issues.

He is also a co-author of Happy About LinkedIn for Recruiting, a recently published roadmap for recruiters wanting to use more effectively the 4.8 million plus LinkedIn professional business network.

2006-11-06T08:05:00.000+11:00

Anti-Aging Diet combined with The Five Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation

In the original text that tells the story of the discovery of a sect of Tibetan Lamas who had seemingly discovered the fountain of youth - Colonel Bradford describes their amazing health and vitality despite their very old age. He describes not only the marvellous benefits one can achieve from a 10 - 15 mins per day practice of the five yoga-like postures they call "Rites", but also outlines the monks dietary recommendations for anti-aging and health.

It is important to mention that the Lamas tilled their own soil by hand, enjoying direct contact with the soil, handling it and working with it. They were never choosy about their meals since there was little to select from.

The monks ate wholesome, good food in the following manner:

They were vegetarians but ate eggs, butter and cheese in sufficient quantites to 'serve certain functions of the brain, body and nervous system'. They had no need of meat, fish or fowl since they are strong and virile from practicing the Rites
One of the secrets of health they describe is to only eat one type of food at a meal, to avoid clashing in the stomach. Sometimes Colonel Bradford ate a meal consisting only of bread. At others he had fresh fruits and vegetables, or just a feast of one vegetable. At first he missed the variety of foods to which he was accustomed but after a short while came to enjoy the benefits he gained from sharing their diet.
The monks said you should keep startches, fruits and vegetables separate from meats, fish and fowl.
Starches clash with proteins. If you eat bread (starch) with meats, egg or cheese (protein) a reaction is set up in the stomach which not only causes discomfort, but more importantly contributes to a shorter lifespan.
You could however have several kinds of meats to a meal. You can have butter, eggs and cheese with the meat meal, but nothing sweet or starchy - no cakes, puddings etc.
Alternatively you could have all starches together, bread, butter, pies, cakes, puddings, fruit and fresh and cooked vegetables.
Butter is neutral, it can be used with a starchy meal or with a meat meal. However milk mixes better with meat.
Coffee and tea should always be taken black
The Lamas never ate whole eggs unless they were involved in hard physical labor, in which case they might eat one, medium boiled. However they did eat lots of egg yolks, discarding the white part. They say that one should never eat the while part unless involved in hard manual labor as the egg whites are used only by the muscles. The egg yolks on the other hand are used by the brain, nerves, blood and tissues. They recommend eating them raw not during a meal, but before or after it!
You must eat slowly, chewing your food to almost a liquid before swallowing it. They said food must first be 'digested' in the mouth to obtain the full nourishment of the food.
By obtaining the full nourishment from the food, less food needs to be eaten overall.

This last point about eating less food, brings me to an article I read recently from BBC news about how eating less, can help you live longer. Here's the article below:

Low-cal diet 'long-life benefits'

Scientists have found tangible signs that a low-calorie diet could reverse signs of ageing in the body.

A six-month study showed cutting calories lowered insulin levels and core body temperatures.

The Louisiana State University team said further studies were needed to confirm the findings, in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

A British expert said the research was interesting, but that many other factors affected life expectancy. “This study reinforces the importance of being a healthy weight" Dr Frankie Phillips, British Dietetic Association

It is known that reducing the amount of calories that rodents and other animals take in long-term lengthens their life. It is thought that restricting calorie-intake affects processes in the body such as metabolism and sensitivity to insulin - as well as the health benefits from losing weight.

Less energy

Researchers from Louisiana State University studied 48 overweight men and women between March 2002 and August 2004. All were healthy, but none exercised. They were either put on an eating plan to maintain their existing weight, given a plan to cut their calorie intake by 25%.

A third group was told to restrict their calorie intake and exercise, and a fourth was put on a very low-calorie diet - 890 kcal a day until their weight had gone down by 15%, - followed by a weight maintenance diet.

After six months, the non-diet group had lost an average of 1% of their weight, the calorie restriction group, 10.4%, those who were on a calorie restricted diet plus exercise, 10% and the very low-calorie diet, 13.9%.

Fasting insulin levels - recorded between meals - were significantly reduced in all the three diet groups. Low insulin levels is one of the common factors to have been recorded in people who live to over 100.

People on either of the calorie restriction diets had reduced average core body temperature, which has been previously suggested to be an aid to living longer.
Being cooler means the body does not have to expend as much energy.

In addition, there was a reduction in the amount of DNA damage - errors that occur when a cell divides - seen in the three groups.

Ageing reversal?
Dr Leonie Heilbronn, who led the research, said: "Our results indicate that prolonged calorie restriction caused a reversal in two of three previously reported biomarkers of longevity."

But she added: "Longer-term studies are required to determine if these effects are sustained and whether they have an effect on human ageing."

Dr Frankie Phillips, of the British Dietetic Association, said the research was interesting because it gave an insight into how losing weight affected the body. But she said it did not tell the whole story about how long someone will live. "Socio-economic factors and the environment can also influence how long you live."

She added: "We also know that being obese can cut up to nine or 10 years off someone's life. So by losing weight, you are effectively increasing your life expectancy by that long. This study reinforces the importance of being a healthy weight." But Dr Phillips said she was concerned that some people in the study were put on extremely low-calorie diets - something she said people should only do for a short period of time and under the supervision of their GP or a dietician.

Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/4875614.stmPublished: 2006/04/05 10:38:11 GMT

2006-10-20T12:37:00.000+10:00

The Five Tibetans - Why 21 Repetitions?

It is unlikely we will ever find the original developers of The Five Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation. When China invaded Tibet, in the 1950's, they destroyed numerous monasteries, ancient spiritual texts and sacred images, and with it the chance of discovering the true source of the Rites. Out of 6,259 monasteries and nunneries in the whole of Tibet, only eight remain undestroyed. (Source: Dept of Culture & Religion, Tibetan Government-In-Exile).

No doubt the number 21 had some spiritual significance which may be universal to Tibet and not just this one monastery. Hopefully someone will write in and provide some information on this.

Perhaps the 21 is a combination of 3 x 7 or 7 x 3 (= 21)?

Seven is of course a very spiritual number and the number three symbolises the power of the trinity in many cultures: The Hindu's trinity was Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and the Egyptian Holy Family was divided into 3 parts; Osiris, Isis and Horus.

In the "Rámáyana" seven yards are mentioned in the residences of the Indian kings; and seven gates generally led to the famous temples and cities of old.

In the old Aryas in India there were the seven sages (Sapta Rishis), seven worlds (Sapta Loka), seven cities (Sapta Pura) and so on.

In the Latin and Greek tongues "three" was also mystical, owing to "its supposed perfection, because, containing a beginning, middle and end, it seemed to signify all things in the world (Thomas Wemyss).

I have received this information from Beatrex Quntanna (thank you Beatrex), who does Tibetan Astrology and Tibetan Numerology. Beatrex is also an Author, Spiritual Psychic and Metaphysical Teacher. Here is what she says about the significance of the number 21.

21 is a sacred number because it holds the 21 Arcane Laws. These Laws are the 21 steps to Enlightenment. 21 is 3 sets of seven. Seven is a sacred number which indicates a complete cycle of learning.

The first set is the physical level of learning, the second set is the mental level of learning, and the third set is the spiritual level of learning. These are the 3 cycles we, as humans, must integrate while living in the energy of the school called Earth.

Often we concentrate on one level of learning and miss the other 2 levels. When we set the stage to do things in sets of 21 we then incorporate all levels of awareness. This sets up an intention to integrate and then true healing can occur.

I hope this helps you and if you would like to know the meaning of the 21 steps to further your knowledge and your teachings, I would be glad to share them with you.

Sincerely Yours, Beatrex Quntanna
www.beatrex.com
www.spiritualityonastring.com

If you have any knowledge about this, please consider sharing it with us. We would all be most grateful.

If you wish to publish this article for your website - you may do so, provided you assign the correct copyright and accreditation exactly as shown below:

Copyright (c) 2006 Carolinda Witt - author T5T - The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites (Penguin) and The 10-Minute Rejuvenation Plan (Random House)

2006-10-03T10:52:00.000+10:00

The Five Tibetan Rites and Om.

In the original text written about the Five Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation, Colonel Bradford does not give instructions to chant the mantra OM. This appears to have been added in later volumes.

Peter Kelder who wrote about the adventures of Colonel Bradford in ‘Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth – Book 2” quotes Bradford as saying, “When intoned correctly (Om) has a very powerful stimulating effect on the pineal gland, which is related to the seventh and highest vortex.” He cautions however, that unless a person has already begun to focus on practices to raise higher consciousness, they should not overstimulate the pineal gland. He warns against “overdoing a good thing”, and suggests that it should only be repeated three or four times in succession. He adds that what is important is the sound vibration of the voice, rather than the meaning of the word or the act of chanting.

Om is a mantra – which is traditionally sounded AUM when chanting out loud or said silently within - when focusing your mind or during meditation. A mantra assists your mind to focus when it is scattered. When you chant a mantra, it produces a powerful vibration which can eventually still all other vibrations, although it takes a lot of practice to achieve this. The purpose of a mantra is to produce a state by which you are able to vibrate at the same rate, as the energy and spiritual state produced by and contained within the mantra.

Om is believed to be the first sound heard from the creator - the sound of the universe. It is commonly chanted at the beginning and end of a yoga class, to attune yourself to the universal consciousness. It allows us to experience our connection or reflection as part of the whole. It can be chanted at any other suitable time - at a length to be determined by the individual chanter, which meets his or her level of total comfort – and provided it does not strain the lungs. According to Hindu scriptures, the highest experience in life is to hear the sound of OM in deep silence. The repetition of OM is said to generate the mystical power that can lead your mind into deep meditation and finally into the sate of higher consciousness known as samadhi (bliss).

To chant AUM, you begin with a deep breath. In an effortless single out breath, the sound A originates in the naval, then rises to the throat with the U - opens the fontanelle at the top of the head, and ends with M which rolls over the tongue with the lips closed at the final point. At the beginning of the chant there is an expansion outwards, which ends with a contraction inwards at the conclusion of the M sound. Then repeat again and again as desired.

If you wish to publish this article for your website - you may do so, provided you assign the correct copyright and accreditation exactly as shown below:

Copyright (c) 2006 Carolinda Witt - author T5T - The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites (Penguin) and The 10-Minute Rejuvenation Plan (Random House)

2006-09-20T10:01:00.000+10:00

Is Soy Good For You or Bad For You?

I've been drinking soy milk for years! After reading this article my beloved soy chai's are no more! See for yourself by clicking on this link. The article is excellent, I highly recommend you take the time to read it.

The Ploy of Soy

2006-09-07T11:54:00.004+10:00

Learning The Five Tibetans from a Book

Books from most recent:

(a) T5T: The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites, (Penguin) & b) The 10-Minute Rejuvenation Plan (Random House) by Carolinda Witt. A modern 'manual' with core stability and breathing published 2006 & 2007 (204 photos, 176 pages)- having originally learnt and taught from the books above, I became very aware of their limitations as well as their benefits. I consulted with the health practitioners mentioned in (b) above. We 'took apart' each posture and found ways to keep the integrity intact, whilst eliminating the elements that could create injury. Core stability was added to protect the spine, and a step-by-step process to build strength from the inside out. Lots and lots of photographs of 'how to do each posture' are included, as well as 'how NOT to do each posture' - and all the common problems and solutions are included. A number of clinical studies have proven that how well you breathe can literally dictate your lifespan. Methods for natural full, deep, slow breathing is included in depth, and practised between each Rite. As the ancients understood the world in 5 elements, an element has been assigned to each Rite, to increase their metaphorical power. See previous post on this blog titled 'What is the difference between T5T and the Five Tibetan Rites' for further information.

(b) The Five Tibetans, by Christopher Kilham. Kilham is a yoga teacher whose popular book has helped increase knowledge about the Rites. It was published in 1994 (14 photos, 84 pages) and gives a brief outline of the original story of the discovery of the Rites. True to the original text, his brief descriptions and photographs are similar to those of the original author, Peter Kelder. He also provides additional information, regarding the human energy system, kundalini, the chakras, breathing and meditation. Same as (b) above with regard to the postures.

(c) Ancient Secret of The Fountain of Youth, by Peter Kelder. The updated version published in 1985 (18 photos, 105 pages)- updated and re-written by the same author as the original story, which includes an extra chapter on the 6th Rite previously omitted. The monks advise celibacy to practice the 6th Rite, so is only of use to those who are abstaining from sex. The text and the photographs are limited, and do not adequately convey the flowing movement of the Rites, nor do they tell you what NOT to do which is just as important. Some of the postures are also performed in a manner which (in the opinion of the physiotherapist, osteopaths, chiropractors, occupational health instructor, breathing expert, Feldenkrais and Pilates and other yoga teachers I have consulted) have the potential to cause lower back and neck strain/injury - in those with no training in the correct way of performing each movement - and those who are unfit - (most modern sedentary Westerners).

(d) The Eye of Revelation, by Peter Kelder. The original story published in 1939 (9 drawings, 30 pages) - tells the story of how Colonel Bradford discovered the monks who taught him the 'secret' of their youthfullness - and brings this knowledge back to the West. Good to read to learn the history of the Rites, but is very simplistic in terms of learning the postures

Here is a comment I received from my website (and my answer) which raises an interesting point.

Hi SON. This is for you to follow up with Carolinda and if you have further interest in undergoing this VERY USEFUL system and that takes less than 25 mins of your time but rejuvenates body-mind and soul. I am sure it will be convenient for you to visit a T5T centre; there is no substitute than to learn it from the exponent and to be a direct disciple. My personal experience tells me that SELFHELP BOOKS/CD's/DVD's are of very little help or frankly NO HELP at all. The technique of physically doing any exercise incuding the proper breathing is both a science as well as an art and the books etc. are compendium of information for reference but ONLY AFTER HAVING LEARNT IT IN THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF THE MASTER. This is, in my considered openion, a very fine art and if done inconjunction with PRANAYAM ( again a set of five breathing techniques) completes and does not need any thing else for perfectly heathy living and what I cal l"LIFE LIVED". You may continue with your GYM also, ift hat is a must - but all this should be done judiously and in consultation with your master and trainer.Take care and greetings...............DAD

Hi there!

Thanks for forwarding me your letter from your father. I'm glad he approves of the system, I certainly do!

Regarding his comments about learning from books etc - I would have to agree that in an ideal situation it is of course better to learn directly from a reputable and knowledgeable teacher, and then use the book as a source of ongoing information. However, this isn't always possible, and all yoga is good yoga - certainly better than no yoga at all! The key of course is the awareness and consciousness that it is practiced along with the yoga. That is a whole other subject.

I believe that the books on the Rites including mine, introduce a whole new group of people who would never attend a yoga class, due to poor self image or false expectations about it being religeous or having to be a vegetarian etc. Having taught so many people, I know that this is the case. Then there are others who can't afford the classes. The Rites are these people's introduction to a whole new world!

I believe the Rites make people better people - more powerful, self disciplined, less emotionally volatile and more conscious. The more people who do them the better - it all contributes to a better, more peaceful world.

I am reminded of the ancient masters who did not have books or other teachers to learn from, who developed these movements in response to their inner guidance and self-healing. In the same way, it is entirely possible for someone who has learnt from books/CD's etc to gain degrees of self-awareness that is generated from within themselves.

Regretably, we only have the original manuscript regarding the Rites, and no Tibetan Lama to teach us. Without the books, this wonderful system would have totally disappeared from our world - too great a loss!

Books have replaced the oral traditions of the past - they are people's desire to record the knowledge and wisdom they have discovered for the use of future generations. It is a noble desire.

The knowledge contained within books has been considered so dangerous in the past, that several rulers have tried to burn and destroy them.I think we have to read and have access to knowledge so that we can take it to new levels. The world cannot stay still!

Best regards,Carolinda

If you wish to publish this article for your website - you may do so, provided you assign the correct copyright and accreditation exactly as shown below:

Copyright (c) 2006 Carolinda Witt - author T5T - The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites (Penguin) and The 10-Minute Rejuvenation Plan (Random House)

2006-08-31T15:10:00.000+10:00

What Is The Difference Between T5T and The Five Tibetan Rites?

The Five Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation were brought to the West in the late 1930’s by a Westerner who went under the pseudonym of Colonel Bradford. The story of his experience and the instructions he received from the Tibetan Lamas were recorded by the writer Peter Kelder who published the original manuscript titled ‘The Eye of Revelation’ in 1939. This book was later updated and republished in 1985 under the name ‘Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth’.

I learnt The Five Tibetan Rites from a teacher who had learnt them from another teacher - who had in turn learnt them from Peter Kelder’s manuscripts.

I worked with my teacher for a while (who taught the original method) and noticed a recurring pattern of people developing lower back and neck pain.

It is important now to describe here, the type of people who were attending our workshops:

· Most had never done yoga before, and were attracted to the Rites for their anti- aging, energy raising benefits.
· Came to improve their flexibility (meaning they were not flexible to begin with)
· Wanted to strengthen their backs to reduce back ache or to rehabilitate after injury
· Were largely sedentary, doing little to no exercise
· Wanted something to help them feel more motivated and purposeful

There were also people who did yoga or other exercise, but were time poor and wanted something they could fit into their busy days.

Our modern western lifestyle is very different to that of the monks. They lived in the steep Himalayas, and would have had to be fit to walk up and down those mountains! Their food production, preparation and day to day tasks would have kept them physically active. Since the Rites were part of their daily practice, they probably started practicing them at a very early age.

If you compare their lifestyle to our own, you will clearly see that our bodies are under utilised. Because most of our tasks are repetitive, the same muscles get used in the same range of motion day after day. Other muscles become slack and underdeveloped from lack of use. The net result is that we rarely challenge our muscles, resulting in a reduced range of motion and mobility. A good example of this is when you watch older people trying to reverse their cars, who can’t turn their heads fully! Who wants to get like that? This situation is not an inevitable factor of aging; it is a lifetime pattern of not stretching and strengthening your body. For example; how often do you arch your upper back and neck backwards? In contrast, how many tasks in your day involve you bending forwards?

As our commonly used muscles get stronger and our under utilised muscles get weaker, we land up with imbalances in our bodies that over time are inevitably going to decrease our strength and flexibility. This makes us more prone to injury.

Knowing this, I decided to take these ancient movements to the very people who help rehabilitate those who have been injured – and teach them how to move correctly to prevent future injury. I consulted with physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors; an occupational health therapist, breathing expert, Feldenkrais Instructor & Pilates Teacher. They all made suggestions which I tried out in the living laboratory of my classrooms. It was the trial and error ‘experiments’ in my workshops that ultimately evolved the flowing sequence that is now T5T.

Whilst there are changes to the original Rites, the integrity and outcome of this ancient practice remains intact. Before I expand upon the changes, let’s get clear on the purpose of the Rites as described by Colonel Bradford in “The Eye of Revelation”.

“The first important thing I was taught after entering the Lamasery,’ he began, “was this: The body has seven centres, which, in English, could be called Vortexes. These are kind of magnetic centres. They revolve at great speed in the healthy body, but when slowed down – well that is just another name for old age, ill health and senility.

“These spinning centres of activity extend beyond the flesh in the healthy individual, but in the old, weak, senile person they hardly reach the surface, except in the knees. The quickest way to regain health, youth, and vitality is to start these magnetic centres spinning again. There are but five practices that will do this. Any one of them will be helpful, but all five are required to get glowing results. These five exercises are really not exercises at all, in the physical culture sense. The Lamas think of them as ‘Rites’ and so instead of calling them exercises or practices, we too, shall call them ‘Rites’.

He says that when all the vortexes (chakras) are ‘revolving at high speed and at the same rate of speed, the body is in perfect health. When one or more of them slow down old age, loss of power and senility set in.’

The changes I have made to the original routine, do not adversely affect the spin rate of the chakras – the whole purpose of performing the Rites. They do however; significantly improve the physical aspects of the movements, making them safer for just about everyone to perform. Here are the main differences between T5T and the original Rites.

1. Addition of Core Stability: In T5T you develop strength from the inside out, through the use of core stability methods which have been added to each Rite. The deep postural muscles of the lower abdomen need to be strengthened to wrap around and protect your spine when you move. Most people are completely unaware of these muscles and the major role they play in stabilising the spine – thereby preventing injury.

The core muscles also play a role in another familiar part of aging – incontinence! By doing T5T you can prevent this. One of our students, a lady in her late 60’s was incontinent for five years. She had been attending a well regarded local Pilates Teacher’s class for around 18 months. After 3 weeks of doing T5T, it became totally unnecessary for her to wear pads, or to protect her bed with extra towels at night! You can see her Testimonial on our website http://www.t5t.com/

2. Series of Steps: To build up the strength of the core stability muscles, T5T includes a series of steps that take you from beginner level through to intermediate and advanced. These steps assist the core muscles to develop by building strength progressively. You need strength to hold you in a posture in the correct alignment and control before you start developing flexibility.

3. Keeps the Neck Long and Strong: In the original Rite No 3 – The Kneeling Backbend, the neck is not kept long (lengthened) and strong. In some people this can occlude (kink) the vertebral artery, resulting in reduced blood flow to the brain. Some people can become dizzy or at worst suffer a temporary loss of consciousness. In T5T the neck is not collapsed all the way back, but kept long and strong.

4. Focuses on Correct Alignment: In the original Rite No 3 – The Kneeling Backbend, a man is shown leaning back on the thighs instead of keeping his hipbone above his knee bone in correct postural alignment. This causes pressure on the joints of the knee and hip. In T5T you are taught to stabilise yourself in a correctly aligned position using core muscles and firmed buttocks. There are other examples of improper alignment in the other Rites that are rectified by T5T.

5. Does Not Collapse The Lumbar Spine: In T5T we focus on the stiffest part of the spine – the thoracic (upper/mid back) area. This is the area most affected by our forwards bending lifestyle. Dowagers hump is an extreme example of this. The original text shows extensive bending in the lumbar spine. This compresses the lumbar vertebrae and discs and is not suitable for anyone with any potential to injury.

6. Prevents Using the Momentum of the Movement: In T5T the movements are controlled and protected by the use of core stability, and the firming of various muscle groups. In the original Rites there is a tendency to swing in and out of postures – and is most unsafe during the 5th Rite as you transit from the upside down V position into the upward dog/plank like posture. T5T provides solutions to avoid this.

7. Addition of Energy Breathing: The original text mentions taking two deep breaths between each Rite and that’s it. Most people don’t know how to correctly take a deep breath, even if they think they do! T5T includes three special breaths between each Rite which deepens your breathing, expands your breathing capacity, slows down your breathing rate and makes you more conscious of the way you breathe in all situations. Several clinical studies have shown that how well you breathe literally indicates the length of your lifespan!

8. Common Problems & Solutions: The original text gives limited information on modifications or adaptations if you are unable to start doing the Rites exactly as described. It also gives very little information on what NOT to do. T5T is the result of the experience of over 700 students and 25 Instructors, and shares this knowledge through workshops, private tuition, corporate training and the books, T5T - The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites (Penguin) and The 10 Minute Rejuvenation Plan (Random House).

If you wish to publish this article for your website or use the T5T name for each Rites with their associated affirmation - you may do so - provided you assign the correct copyright and accreditation exactly as shown below:

Copyright (c) 2006 Carolinda Witt - author T5T - The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites (Penguin) and The 10-Minute Rejuvenation Plan (Random House)

2006-08-24T10:01:00.000+10:00

Five Tibetan Rites - Should you Nose or Mouth Breathe?

Here is the dialogue regarding breathing and The 5 Tibetans that came from someone who wrote to me from my website. I thought it might be useful for others with similar queries.

There is a point I want to make: There seems to be some confusion about the breathing pattern to be adopted. In the first rite, does one breathe during the swirling? I can do all the five 21 times in 5 minutes if I want to, but I take 10 minutes. So I can do the first rite in one breath - is that okay??

Hi... Are you holding your breath throughout the Spin? The breath assists the flow of energy throughout your body. I think you are sensing this. Let the breath be free. Breathe through the nose. At the beginning of the movement, breathe once to remind you to breathe and then let the breathing be normal/natural throughout the movement. When you hold your breath you are restricting the vitality that can enter your body, and restricting the wastes that can leave your body. Breathe fully and freely.

thanks. a few more queries.
* is it okay to inhale through the nose and exhale thorugh the mouth?

No. You should breathe only through the nose. If you breathe through the mouth you lose and gain too much air too quickly. This can upset the carbon dioxide/oxygen ratio in the body, causing mild to strong hyperventilation depending how long and intensely you do it for. The nose is designed for breathing. The nose is the first line of defence, warning you of harmful smells, and trapping and filtering out particles and bacteria.

There are a lot of different views about breathing. We need to exercise our breathing muscles (diaphragm, intercostal rib muscles etc) just like we exercise the rest of our body. What you don't use - you lose! This is like breaking an arm and having a cast put around it. When the cast is taken off, all the muscles have wasted (atrophy) away and need to be built up again gradually. If your breathing muscles and lungs have not been used fully for a while, it will take some time to build their strength back up again.

Breathing exercises should done without straining and blowing yourself up like a balloon. If you started lifting weights to build muscles, you would not lift the heaviest weight first - you would start with low weights and gradually build up repetitions, and then gradually increase the weight to achieve your objective.

I consulted Michael Grant White the 'breathing coach' from the US who helped me develop the breathing philosophy and Energy Breathing method in T5T. It is worth you looking up his website breathing tests on there.

Here is his testimonial for my method which is outlined in my book 'T5T - The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites':

"Breathing slower, deeper and easier is vital for longevity, health and vitality. I believe that T5T can help most people become more conscious of their breathing. It can also release tension in their breathing, and often gradually expand their breathing capacity as well as slow their breathing rate. T5T will help many people to achieve the above, however there are those who may have an undetected dysfunctional breathing or what I call UDB whose next step would be my Optimal Breathing Techniques." Michael Grant White, “The Breathing Coach” - Executive Director of www.breathing.com and the Optimal Breathing School

Breathing well is incredibly important, because a number of clinical studies have proven that how well you breathe is literally an indicator of how long you will live.

* Is it okay to do the sixth tibetan and have an active sex life as well?

If you have an excess of sexual energy, (or have no-one to share it with) it could be useful to restore balance. Colonel Bradford says that it is necessary to be celibate (no sex) to practice this Rite. The idea being that the sexual energy is then redirected into the other energy centres of the body, for more spiritual purposes.

* I normally do the 6 tibetans and then follow up with some stretching and other free arm exercises. The whole thing takes just 20 minutes. the idea is to remain strong and vital.

Sounds great. Any yoga is good yoga. You might want to consider a twisting type exercise as this is not included in the Rites. The Rites are brilliant for what they are intended for - to get the chakras spinning rapidly and evenly again, so that life-energy can be distributed through all the energy lines of the body and into every single cell. They are also very physically balancing, as each movement needs to be performed so that the weight of the body is balanced evenly between the right and left side of the body and the centre of gravity found between hands and feet etc.

I live in india -it's a poor and corrupt country raging with epidemics, and there's huge work and life stress - so I also need to keep stress induced blood pressure in control and remain healthy by keeping my immunity levels in top gear.

The breathing exercises can really help restore calm, and slow down your breathing rate. A rapid breathing rate, that is shallow in the upper chest stimulates the sympathetic nervous system associated with 'flight or fight'. Breathing slowly and deeply using the belly, stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system associated with 'rest and relaxation'.

Will appreciate exercise and diet tips. have been doing this for a decade with good results but there is so much to learn all the time and so much fine tuning to do for optimum results. i can see that you are an expert or "ustad" as we call the know-alls here.

I have added your email to my newsletter list so that you can receive lifestyle tips on all things related to health and well-being.

2006-08-23T10:31:00.000+10:00

The Five Tibetans - Should you practice when you are menstruating?

I received this query on my website, and thought it would be of use to others interested in the same question.

Can girls/women practice T5T during periods? Or should we break during those five to six days. Please advise.

The monks who practiced the original Rites would have been celibate and left no instructions for women!

However, my experience and the feedback of many of the women I have taught is that T5T seems to improve the symptons of menstruation. Some women report less bloating, moodiness, anxiety, cramps and sore breasts. Others say they feel less conjested and the flow is improved. I believe that because you are doing a little bit of yoga & core training (T5T) everyday - your body becomes conditioned to it - and you benefit from the cummulative effects of regular practice.

During menstruation some women's physical energy is not as strong as usual. In this case - maintain the pattern of your practice so as not to lose the motivation of the daily ritual - but perhaps to do less repetitions, or revert back to one of the easier versions of the postures. However, some women experience increased energy during their period - so there is no one size answer to fit all! At the top end of performance, whatever the time of month - think of all the female Olympic athletes!

Exercise is good for you, and in fact is normal! Our sedentary lifestyle has turned exercise into an option! Certainly if you have a condition that requires you to receive treatment from a doctor - you should definately discuss this with him/her. If you are exercising so much that your period stops, then that is not healthy. You would have to be working out at very high intensity for this to occur from exercise alone.

What I have observed both personally and with all my students, is that the Rites help stabilise the periods. I have not had one report of increased blood flow or stopping of menstruation through practicing the Rites. What I do hear about is people saying that they are less moody, have less cramps and reduced bloating - but maintain a craving for chocolate!!!

The monks said that the purpose of the Rites is to get the chakras (energy centres) of the body spinning rapidly and evenly again. The chakras are located above major nerve plexi (bunches of nerves) and the major endocrine glands of the body. In this way, they are said to improve hormonal function.

As an example of this hormonal stimulation, I taught one women who reported an increase in the production of her breast milk!

Personally I share the opinion of Barbara Benagh - a yoga teacher, seminar teacher and columnist on Yoga Journal http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/546_1.cfm who says,

Since I know of no studies or research that makes a compelling argument to avoid inversions during menstruation, and since menstruation affects each woman differently and can vary from cycle to cycle, I am of the opinion that each woman is responsible for making her own decision.

The bottom line is that hatha yoga is full of contradictions and varied opinions, leaving each of us ultimately responsible for our own choices. Pay attention to your body and discover what works and what doesn't — not just during your period but every day.

Geeta Iyengar (yoga expert) http://www.yogaholidays.net/magazine/Menstruation.html says that the practice of Uddiyana Bhanda (the 6th Rite) should not be done during menstruation. I do not incorporate the 6th Rite in any of my teachings as the monks said you must be celibate to practice it. They channeled their sexual energy up the major energy lines of the body for heightened spiritual awareness.

2006-08-16T18:12:00.000+10:00

Tibetan 5th Rite - Should the heals touch the floor?

The picture on the top is from the book T5T: The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites (Penguin)
The picture above left is from http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/491_1.cfm - there is a great article on this pose known as Downward Dog on their website.

My name is Evgenie. I from Moscow. I badly know English language and I use the translator. Thanks for the answer. At me to you it is a lot of questions! I am engaged in the Eye of Revival 3 years. Results very good.

I have a book on Oka of Revival from 1939. In it{her} on a picture in the fifth ritual action the heel of a leg{foot} does not concern{touch} a floor! I shall send you this book. You likely know there is still a book author Christopher Kilhem Pjat Tibetsky Zhemchuzhin, in it{her} too in the fifth ritual action the heel of a leg{foot} of a floor does not concern{touch}! Here to me it is not clear whence at you the information, what the heel should concern{touch} a floor? For me it is very important!!!! Tell the book which I have sent you from 1939 Eye of Revival really original?
What book is used by you? You have an original the Eye of Revival?

Further we look the book from 1939 that it for a sound me-me-me? It is a mantra the OHM???

At what age it is possible to practise 6 ritual action? Whether there Are restrictions for practice 6 ritual actions? Christopher Kilhem writes that for practice 6 ritual actions it is possible to conduct a sexual life. In the book 1939 it is written that it is impossible! What do you think?
Excuse many questions has collected, on which it is necessary to receive answers. For me it is very important!!!
Thanks.

Hi Evgenie, I have the original book "Eye of Revelation" and you are correct, the heal of the foot does not touch the floor in their illustrations. However, this posture known today as "downward dog" is very old and would have originally come from India into Tibet. Today, the ideal version of this pose is considered to be when your heals are touching the floor. Ideally in this pose, your weight should be evenly balanced between your hands and legs with your tailbone pointing to the sky. If you can get your heals to touch the floor it is very beneficial because it stretches the hamstring muscles at the back of the legs. Beginners in particular are often unable to put the heals of the feet on the floor.

Whether you can put your heals on the floor or not - you will still gain the energetic benefits of the posture as described by the monks. The Five Rites are intended to improve the distribution of life-energy through the body by stimulating the chakras to spin more rapidly – rather than focusing on stretching to the muscles of the body.

To answer your question regarding the 6th Rite - the monks said that the purpose of the 6th Rite is to channel the sexual energy up the major energy lines of the body for heightened spiritual purposes. The monks lived a celibate lifestyle abstaining from sex. Of course today this is a matter of personal choice. Colonel Bradford says in the book that this breathing method can also be used if you have an excess of sexual energy. Pranayama (breathing techniques) can be very powerful and bring about changes in the body and emotionally that some people are not ready for. For this reason it is best to study pranayama under the guidance of a qualified and experienced teacher. Best wishes - Carolinda

2006-07-25T10:46:00.000+10:00

The Five Tibetans and The Five Elements

Extract from book T5T - The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites

At the time of the development of the Five Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation, the ancients believed that their world was composed of Five Elements; water, earth, air, fire and spirit (energy). In psychology the Five Elements are used to personify different human traits, such as the personality types categories by Carl Jung (feeling, sensing, intuiting, and thinking) and those associated with the astrological signs of the zodiac. I experimented with the concept of assigning an element to each of the Rites, and found the results to be amazing.

In each case, the physcial movement of the Rite was a metaphor for what we were trying to achieve mentally - awareness in a different aspect of life. For example the Spin takes the element energy, and the vortex that the movements create allows you to replenish your body from the larger energy all around us. The Tabletop takes the eleement earth, and its movements focus on stability, foundation and balance, giving us a solid base from which to form new ideas.

In holistic exercise it can sometimes be hard to marry the physical state with the mental state, and having a metaphor helps people enormously to align the two, and to present a clear picture of what they are working towards.

Having assigned an element and a modern name to each Rite, I then experimented with creating an affirmation that expressed the 'energy' of each movement. The result is a method of reinforcing and focusing upon the positive benefits of each Rite physically, mentally and spiritually. This has a ripple effect on every area of your life.

Rite No 1 - The Spin - I am full of energy
Rite No 2 - The Leg Raise - My mind is clear and calm
Rite No 3 - The Kneeling Backbend - I am flexible and receptive
Rite No 4 - The Tabletop - I am strong and balanced
Rite No 5 - The Pendulum - I am positive and motivated

If you wish to publish this article on your website or use the the modern name for each Rites with their associated affirmation - you may do so - provided you assign the correct copyright and accreditation exactly as shown below:

Copyright (c) 2005 Carolinda Witt - author T5T - The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites and The 10-Minute Rejuvenation Plan

2006-07-12T21:59:00.000+10:00

Keeping Motivated to do your Tibetan Five Rites
A recent survey of people who learnt the 5 Rites around 2 to 3 years ago, shows that there are some who wouldn't miss a day - others who do them when they can - others who sort of stop and start their practice - and finally those who stopped within a month of learning them.

It would be interesting to see if that pattern ie. a stop and start pattern occurs not just whilst doing the Rites, but in other areas of their lives too. How life changing a discovery it could be, if someone were to discover that they do the same thing everywhere else!!!

2006-04-22T13:45:00.000+10:00

Origins of The Tibetan 5 Rites?
There is an interesting discussion about the origins of The Five Tibetan Rites on the E-sangha Buddhist Forum Website - check it out. Since most of the Tibetan monasteries have been either raised to the ground or their ancient texts and lineages hidden, it has so far been impossible to trace the actual source of The Five Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation. There are some interesting posts and discussions on this forum about their lineage.

Other posts on this site refer to the strenous nature of the Rites. I agree that the original text does not make allowances for the modern largely sedentary Westerner. This is exactly why I worked with many health practitioners to find ways to modify and adapt them so they would be achievable for many more people. These ideas and methods have worked well, with all kinds of people now doing the Rites successfully and having some amazing results. If you want to see what sort of results people are having, have a look at their stories.

2006-03-27T15:58:00.001+11:00

The Five Tibetans Rite No 1 (The Spin ) - Which Direction Should We Spin

Colonel Bradford's book 'The Eye of Revelation' (download it free here) only gives instructions to spin in a clockwise direction.

…“The first Rite”, continued the Colonel, “is a simple one. It is for the express purpose of speeding up the Vortexes. When we were children we used it in our play. It is this: Stand erect with arms outstretched, horizontal with the shoulders. Now spin around until you become slightly dizzy. There is only one caution: you must turn from left to right. In other words, if you were to place a clock or watch on the floor face up, you would turn in the same direction the hands are moving.”…

Please note that Colonel Bradford defines "clockwise" as being the direction in which the person is turning when facing forwards and turning from left to right; regardless of his/her location on the planet.

Since Bradford's location was in the Northern Hemisphere when he wrote that 'you should turn from left to right' ( in a clockwise direction) - some people have questioned whether we should change his instructions and spin anti-clockwise in the southern hemisphere.

When I asked them, "Why do you think we should change the direction of the spin?"

The answer is normally along the lines of, "Well water spins anti-clockwise in the southern hemisphere and clockwise in the northern hemisphere."

However this concept itself is based on a popular myth, and is therefore not a viable reason as to why we should change our spin direction in the southern hemisphere.

Alistair B. Fraser, Ph.D. Emeritus Professor of Meteorology, Penn State University, USA, explains in great detail (Reprinted with permission of author) -

..."Compared to the rotations that one usually sees (tires on a traveling automobile, a compact disc playing music, or a draining sink), the rotation of the Earth is very small: only one rotation per day. The water in a sink might make a rotation in a few seconds and so have a rotation rate ten thousand times higher than that of the Earth. It should not be surprising, therefore, to learn that the Coriolis force is orders of magnitude smaller than any of the forces involved in these everyday spinning things. The Coriolis force is so small, that it plays no role in determining the direction of rotation of a draining sink anymore than it does the direction of a spinning CD.

The direction of rotation of a draining sink is determined by the way it was filled, or by vortices introduced while washing. The magnitude of these rotations may be small, but they are nevertheless gargantuan by comparison to the rotation of the Earth."...

Furthermore to describe the Coriolis Effect is actually very complicated particularly without resorting to mathematical equations or complicated concepts such as angular mechanics! First of all there is your frame of reference "What you see depends on where you are." This assumes that we are on firm ground when in fact we are not as the earth is a spinning disc.

Coriolis effect

In physics, the Coriolis Effect is an apparent deflection of moving objects when they are viewed from a rotating reference frame. For example, consider two children on opposite sides of a spinning roundabout (carousel), who are throwing a ball to each other (see Figure 1). From the children's point of view, this ball's path is curved sideways by the Coriolis effect. From the thrower's perspective, the deflection is to the right with anticlockwise carousel rotation (viewed from above). Deflection is to the left with clockwise rotation.

Figure 1: In the inertial frame of reference (upper part of the picture), the black object moves in a straight line, without significant friction with the disc. However, the observer (red dot) who is standing in the rotating (non-inertial) frame of reference (lower part of the picture) sees the object as following a curved path.Wikepida

If you are really keen to have a better explanation of the Coriolis Effect read Dave Van Domelen's article. For further information on actual sink experiments to measure the Coriolis Effect see Joe Kissel's article "Taking an Urban Legend For A Spin."

Spin Direction of The Chakras

Colonel Bradford did not describe the direction of the vortexes (chakras):

The body has seven centres, which, in English, could be called Vortexes. These are kind of magnetic centres. They revolve at great speed in the healthy body, but when slowed down - well that is just another name for old age, ill-health, and senility. The quickest way to regain youth, health, and vitality is to start these energy centres spinning normally again. There are five simple exercises that will accomplish this. Any one of them alone is helpful, but all five are required to get the best results. These five exercises are not really exercises at all. The Lamas call them rites, and so that is how I shall refer to them, too"... Colonel Bradford - "The Eye of Revelation"

I wonder if Bradford deliberately avoided mentioning an anti-clockwise direction? According to Barbara Ann Brennan, ex NASA research scientist and noted authority on the human energy field, healthy chakras should spin in a clockwise direction - and closed, unbalanced chakras spin in a counter clockwise direction.

In her successful book, "Hands of Light" she says,

..."When the chakras are functioning normally, each will be "open", spinning clockwise to metabolize the particular energies needed from the universal field. A clockwise spin draws energy from the UEF (Universal Energy Field) into the chakra, very much like the right-hand rule in electromagnetism, which states that a changing magnetic field around a wire will induce a current in that wire.

When the chakra spins counter clockwise, the current is flowing outward from the body, thus interfering with metabolism. In other words, the energies that are needed and that we experience as psychological reality are not flowing into the chakra when it is spinning counter clockwise. We thus label the chakra as "closed" to incoming energies.”...

Possible Traditional Influences

(a) Traditional Tibetan 'phrul 'khor Yantra Yoga (pronounced "trul-khor"

Chˆgyal Namkhai Norbu one of the great living masters of Dzogchen and Tantra, was born in Tibet in 1938. His book YANTRA YOGA: The Tibetan Yoga of Movement released by Snow Lion Publications

Trul-khor" means "magical wheel," says Alejandro Chaoul-Reich, a teacher associated with the Ligmincha Institute and assistant professor at the University of Texas (U.T) Medical School. He says, ..."The distinctive movements of trul khor arose as the result of deep meditation practice by Tibetan yogic adepts. Traditionally practiced in remote Himalayan caves and monasteries, the trul khor movements are now being made accessible to serious Western students. They are a powerful tool for clearing, balancing and harmonizing the subtle aspects of one’s energetic dimension."...

Ryan Parker, a practitioner of The Five Tibetan Rites is currently doing research comparing The Five Tibetan Rites to Tibetan "trul-khor". According to Peter Kelder in "The Eye of Revelation", the Rites like 'trul-knor' are around 2,500 years old.

In his recent "Comparison Chart" he states, ..."Buddhist ‘phrul ‘khor proposes the existence of clockwise spinning energetic centers. ‘phrul ‘khor is sometimes said to cause the centers of the body to spin. Moreover they are caused to spin in unison. Although all the moments can cause this spinning, rotation of the body is specifically linked to causing the centers to rotate. Clockwise rotation is said to be beneficial and is always the assumed direction of rotation in Buddist‘phrul ‘khor."...

(b) Pradakshina:

Throughout history Tibet and India have shared ancient knowledge, and it is possible - but unproven - that the first Rite could also have been influenced by the practice of Pradakshina.

In Hinduism, Pradakshina means the act of worshipful circumambulation (walking clockwise around a holy temple, shrine, or place). Dakshina means right, so you walk to the left keeping the spiritual object on your right.

To perform Pradakshina you walk clockwise around a temple, sacred object, person, mountain, place or even oneself. Hindu temples are designed with special passages, so that people can perform these clockwise movements around them.

The purpose of this clockwise circling is to center or purify oneself, or to honor or bond with the object of devotion.

Circumambulation is so common in fact that it can be found in the Greek, Roman, Druid and Hindu cultures. Usually it had to do with sacrifice or purification processes. Interestingly, in all these cultures the direction was always the same - clockwise! For more information see www.sacred-texts.com

Other Interesting Information On The Clockwise Spin Direction

During one of my classes, a dance teacher told me that children are initially taught to spin clockwise. Apparently they find it easier (although there are always exceptions). She said it is well known amongst dance teachers - that if you want to calm children down, you get them to spin anti-clockwise. To energize them, you get them to spin clockwise!

This energizing effect is exactly what most people experience doing Rite No 1 as described by Colonel Bradford. In my view, if the lamas gave instructions to Spin clockwise - then clockwise it is!

A Practitioner Who Dose Spin Anti Clockwise

However, I am in communication with one practitioner “Mary” who spins in an anti-clockwise condition due to a life threatening health condition, which she has and is mastering. She is extraordinarily attuned to the needs of her body as you shall read below:

…”According to Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), clockwise movement accelerates life by speeding up the chakras until they are all moving at the same speed. Counter-clockwise movement de-accelerates the chakras. Most who do the rites want to 'speed-up' chakras that have slowed down with age, weight, etc. Therefore, it is logical that the spin be clockwise. However, one morning as I was saying my morning prayers, I understood that, in my case, speeding up all my chakras would have a negative impact as the chakra that impacts my lungs was not capable of speeding up! It made more sense to slow down my other chakras to match the speed of the lung chakra that impacted my lungs! Therefore, I began spinning counter-clockwise. As soon as I did so, I noticed that doing the other rites became easier!"...

To sum up, unless documents or a teacher are found, all attempts at understanding the motive for Rite No 1 therefore can only be speculative – and you must do what feels right for you!

To Download "The Eye of Revelation" Free - Click Here

To Learn T5T - and get your chakras spinning more rapidly - Click Here

If you wish to publish this article on your website you may do so, provided that you assign copyright to the author exactly as written below: A pdf version is available on request.

2006-03-13T09:35:00.000+11:00

The Five Tibetans and sleep apnea

I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea 3 weeks before attending my T5T weekend course in December last year. I commenced CPAP therapy a week before my course.

I have now been carrying out the full 21 rites for a month after taking the 10 weeks to get there progressively, getting there by adding 2 reps per week.

I have found that the combination of CPAP & T5T have certainly helped me to reduce my apneas ( stopping breathing whilst asleep ) from an average of 320 per night to zero occurrences.

The positive impact to my life has been quite amazing as it had been many years since I've woken feeling refreshed & I attribute T5T & it's energy breathing methods as a major factor in this change.

I am now back to a healthier & more wholesome life & thank Carolinda for sharing this simple but powerful experience with me'

John S. - South Australia"

2006-02-22T10:48:00.000+11:00

Quantas In Flight Magazine Feb 06 reviews The Five Tibetans book "T5T The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites (Penguin)
In the 1930's, Colonel Bradford (ex- British Army) stumbled upon a monastery in Tibet brimming with ancient, yet far from decrepit monks, who attributed their youthfulness to five yoga postures performed daily.

Here that efficacious monky business is outlined for your benefit, although techniques are modernised somewhat by focusing on muscle groups and drawing on Pilates, Feldenkrais and other disciplines.

2006-01-30T08:29:00.000+11:00

The Five Tibetans - Any history Found On Their Origins?
I received this email recently, 'I've been doing 5T for about 2 and a half years now. It's great.I wish I could find more literature about the history and traditional practice of them in old times....Best wishes Natasha.'

I couldn't agree more with her. It is such a shame that the original sources of the Rites can no longer be found. Apart from the original book written by Peter Kelder 'The Eye of Revelation' which introduced the Rites to the West in the late 1930's - I have not found any other source of information. Has anyone else?

2006-01-09T09:34:00.000+11:00

The Five Tibetan Rites - Here's an adaptation of the 3rd Rite that can be done on a chair

Prevent a dowager's hump. Here's a back stretch that's good for reducing tension between the shoulder blades and correcting posture. Sit on a chair facing the backrest, with your arms behind you and your hands grabbing the chair base. Point your chin towards your chest. Pull your navel towards your spine, which you should maintain throughout the movement for core stability. While breathing in, lift your breastbone upwards, without puffing out your ribs, and smoothly arch your head and torso backwards. Keep your neck long and strong. Squeeze your shoulder blades together and focus on expanding the front of your chest. Then, while breathing out, reverse the movement smoothly back to your starting position, bringing the chin back towards your chest. Begin with three backbends per day and build up to 21.

If you wish to publish this article on your website you may do so, provided that you assign copyright to the author exactly as written below:

Copyright (c) 2005 Carolinda Witt - author T5T - The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites and The 10-Minute Rejuvenation Plan

2006-01-03T19:43:00.001+11:00

Five Tibetans done on a glacier!

Where have you practiced your Five Tibetans?

I love doing them on the hard sand at the beach when I get a chance, although my deck in the open air is also enjoyable. I've done them in hotel rooms, and once even tried to do them on the back of a jumbo! Too many people waiting in line for the restrooms unfortunately.

One of the T5T Instructors Jillian, did them on a glacier in New Zealand last year and I've heard of someone doing them on the Great Wall of China!

This bear seems to find the ice a good place to do Rite No 2 - The Leg Raise!

Has anybody else done them somewhere interesting?

2006-01-03T19:22:00.000+11:00

No Time For Exercise - do The Five Tibetans!

One of the reasons I was drawn to The Five Tibetans was the small amount of time it takes to get such big benefits. I'm probably like most people today - busy trying to fit everything in. It's not that I don't like attending yoga, pilates or other classes, it's the time it takes travelling to and from them - let alone the additional cost!

Since T5T only takes me just under 10 minutes a day, it is achievable. If I can't find 10 minutes a day, then I really need to take a good long look at my lifestyle!

They keep me fit, flexible and strong. I never seem to get ill. I have plenty of energy and feel far more focused. I'm so much calmer it amazes me sometimes!

2005-12-28T13:36:00.000+11:00

The Five Tibetans mentioned in Vogue, Australia

2005-12-27T16:26:00.000+11:00

Five Tibetans - Is There a Link to the Whirling Dervishes?

It would be natural to assume a link between the origins of the First Rite and the Whirling Dervishes, who were founded by the great philosopher and writer Rumi in the 13th Century. However, I have yet to find any evidence to support this connection.

Although they both spin, the First Rite and the Sema (a religious ceremony) have different outcomes and vary significantly in technique.

The Dervishes spin to induce a trance-like ecstatic state, whereas the Tibetan 1st Rite is performed to stimulate the vortexes into action.

The sema is part of a sacred ceremony in which the dervish rotates in a precise rhythm. Whilst whirling, the dervish aims to empty himself of all distracting thoughts. As he enters into a trance, he is released from his bodily awareness and conquers his dizziness. Dervishes believe that their souls are released from earthly ties, able to freely and jubilantly communicate with the divine.

Dervish literally means "doorway" and is thought to be an entrance from this material world to the spiritual, heavenly world. In the past the Turkish Sultans would often consult the Dervishes for guidance. They believed that the dervish was in prayer and that the spinning created a hypnotic and relaxing affect which opened his body to receive the energy of God.

In the Tibetan First Rite, both palms are facing downwards towards the floor. The Dervishes however, place their right palm upwards to receive the power of the heavens, and their left palm turned downwards to direct this energy into the earth. They see themselves as the conduit of God’s power and do not try to hold onto or direct that power.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The practice of Sufi whirling (or Sufi spinning), is a twirling meditation that originated among the ancient Indian mystics and Turkish Sufis, which is still practiced by the Dervishes of the Mevlevi order.

Following a recommended fast of several hours, Sufi whirlers begin with hands crossed onto shoulders and may return their hands to this position if they feel dizzy. They rotate on their left feet in short twists, using the right foot to drive their bodies around the left foot. The left foot is like an anchor to the ground, so that if the whirler loses his or her balance, he or she can think of their left foot, direct attention towards it and regain balance back.

The whirling is done on the spot in an anticlockwise direction, with the right arm held high, palm upwards, and the left arm held low, palm downwards. People who feel discomfort from whirling anti-clockwise can change to clockwise. The body of the whirler is meant to be soft with eyes open, but unfocused so that images become blurred and flowing. A 15 minute period of slow rotation is followed by a gradual build up of speed over the next 30 minutes. Then the whirling takes over.

When the whirler is whirling so fast that he or she cannot remain upright, his or her body will fall by itself. The whirler does not consciously make the fall a decision or attempt to arrange the landing in advance; if his or her body is soft he or she should land softly—and the earth will absorb the energy. If the idea of letting oneself fall is too much for the practitioner then the whirler should allow his or herself to slow down very slowly. If the whirler has been whirling for an hour then the process of slowing down might take some time—even 10 minutes or more.

Once the whirler has fallen, the second part of the meditation starts—the unwhirling. The whirler rolls onto his or her stomach immediately so that his or her bare navel is in contact with the earth. If anybody feels strong discomfort lying this way, he should lie on his back. The practitioner feels his or her body blending into the earth, like a small child pressed to his mother's breasts. Eyes remain closed and the whirler remains passive and silent for at least 15 minutes. After the meditation whirlers try to be as quiet and inactive as possible.

Colonel Bradford spoke to one of the lamas about the dervishes and was told that their whirling movement has both a beneficial effect and a devastating one. Apparently their extensive whirling stimulates the vortexes into a high level of activity, which eventually over-stimulates them and leads to exhaustion.

Bradford says, “We do not carry the whirling to excess. While the Whirling Dervishes may spin around hundreds of times, we find that greater benefit is obtained by restricting it to about a dozen or so times, enough so that Rite No 1 can stimulate all the vortexes to action”.

To add to the confusion, Bradford says the dervishes always spin in one direction – from left to right (clockwise). However the late Dr Celaleddin Bakir Celebi, the 21st grandson of Rumi describes an anti-clockwise direction on his family website http://www.mevlana.net as follows:

“While whirling his arms are open, his right hand directed to the skies ready to receive God's beneficence, looking to his left hand turned toward the earth, he turn from right to left around the heart. This is his way of conveying God's spiritual gift to the people upon whom he looks with the eyes of God. Revolving around the heart, from right to left, he embraces all the mankind, all the creation with affection and love”.

The true origins of the spin we can only speculate about. Spinning is so natural it almost certainly evolved from the careful observation of natural laws.

You can see evidence of spinning everywhere. The Earth spins around the sun and when viewed from space is covered in spiralling cloud formations, similar in shape to that of our galaxy. Your own body contains numerous spirals, from your DNA to the unique swirls on the tips of your fingers. Time-lapse photography enables you to see that sprouting seeds don’t shoot upwards as was previously thought. They germinate in a spiral.

The Ancients, have long taught that the universe is full of spinning vortexes, through which the energy of the universe enters and vitalizes your body and all other things. Some ancient cultures believed that the Earth’s energy gathers into vortexes, and in those places they built churches, temples and other places of worship and learning. Some people believe that the extraordinary structures of Stonehenge, the Pyramids and the giant stone monoliths of Easter Island represent places where the Ancients believed ‘special energies’ gathered.

Whatever the explanation for the Spin (1st Tibetan Rite) it does seem reasonable to think that there may be some universal significance in terms of connecting spinning with energy generation and dispersal.

The vortex form is integral to the universe. It’s a constant that recurs throughout all life. Through the revolving of the neutrons, protons and electrons of the atoms that form our basic structure, everything takes part in this revolving.

"The sky is round, and I have heard the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind in its greatest power whirls. Birds make their nest in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours.

The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of man is a circle from childhood to childhood,and so it is in everything where power moves…" Black Elk, Sioux Holy Man

If you wish to publish this article on your website you may do so, provided that you assign copyright to the author exactly as written below:

Copyright (c) 2005 Carolinda Witt - author T5T - The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites and The 10-Minute Rejuvenation Plan

2005-12-23T10:45:00.000+11:00

Dogs and The Five Tibetans
When my friend Ella first started doing The Five Tibetans, her dogs used to want to sit on her or lick her - very difficult to remain 'present' with this going on! So, she had an idea: Put classical music on when she woke up to encourage them to relax and then begin her T5T practice. She thought she might be able to 'get them into a pattern'. It was rather successful as you can see! To learn more about Ella, who is "A communicator who entertains… or an entertainer who communicates? When you’re after one or the other, or both, Ella James is a unique solution" see www.ellajames.com

2005-12-21T17:27:00.000+11:00

The Five Tibetans - Which direction should we spin?

It is a tragedy that the great wisdom and knowledge of the Lamas has been lost over the hundreds of years of the Rites' existence. It would be most beneficial to know for example; why they instructed us to spin clockwise only during the 1st Rite (movement).

In the absence of this traditional knowledge, people have adapted the Rites to suit their philosophy or in accordance with their own experience. One of these adaptations is to spin clockwise in the northern hemisphere and anti-clockwise in the southern hemisphere.

From my research this modern belief appears to be based on the following myth:

Just as water spirals down the sink, in apparently different directions, some people believe that we should adjust the direction of our spin in accordance with the Coriolis Effect which is created by the rotation of the Earth. If this were the case, we should spin anti-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. But what should we do on the Equator?

In actuality, the measurable effect of this scientific phenomenon on the normal water spiralling down the sink is a myth - unless the sink is the size of a small ocean. The rotation of the Earth, and thereby the Coriolis force, is only one full rotation per day - extremely minor”. Extract from T5T – The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites (Penguin)."

To quote from www.badmeteorology.com where Alistair B. Fraser, Ph.D. Emeritus Professor of Meteorology, Penn State University, U.S.A; explains in great detail (Reprinted with permission of author):

“The direction of rotation in draining sinks and toilets is not determined by the rotation of the Earth, but by rotation that was introduced earlier when it was being filled or subsequently being disturbed (say by washing). The rotation of the Earth does influence the direction of rotation of large weather systems and large vortices in the oceans, for these are very long-lived phenomena and so allow the very weak Coriolis force to produce a significant effect, with time”.

The degree of Coriolis Effect on a spinning human being would therefore be negligible and impossible to gauge accurately.

Barbara Ann Brennan, ex NASA research scientist and noted authority on the human energy field, says in her book Hands of Light:

"When the chakras are functioning normally, each will be "open", spinning clockwise to metabolize the particular energies needed from the universal field. A clockwise spin draws energy from the UEF (Universal Energy Field) into the chakra, very much like the right-hand rule in electromagnetism, which states that a changing magnetic field around a wire will induce a current in that wire.

When the chakra spins counter clockwise, the current is flowing outward from the body, thus interfering with metabolism. In other words, the energies that are needed and that we experience as psychological reality are not flowing into the chakra when it is spinning counter clockwise. We thus label the chakra as "closed" to incoming energies”.

Interestingly, a dance teacher who attended one of my classes told me that children are initially taught to spin clockwise. Apparently they find it easier (although there are always exceptions). She said it is well known amongst dance teachers - that if you want to calm children down, you get them to spin anti-clockwise. To energise them, you get them to spin clockwise!

This energising effect is exactly what most people experience doing Rite No 1 as described by Colonel Bradford. In my view - if the lamas gave instructions to Spin clockwise - then clockwise it is!

"…The sky is round, and I have heard the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind in its greatest power whirls. Birds make their nest in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours.

The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of man is a circle from childhood to childhood,and so it is in everything where power moves…"
Black Elk, Sioux Holy Man

If you wish to publish this article on your website you may do so, provided that you assign copyright to the author exactly as written below:

Copyright (c) 2005 Carolinda Witt - author T5T - The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites and The 10-Minute Rejuvenation Plan

2005-12-07T09:53:00.000+11:00

Doing The Five Tibetan Rites Around Dogs and Children!

When you do the Five Tibetans - has anyone noticed how dogs (and kids) have to come and lie all over you? After years of telling them to go away - my dogs have finally got the message! This is them watching me doing T5T in the lounge.

If I take the yoga mat onto the deck though - they still have to lie on it with me!

2005-12-01T17:58:00.000+11:00

Des Walsh has a blog called Thinkinghomebusiness and there is a post there about T5T - check it out

2005-11-29T21:58:00.000+11:00

My blog mentor and friend Chris Gilbey from www.perceptric.com has the most fascinating website on all sorts of global trends, views, knowledge, wisdom opinions etc. There is information almost on everything you need to know about right now! He's also a really good guy who has always been willing to share whatever he learns and then to help me and others through the learning process. Go Chris - your influence and philanthropic spirit is an inspiration.

2005-11-28T09:44:00.000+11:00

Cameron 7 doing The Five Tibetans
This is Cameron doing the 5th Rite. His mum Dracaena is a T5T Instructor, Yoga Teacher & Stott Pilates Instructor.

2005-11-28T09:16:00.000+11:00

THE FIVE TIBETANS BLOG
I created this site to provide a place where people can share their experiences and receive support with The Five Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation.

I learnt them 5 years ago from a friend and they really turned my life around. I can't imagine my life without them now, they are so integral to who I am.

I really believe that when people do the Rites they become better people. I'd love to see everyone doing them. I have visions of walking into a city park one morning and seeing a whole group of people doing the Rites before they go to work.

I imagine people doing them all over the world and then meeting like minded people who become friends. Sort of like a physical blog!

Although I really love doing them on the beach, it is hard to do the spin unless the sand is hard. I tried them on the back of the plane recently with arms bent, but it is clear I have to pick the right time when everyone is asleep, otherwise people waiting to use the toilet take up all the available space! And yes....I did find they helped with jetlag.