Despite the whole of this year having been dedicated to building a new house - actually massive remodelling on a rustic casita and new building on the
lot - I have had a crew doing the heavy work so my part has been somewhat sedentary. Now for the past three weeks I have been occupying the new place
but there has been a lot of finishing work to be done and I have encountered a couple aches and pains like a back tweak - very unusual for me - that
annoyed me for a couple days despite temporary relief from stretching and bending to take a wrong step or lift something and have the ache return.
Three days ago I was forced to face the reality that I was feeling my age and lack of activity catch up with me as I get within a few months of
turning 60. I needed to take some measures to restore a little vitality so I could waste it away with some online activity that has been occupying my
time as of late. Three days ago I turned to the Five Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation that I have been aware of for decades, had tried them, but never
formed a regimen. Great news is that it works! This seems to fit well in your thread so is worthy of mention here.
Many are familiar with these Five Rites but like myself never gave them much consideration. Not "rituals" in some esoteric sense but five fairly
simple exercises that most people can perform to some degree of correctness. The story behind them goes that an old and stooped former soldier walking
with a cane was searching for rejuvenation and found a Tibetan monastery where he was taken in and introduced to these exercises and after a time
became once again youthful - even to the extent his hair color came back dark once more.
In my three days of doing this now, immediately that back tweak went away, I have been sleeping full nights, my appetite is more normal and regular,
and my ability to perform the exercises slowly and properly has been increasing. It should be noted that correct performance at first is less
important if it exceeds your ability, only that you do your best and need only about three repetitions of the "rites" in the first few weeks, daily,
until ability improves.
There is some controversy over how "authentic" these rites may be but there appears to be agreement they are authentic enough and do provide benefit.
They are yogic in nature, following Tibetan tradition that they follow a flowing movement of yoga and not of the perhaps more common stationary type
of yoga that is popularly known. An internet search of "five rites", "five tibetans", "rites of rejuvenation", or similar will yield more information
than you really care to know and much more than necessary to achieve benefit including YouTube demonstrations of how they are performed. This Wiki
link will provide a good departure point for anyone interested in learning more
en.wikipedia.org...
For me it has just been a few days but I feel a big difference. A little exercise and activity applied to the right areas seems to get results like
your post suggests. It takes less than five minutes to do these as of the moment I strain a bit even doing the minimum but I look forward each day
after my first coffee and cigarette to doing these, quite cheerfully. No bowing to "sensei" or facing the east, none of those are even suggested,
though I don't suppose it would harm in any way to do so if one is so inclined. Forget they are Tibetan "Rites" of questionable origen and just bear
in mind they are a few simple exercises that will likely help keep you flexible if you are already healthy and vibrant, or if like me age suddenly
creeps up on you it could be a way to send it packing and help restore some vigor and vitality. I offer a favorable vote for the routine. Can't hurt.
Thanks for the timely thread - timely for me. S&F!
Edit to add: A few days ago I was walking stooped because of that tweak - no injury, just muscle strain from hanging doors and standing in
uncomfortable positions. I find myself this morning walking very erect, smiling, and energeticly jumping in to get a few things done on this house
project between posts. It seems, like mentioned in the original book, the worse off you are when starting the more instantly you see improvement. It
is working like that for me.
edit on 28-9-2012 by Erongaricuaro because: (no reason given)
Not my deal. Darth Vader? Really?? Yea, expanding our lifespan will lead to inevitable doom....oookay. 
The last tree...on earth 
