The Five Tibetan Rites - Excercises for Healing By Mary Kurus Copyright Mary Kurus 2001, All Rights Reserved Background In 1985 a book called The Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth written by Peter Kelder was published which for the first time fully described an exercise program for "youthing". Potential Benefits of the Five Rites The authors provide many examples of the benefits of the "Five Tibetan Rites" including the following: looking much younger; sleeping soundly; waking up feeling refreshed and energetic; release from serious medical problems including difficulties with spines; relief from problems with joints; release from pain; better memory; arthritis relief; weight loss; improved vision; youthing instead of aging; greatly improved physical strength, endurance and vigor; improved emotional and mental health; enhanced sense of well being and harmony; and very high overall energy. How the Five Rites Work Chakras Chakra is an Indian Sanskrit word that translates to mean "Wheel of Spinning Energy". Detoxification Rite #1 Rite #2
Meditation May Protect Your Brain For thousands of years, Buddhist meditators have claimed that the simple act of sitting down and following their breath while letting go of intrusive thoughts can free one from the entanglements of neurotic suffering. Now, scientists are using cutting-edge scanning technology to watch the meditating mind at work. They are finding that regular meditation has a measurable effect on a variety of brain structures related to attention — an example of what is known as neuroplasticity, where the brain physically changes in response to an intentional exercise. A team of Emory University scientists reported in early September that experienced Zen meditators were much better than control subjects at dropping extraneous thoughts and returning to the breath. The same researchers reported last year that longtime meditators don’t lose gray matter in their brains with age the way most people do, suggesting that meditation may have a neuro-protective effect. Where does all this lead?
A Yoga Move That Boosts Your Energy If you need an energy infusion, try the Camel Pose. It opens your chest so your lungs are able to take in more oxygen. Plus, the act of bending backward is believed to stimulate your adrenal glands, revving you up. Do this move a few times a week—or whenever you need a little lift. How-to: Kneel on your shins so your calves are hip-width apart and parallel to each other. If you feel comfortable, reach back and take hold of one heel with each hand (as shown), pressing down to create further lift in your chest. Meditation - Its not what you think It seems everyone is interested in meditation...talking about the wonderful benefits, recommending classes and discussing the different ways to "do it". But, for a beginner, just what is "it"? And how do you do "it"? Our busy, hectic, lifestyles may seem to prohibit this peaceful practice, or provide a convenient "excuse" not to begin, or continue, to meditate...but, the happy news is, you CAN successfully benefit even if you practice for short periods. Sit comfortably, preferably upright and alert. To sit on a mat, cushion or pillow, sit cross-legged, half or full lotus, depending on your ability. You may close your eyes (unless this causes you to fall asleep) or gaze with almost-closed eyes as if looking downward and inward. Traditionally, the best times to practice are upon arising and in the evening or before bedtime. Meditation is a cultivation process --- be patient and natural, enjoy each moment, do not "try hard"...just allow and everything will naturally fall-into-place.
Six Steps to Meditation This meditation lasts 15 to 20 minutes. It is a meditation of SIX steps. Each step will take roughly two and half to about three minutes. The FIRST is the step of rhythmic breathing. The SECOND is the step of detached observation. Then we come to the THIRD step. Then we come to the FOURTH step. The FIFTH is meditation on your immortality. And now we come to the FINAL, the last, the SIXTH step. And now if you are ready, we shall begin with the meditation. The FIRST step, the step of rhythmic breathing. Now we come to the SECOND step; it is the step of detached observation. We move to the THIRD step. We now come to the FOURTH step: It is the step of realizing the oneness with all that is; all human beings, all creatures, all birds, all animals, fish and foul, insects, even mosquitoes, all trees and shrubs and plants. And now we come to the FIFTH step. By GOD’S grace, our period of silence is over.
A No-Nonsense Guide to Meditation: No Gurus and No B.S. | Clay Collins Blog Answers by Rudy Rauben (see here for more info); edited by Clay Collins. [ Editor's Note: There's some controversy in the comments about the "No Gurus and No B.S." statement. For more information about our position, see this comment , and this comment below]. About This Guide Rudy is a good friend of mine who’s been actively meditating for over 20 years. Index of questions addressed in this guide: 1. The simplest answer would be to gain clarity, peace of mind, health and personal development, but I’m not sure these answers necessarily explain a whole lot in and of themselves. We begin meditating by learning to "still" our minds, so our thoughts don’t just run amok. The process of calming the mind and allowing our thoughts to settle out is commonly referred to as "centering." 2. "The mind like water" is the still, centered mind. 3. More regularity with shorter sessions is better than less regularity with longer sessions. 4. Begin by focusing as much attention on your breathing as possible.
Concentration Exercise — Concentration is the secret key to a whole world of possibilities, enabling you to keep out distractions and focus on attaining your life goals. In addition it is an absolute prerequisite if you want to learn the art of meditation, as it helps ‘clear the road’ of any mental obstacles. However if anything the average concentration span is decreasing as life gets busier and busier and the world becomes filled with more things to distract and scatter our attention. Here is one very easy-to-learn concentration exercise which was taught to me by my meditation teacher Sri Chinmoy. Requirements: An object of concentration – best is to use a candle or flower, but you can even use a dot on the wall. In this exercise, we will use the candle, although you can adapt the exercise to whatever object you are using. Start off with a modest goal – i.e 3-5 minutes a day, and then gradually increase with time. If you are inspired to try, please let us know how you got on! Related:
Meditation Music That Makes You Blissful Dear Friend, Imagine what it would be like if you could listen to meditation music that instantly melted away your stress and gently moved you into deep states of meditation and bliss. Imagine owning a unique CD that not only could deliver to you incredible states of peace but would also act as an enlightened "tool" that leads you to spiritual awakening, awakening the kundalini & even enlightenment. My name is Kip Mazuy known as the "Leader in Meditation Music Sound Technology." Thousands of people all over the world already enjoy incredible states of meditation while listening to my Shaktipat CDs like Ocean Euphoric and The Calling. Over 10,000 people read my online meditation teachings every week. I'd like to be honest with you about something. It is the reason why most people remain stuck in the merry go round of suffering and also struggle to attain even a superficial experience of peace in meditation. I was 15 when I started meditating. You could experience Skeptical? All for only $97.
Breathing: Three Exercises "Practicing regular, mindful breathing can be calming and energizing and can even help with stress-related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive disorders." Andrew Weil, M.D. Since breathing is something we can control and regulate, it is a useful tool for achieving a relaxed and clear state of mind. Exercise 1: The Stimulating Breath (also called the Bellows Breath) The Stimulating Breath is adapted from yogic breathing techniques. Inhale and exhale rapidly through your nose, keeping your mouth closed but relaxed. If done properly, you may feel invigorated, comparable to the heightened awareness you feel after a good workout. Watch a video of Dr. Exercise 2: The 4-7-8 (or Relaxing Breath) Exercise This breathing exercise is utterly simple, takes almost no time, requires no equipment and can be done anywhere. Note that you always inhale quietly through your nose and exhale audibly through your mouth. This exercise is a natural tranquilizer for the nervous system.
How meditation might ward off the effects of ageing High in the mountains of northern Colorado, a 100-foot tall tower reaches up through the pinetops. Brightly coloured and strung with garlands, its ornate gold leaf glints in the sun. With a shape that symbolises a giant seated Buddha, this lofty stupa is intended to inspire those on the path to enlightenment. Visitors here to the Shambhala Mountain Centre meditate in silence for up to 10 hours every day, emulating the lifestyle that monks have chosen for centuries in mountain refuges from India to Japan. But is it doing them any good? For two three-month retreats held in 2007, this haven for the eastern spiritual tradition opened its doors to western science. After several years of number-crunching, data from the so-called Shamatha project is finally starting to be published. It's the kind of claim more often associated with pseudoscience. But a new generation of brain-imaging studies and robust clinical trials is helping to change that. It's not just an abstract concept.
10-Minute Yoga ‘Supersets’: Better than Another Hour of Yoga This year, after 15 years of yoga practice and transforming my body, I found myself hitting a plateau. Though my practice regularly involves power moves like jumping forward into Crow Pose and holding Warrior Pose for a long time, my muscle tone seemed to be stuck on autopilot: never decreasing, but never really going to that next level, either. My body, it seems, has become accustomed to the level of my practice. Whether it’s in weight loss or athletic training goals, hitting a plateau is normal. To move past the plateau, I could have just started practicing more. I know what some of you are thinking: “This chick owns a yoga studio and practices a ton … I don’t have that much time.” The magic word here is “supersets” Bodybuilders and exercise physiologists have known about the benefits of the superset technique for years, and it’s time we brought it onto the mat. In yoga we often do one repetition of any given pose — say, Chaturanga (Pushup Pose) — then move on. Do 3 sets of 5-10.