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195 of 197 found the following review helpful:
 Not for beginnersApr 27, 2001
I'm a huge fan of the Five Tibetans, and this is a great little book for people who are already fit and experienced in yoga-type exercises. For anyone else, however, I strongly recommend Peter Kelder's "Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth", Book 1 or 2, instead (one of Kelder's books introduced this author to the exercises). Kelder tells you how to start gradually and build up repetitions. He gives you tips for doing the exercises safely, and alternate ways to do them effectively when you are starting out and not yet strong, flexible, or confident enough to do them fully. Kelder's Book 2 has more detail, but I started with Book 1 and it was more than adequate. Kilham's book contains none of this basic information, which makes it suitable for practitioners of other Eastern physical movement like yoga or Qi-Gong but difficult for people without that experience. I do very much agree with him that breathing enhances the exercises. Beginners may want to get comfortable with the exercises first, and then add the breathing. If you want some simple exercises you can do in less than 10 minutes, anywhere, with no equipment, where you'll really get results - the Five Tibetans are awesome!
196 of 200 found the following review helpful:
 The system worksOct 21, 2005
By L. Power
"nlp trainer"
If you are like most people, you may be wondering if you can do these exercises consistently, if they work, and why they work.
I have been doing these exercises for a couple of weeks, not being a very physically active person. These exercises are not difficult, though it may take a while before you can do the recommended 21 repetitions on each. I consider only one of the exercises to be difficult. If you have done yoga you will recognise some similarities with these rites.
If these exercises work for me, they will probably work for you.
The more you practice, the more you improve. So far, I have noticed increased energy, and better muscle definition, and there appears to be less gray hair than before. My posture has dramatically improved. The particular area with the most pronounced improvement I would say is my abdominal area, what physical trainers refer to as the core. I can feel the reemergence of the body I used to have years ago.
I can see better muscle tone.
I believe these exercises work because according to the Eye of Revelation by Peter Kelder on which this book is based, your body has seven psychic vortexes, which are activated by these exercises. The rate of spin of these vortexes decreases with age and these exercises restore the spin rate to a youthful level, restoring your metabolism in the process.
My personal belief is these exercises do stimulate your key internal organs, and some of your chakras. Some of the exercises seem to focus on the kundalini energy located at the base of your spine. This is is the most powerful energy point in your body.
55 of 55 found the following review helpful:
Essential to the understanding of the 5 TibetansOct 27, 2003
If you are a fan of yoga, and have never heard of the Five Tibetans (or even if you have, and aren't quite sure what they are) this book is for you. The author's language is simple, yet eloquent. The reader gets a basic knowledge of the chakras, Kundalini meditation, deep relaxation techniques and basic pranayama ("breathing exercises"). The actual Five Tibetans (yoga-inspired exercises) are well depicted in black and white photos (except for the first Tibetan, in which you spin clock-wise 21 times).The author claims that these exercises can be done in about 5-6 minutes. It takes me a little longer than that to complete 21 repetitions of each movement, but the effects are wonderful. I find them invigorating, and have started to use them at the beginning of my daily yoga practice.
One word of caution: if you get dizzy easily, cut the first Tibetan short. There are still days that all 21 reps are not possible for me to complete. In short, this book is an interesting, easy read and a handy resource.
51 of 51 found the following review helpful:
Best 15 minutes spent either horizontally or verticallyJan 20, 2003
I am familiar with the benefits of Tai-Chi, Qi-Gong, Meditation, Martial Arts, etc. Most take a couple of years of training, and 1-3 hours a day of practice to achieve the health benefits that these 6 exercises will give in 10-15 minutes a day, and you'll start feeling the benefit nearly immediately. At least I did. I'm 48 and due to various debilities can't lift weights or do violent exercises any more. I've done the rites now for about 8 months and I can move pretty much pain free and rapidly. I've benefited mentally and physically vastly out of proportion to the apparent simplicity and brevity of these exercises. I bugged my 70's something dad to try them, and once he found out how much his energy and strength levels improved, he now does the rites daily. Mom is still trying to figure out what's going on, but even she's impressed with dad's increased energy levels. Remember, they will improve your physical and mental condition, but the rites are not a cure-all. Buy the book(s) and try them anyway.
53 of 54 found the following review helpful:
 Great exercises, more info would be helpful thoughJan 17, 2006
By Adrian S.
The exercises are great, I was recommended to buy this book and start doing them. Although I've been doing them for only two days, I already feel better. However, I have to say that the book is small, and, while the execution technique is properly explained, that is not enough. I also do qigong (beginner), and knew some other things that help, but it would have been nice if the book addressed to total beginners and explained what else is important. For example, do the same number of repetitions for each exercise. Why? Because the purpose of the tibetans is to synchronize the speed of chakras (hubs/vortexes of bodily energy), and to achieve that you have to do the same number. Even if you can do better for some exercises - don't - work up until you improve the weak ones and increase the number for all of them at the same time.
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