Customer Reviews

The Five Tibetans: Five Dynamic Exercises for Health, Energy, and Personal Power

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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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

I have a bad back that has greatly improved since undertaking these wonderful exercises. The five Tibetans only take about 8 minutes of your time (I do every morning)and the benefits are amazing. It's a great way to start your day feeling refreshed and ready to go. The exercises are simple and layed out nicely in the book with photographs showing the correct way to do. The first Tibetan involves spinning and does take a few times to get "used to" but should not be a deterrant to undertaking the rest. Absolutely the best exercise regime I've ever made a part of my life and one that will remain for as long as I live, it's that beneficial. Bravo!

I have been doing the Five Rites since 1996 ( It is now July of 2003). Can't begin to say enough good about them. Bad back, tennis elbow, arthritis in shoulder, all gone. Each left in the reverse order of onset after approximately 4 to 6 months of doing the rites. My energy level increased, I was able to begin riding a bicycle again and now am an avid bicyclist doing abut 15 to 20 miles each night after work and about 50 on a weekend. Just completed a 100 mile ride in under 7 hours. (Not bad at 53 years old). At the onset of the Five rites I began to loose weight and keep it off as well as drop from a 38 to 34 waist. My energy and strength make me feel like I am in my early 30's. I think the key is dedication to the Rites. I recommend this book to everyone.

Long ago I discarded weightlifting and running to become a full-time couch potato. The reason: I very quickly become bored with the repetition of exercise--any exercise. I'd rather watch Fox News girls than sweat through curls anyway, so my motivation to resume physical activity was zilch.

Then, via the magic of the Internet, I heard about THE FIVE TIBETANS, and I bought this slim and trim volume. This was my cup of yogic tea: five exercises--none of them too vigorous--twenty-one reps. And I can easily find ten to twelve minutes a day to perform them. I now enthusiastically look forward to the Tibetans each evening; having utilized them, I now enjoy more energy, sleep better, am more limber. . .stronger. No, the Tibetans are not the regimen for those wanting to look like Olympian gods, but then again, I'm not going to compete in any triathlon; the pace and intensity of these exercises suits me fine.

Christopher S. Kilham has put together a very informative booklet--one that can be turned to time and again for future reference. His breathing techniques are excellent, by the way. I'm less than enthusiastic about his discussions of kundalini meditation and yoganidra (deep relaxation), but that's just me. I'll just stick to the Tibetans. Finally, I'd like to thank fellow reviewer doctor_beth for bringing to my attention THE FIVE TIBETANS. Muchas gracias, amigo!
--D. Mikels

The Five Tibetans are not a "quick fix" for those of you who want some kind of overnight transformation. I recently restarted the Five Tibetans (after a few years of not doing them) and after 2 weeks, am feeling an increased energy and better sleep patterns. The Five Tibetans don't take long to do and you don't need any equipment. Some of the other reviewers have had problems with nausa from the spinning rite - my advice is to do fewer (and slower!) repititions.

The Five Tibetans are also a great compliment to other activities, whether it be strength training, cardio, etc. Fitness is a way of life, and one must decide if one will dedicate themselves to get some form of activity in every day - this is key to good health, weight loss and a higher quality of life.

I got this book many years ago and I love it. I've read some of the reviews here and see that some people do not like the first exercise - the spinning. It is my favorite. While it does say in this one and other similar books that it is not recommended to go overboard with spinning - there I times I do spin about 99 times three times a day. It's a way of getting naturally high. (On a side not, spinning is my favorite part of salsa dancing).

I also know a woman who has transformed literally in a few months by doing these exercises - and she too, did mostly spinning. Not only did she look younger, but she become way slimmer.

Some reviewers say that this it not a book for beginners - but the exercises are very simple and you are meant to do them according to your comfort level, progressing at your own pace, so it doesn't matter how stiff or flexible you are - if you persist with the exercises you are bound to make progress.