The Five Tibetan Rites

‘Rejuvenation, Transmutation and Youthification’

In essence, the Five Tibetan Rites are a set of dynamic movements, used to balance the energy body and rejuvenate the physical form.

Their origin is mysterious. Despite claims they’re an ancient practice, supposedly dating back over 2500 years, they were first publicised by an American author and occultist, Peter Kelder, in 1938. He penned a short book detailing the discovery of these exercises named ‘The Eye of Revelation’, in which he described his interactions with one Colonel Bradford. Having retired from the British military, the colonel travelled the Himalayas in search of a monastery, rumoured to house the Fountain of Youth. Upon his return, the Colonel appeared to Kelder like a much younger man and proceeded to regale the author with tales of the Tibetan Lamas he’d met. They’d taught him a version of the chakra system and exercises to revitalise its functioning. These, he said, were the Fountain of Youth, the Five Rites of Rejuvenation.

We are unsure if this story is fictional and merely a means for Kelder to popularise a sequence inspired by but not originating in Asian spiritual traditions. Though Kelder’s claims about the origin of the rites may or may not be true, the exercises themselves are still extremely valuable. They grew in popularity along with the Western interest in Eastern practices, yoga in particular, and have become commonplace within New Age communities. As such, their physical and spiritual benefits have been attested.

Why practice The Five Rites?

Kelder presents the rites as an almost magical means by which to reclaim youth. The colonel is said to appear 15 years younger than his former self, implying the rites’ ability to combat the ageing process and restore virility. These were exaggerations without a doubt, but the sequence has been found to promote the body’s overall health. In a very measurable sense, they work wonders for your sense of balance, which does decline as we age. Most muscle groups are strengthened, and the spine is flexed to prevent or eliminate stooped posture. The cardiovascular system is stimulated to maintain heart health and regular blood flow, that, in turn, elevates all organ function. The respiratory and digestive systems reap the benefits also.

In terms of their energetic influence, Kelder refers to a chakra or ‘vortex’ system. Similar to our modern conceptualisation of this system, it involves energy centres located in various parts of the body. In order for us to remain healthy, these centres must spin harmoniously. Kelder argues that the slowing of the chakras is what brings about old age and it is via the rites’ power to align this system that youthfulness can be achieved. In practising these exercises, we boost and balance our energy body which has a knock on effect on physical, mental and spiritual health. As a result, meditation and clarity of mind are significantly enhanced.

How-To

There have been many modifications made to the rites since Kelder documented them, though the following instructions were made in reference to that original text. However, I have incorporated breath into each movement, drawing upon yogic schools of thought to maximise their energetic benefits.

Each rite should be practised the same number of times. Begin by trying each 3 times a day, and increase this number once your body is accustomed to the movements. Do not force positions and do not be disheartened if you find a particular exercise difficult – the work you’re putting in is still doing you the world of good! The maximum amount of repetitions recommended is 21, but work up to this over an extended period.

Rite 1. Spinning

• Stand with the feet shoulder-distance apart, arms reaching out sideways, palms facing down.

• Feel into the pads of the feet, noting the firmness of the ground beneath you. Take a deep breath and root through your skeleton, into the floor.

• Identify a fixed point on the wall or floor in front of you, then begin to spin clockwise on the spot. Bring your gaze back to that point on each turn to balance.

• Complete your rotations, then come to stillness. Reconnect with the sensation of your feet on the floor, and take 3 deep breaths, inhaling through the nose, exhaling through pursed lips.

Rite 2. Leg Raises

• Come to lay flat on your back, legs flat and palms against the floor next to your hips. Inhale here.

• Exhale, engage the abdomen to lift the feet to the sky, keeping the legs straight, and bring the chin towards the chest. Modification: If this is too strong, try lifting the knees with the feet loose or place your hands under your buttocks.

• Inhale to lower back to the ground. Repeat this action, aligning movement with breath.

• Once complete, take those 3 breaths, inhaling through the nose, exhaling through the mouth.

Rite 3. Backbend

• Come to a high kneeling position and place the palms

  just under the buttocks, knees slightly apart and toes turned under.

• Exhale and tuck the chin slightly

• Draw the head back, project the chest forward. Only bend as far back as is comfortable and keep the arms strong to support you. Inhale deeply here, then exhale to straighten.

• As before, complete your rotations then take 3 breaths. If that was quite intense on your back, counter this action by coming to sit on your heals then allow the body to fold over the legs and the arms to droop beside the body - child's pose.

Rite 4. Table

• Begin seated, with the spine erect and your legs stretched out in front of you.

• Place your hands on the floor alongside your buttocks and tuck your chin. Exhale.

• Lift the hips, pushing up through your feet and bending the knees to create a table-top position with the body. Allow the head to fall back if that feels ok on your neck. Take a deep inhale here. Modification: If you can not quite make a horizontal line with your torso, lift the hips as far as is comfortable

• Exhale to lower the hips back to the ground and retuck your chin.

• When complete, take the same three breaths.

Rite 5. The Dogs

• For those of you familiar with yoga, our starting position resembles upward-facing dog. With the body facing the floor, place the palms under your shoulders, elbows tucked to the body, legs straight. Press firmly into the ground to straighten the arms and levitate the thighs off the floor. Tip the head back to project the chest forward - inhale. Modification: If this is too strong on the spine, keep a bend in the elbows and look forward rather than up.

• On your exhale, draw the hips up to the sky and roll over the toes. Actively push the floor away to draw the shoulders from the ears. Tuck the chin slightly. Your body should create a triangle with the floor - downward-facing dog. Modification: You can keep a micro-bend in the knees and have the heels raised if this is too intense of a stretch,

• Complete your rotations, come to stand and take your three deep breaths.

The Secret Sixth Rite

There is in fact a sixth exercise the Colonel kept concealed from Kelder until after the author had a good grasp of the exercises. He stresses the importance of transmuting the reproductive energy we've cultivated, diverting its flow upwards to transform primal urges into spiritual will. The Sixth Rite is meant for that purpose - to redirect our life force. It bares a resemblance to yoga practises performed to achieve a Kundalini awakening, which also involves activating the chakra system and drawing up energy to inspire a spiritual realization.

Having maximised the flow of creative energy within your chakras through consistent practise, you are ready to incorporate the final rite. Complete no more than 3 rounds at a time.

• Start in a standing position, feet hip-width apart, arms by your sides. Take a deep inhale.

• Bend from the hips, placing the hands on the knees and exhale completely. Hold the breath out.

• With the breath held, come back to standing. Place your hands on your hips and pull the navel towards the spine to raise the chest. Hold the breath out as long as you're able.

• When you're ready, inhale through the nostrils. Then exhale through the mouth, relaxing the arms.

• Take a few natural breaths before attempting another round or ending your practise there.

After completing the rites, I recommend laying in savasana for a few moments to rest the body and allow the mind to integrate your experience. This is also an amazing time to meditate - take full advantage of the calm but powerful energy you've stimulated.

So now you're ready to dive into the Fountain of Youth! Embrace the rites and reap the physical, emotional and spiritual advantages. They are an invaluable addition to regular yoga practice. Have a go and let me know your experience!

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Source: Kelder, P. (n.d.). THE EYE OF REVELATION. [online] Available at: https://www.robmcbride.net/pdf/the_eye_of_the_revelation.pdf [Accessed 28 Jul. 2025].