Five Rites

Five Rites: 

of course I don't know if they're actually Tibetan in origin, there has a myth about this yoga since first discovered by the Western world through a book published in 1939. The author, Peter Kelder, claimed to have learned the sequence of moves from a retired British military officer who had traveled the world and spent time in India were he received the Five Tibetan Rites from a Lama. The story is disputed, as well as the origin of this yoga. Yet little of this matters to the actuality of my practice. 

my body responds well to these movements. 

and that's enough truth for me to know.

the rites are five moves done for repetition and sequence, dynamic in their approach, and much different from my usual taste of yoga. I began practicing them nearly 25 years ago, sometimes for extended periods of time, often only building them into my standard practice where they would eventual be replaced by more traditional Hatha yoga poses. However, lately, intuitively, I've been drawn to practice early in the morning, soon after waking and first meditation,  once again being captivated by their mystery. 

most importantly, my back is being healed. 

and I love adding this ritual to my morning.

it seems my body knew this well before my mind, drawing me in this direction, an intuitive whisper through my cells. Over the years, especially as my yoga practice has deepened, I've learned to listen to these whispers, trusting in the direction of their urge. The Five Rites seem to be exactly what I need right now, gently easing me towards recovery from injury, and more so, opening me energetically to the morning, as if my spine is awakening from dormant slumber to a new and vibrant world.

I have no idea why I'm responding so well to this yoga. 

but I'm re-devoted to their practice.

healing, just a bit more,

with every morning. 

~

Peace, Eric