Fran Gets Fit

The Five Tibetan Rites day 154

I noticed that when I missed doing the Five Tibetan Rites once or twice I have become less diligent in making sure I do them. It was as if I thought "Oh well, I've blown it" just like people do when they are on diets. I am sure that this explains the drop in my energy levels, my thinking sometimes being a bit foggy, my skin looking a bit dry and I take longer to loosen up when I exercise. Also, although I have a problem getting to sleep anyway  I was dropping off better when I was doing at least eleven of each rite every day. Now I am probably only getting about five or six hours sleep and waking up a lot; at least twice if not four or five times. I have also noticed that my thoughts and attitudes are not as peaceful as they were. Sometimes instead of looking for the good in a person or a situation I just think "oh bugger it" or worse.  When I was doing the rites more diligently I was more inclined to think "what can I do to make this situation / person better" not "begger off and leave me alone". Anyway. Here goes to getting back to doing at least eleven every day. I don't think I have ever done the full 21 yet but it's not all tat many months ago that I could only just manage 3.

Five Tibetan Rites day 144

This last week or so I had only been doing the rites five times of each; kidding myself that I was pressed for time, as if they take all that long to do. I realised that my energy levels had dropped and I was getting quite moody at times. I have upped them to eleven now and will aim at more.  My Daughter hasn't done them at all for a week and declared that was why she is now full of cold. She says she will start doing them again tomorrow.  I need to re-read the book and watch the video as I suspect my technique has evolved into something quite different since I started. For example, my Yoga teacher says not to let your head drop back when doing back bends, yet that is part of the instructions for the third rite..but then I wonder if I am remembering correctly, so, as I say, I need to refresh.

One thing I thought I'd make a note of, even though it might have no connection to The Five Rites really. My ears have been pierced for over two decades but recently it seems as if one of the holes is trying to heal over. I've even bought a new pair of earrings with a thicker post to try and keep the hole wider.

Another note, sometimes I wonder if it's really worth doing the rites and am I just fooling myself that they are doing me some good? Then I look back at before I did them and when I first started doing them and see how I have changed in that short time.  I think that if I hadn't started doing them I would still be sat on the couch getting larger and stiffer, still done nothing to change the aspects of my job that I hated, given in to old addictions and habits and have the energy of a plate of old custard.

The Five Tibetan Rites, day 124

Still doing them. For a little while I went down to just five a day but I am back at eleven now and trying to do them first thing in the morning. I've a lot more energy these days. I caught myself dancing to the radio at work whilst crossing the office. Fortunately no one saw me, or if they did they didn't pass comment. Another day I was passing through the empty showroom and decided to spin the entire length. Maybe that's normal, maybe people often do things like that when no one is watching but I don't think that I used to. This afternoon I was in the Boss's office, again empty, and thought to myself  "I wonder if that boardroom table would be good to tap dance on". I didn't actually climb up and try it out, but I don't think I have felt the urge to dance on a table since I was a kid.
I haven't weighed myself for at least a month but I think my shape is changing. My waist has appeared and I can see a very slight line of muscle. When I was shaving my legs I noticed my calves were firmer. My arms feel a lot firmer too. I haven't actually started weight training properly again yet so any muscle firming is down to The Rites and, more recently, yoga classes.

Day 88

I'd just put fresh bedding on today and was having a lie down on it. It's a bit of a family tradition, to be the first to lie on a freshly changed bed before the dog arrives to make a nest of it. The fact that the dog passed away ten years or so ago hasn't changed the tradition, and usually everyone arrives to pile on the bed as soon as they get a whiff of fresh cotton. Anyway, I was idly scratching an itch on my side when I felt a lump. I still break out into a bit of a sweat just remembering it, but fortunately my Daughter and her Dad were on hand to feel it. Dad rolls his eyes and leaves Daughter to explain...."see where it dips in there, and comes out again there..." she pokes at it none too gently, and I nod, wide eyed..."It's a rib. You just haven't seen your ribs for a long time." And off she went, stealing the best pillow on her way out

Day 83 of The Five Tibetan Rites

When I began journalling my progress on practising The Five Tibetan Rites I simply added on to the original entry, but as that makes for a bit of a long read I will journal my progress  in shorter entries. Day 83 and I am still doing them. Today I dashed into a local supermarket for some shopping on the way home from work. I had both hands full of bags and felt my trousers begin to slip down. I don't think they would have actually fallen to the floor but I had to wrestle them up pretty quick. My Daughter says my hair is shinier and that the roots are a stronger colour. I'm not so sure about the root part but I did notice the other day that my hair was particularly shiny and soft. A week or so ago a lady, who I had never even met before, commented on my shiny hair. I'm sure I could do the full 21 of each now but I'm staying at eleven for now. The idea being that it leaves an opportunity for another ten later, to make up the twenty one. I very rarely do them twice a day at the moment but I'm sure I will soon.

The Second Tibetan Rite

I was fortunate to see someone performing the second rite. I noticed that they slid their hands, palm down, under their buttocks. I tried this myself and, although it might not be the blob on correct way of doing it, I find I can concentrate on the breathing a lot better. Maybe it "tips" your lungs etc. into a better position or simply puts you into a better position so that you don't engage your back.

The Five Tibetan Rites

Without getting too much into the history, benefits and how to's here I wanted to just jot down my day by day progress. Day One.Thursday

I decided not to do the "warm ups" as I suspect they were not part of the original practice. Also, I wanted my experience to be based purely on doing the five rites and not the umpteen recommended warm ups which look to be a major work out just in themselves. I will possibly incorporate them later for specific parts I might struggle with. I was very startled that I could actually do rite two. I was convinced that I would just lie there and nothing happen but the muscles that had lain dormant and weeping for so long woke up and shocked me. Rite three illustrated how much flexibility I had lost but it will come back. Rite four will take some time to do properly. Rite five was very much like some of the exercises that Mary used to show us and felt very natural. I was worn out and I only did three of each. The eventual goal is 21 of each. I particularly noticed that for a few minutes afterwards colours seemed really sharp and clear. Day Two, Friday