Tibetan monks and their lives. Gymnastics of Tibetan monks

Everything about Tibet is mysterious and mystical in itself - this region is too isolated from the rest of the world, the natural conditions here are too exotic, the esoteric reputation of the local residents is too stable. Everything that concerns monasticism is mysterious and mystical - for most people, the decision of some to abandon the joys of ordinary life for the sake of spiritual purification and improvement seems incomprehensible. And Tibetan monks are doubly mysterious and mystical...

Life of Tibetan monks: abstinence, meditation, martial arts?

There are at least three ideas about Tibetan monks, that is, about novices of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries - Tibetan Buddhism is a special branch of Buddhism, characterized, in particular, by the doctrine of the transfer of spiritual knowledge and power through rebirth (Lamaism). One of them is purely Western and is based primarily on cinema. According to him, Tibetan monks and martial arts are inseparable concepts. Monks are strong, shaven-headed men who, from morning to evening, do nothing but train or meditate. . Thanks to this, they acquire unique physical and paranormal abilities: all the ancient secrets of Tibetan monks boil down to the ability to crush stones and trees with their hands, levitate, as well as control internal energy and kill enemies with one or two touches.

The second view is less subject to stereotypes, but it is also idealized. This picture of life in Tibetan monasteries is common among Western intellectuals seeking some spiritual wisdom and enlightenment from the esoteric teachings of the East. For these people, at a certain stage of life, there is simply no other dream than to become a Tibetan monk. Because Tibetan monks are people who have chosen the path of complete renunciation of everything earthly. Every day begins with prayer and ends with prayer. During the day, they perform physical work, study Buddhist wisdom and are in a state of meditation. They are silent and reserved, no negative emotions or thoughts bother them, they strive only for dispassion and achieving Nirvana. And the most perfect of monks are hermits who go into mountain caves or lock themselves in tiny huts and take a vow of silence.

And there is a third option, which opens up with direct acquaintance with real life in the Buddhist monasteries of Tibet. With the very life in which the characteristic yellow or brown clothes of Tibetan monks not only command respect from local residents, but can also become a cause of persecution from the Chinese authorities. That life in which the legendary martial arts are almost not practiced among Buddhist monks: one part of the monks bears physical obedience and performs specific work, the other part is focused on meditative practices and rarely moves. That life in which many Buddhist monasteries have turned into a kind of tourist centers for foreigners, where colorful but irrelevant scenes and spectacles are shown to them, and no supernatural events occur.

Doesn't Tibetan monks' meditation prolong life?

One of the main modern information trends associated with Tibetan Buddhism is the belief that local monks have some unique and miraculous theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of health. Allegedly, there is a certain recipe for the longevity of Tibetan monks, which allows them to live at least 80 years and at the same time be absolutely healthy all their lives. At the same time, the treatment of Tibetan monks is carried out exclusively by non-traditional methods that have nothing in common with modern Western medicine. True, none of the European popularizers of Tibetan wisdom are in any hurry to use these traditional remedies on themselves: since they include not only all kinds of compresses and infusions of medicinal herbs, but also bloodletting with cauterization.

In addition, the diet of Tibetan monks has gained great popularity on the Internet - supposedly a special nutritional system that not only does not contain any harmful components, but also promotes fast and effective weight loss. It is difficult to say why the monks of high-mountain Tibetan monasteries need recipes for weight loss. However, numerous women concerned about this problem have actively taken up the promotion of “Tibetan” diets. The secret of this recipe is called not only the composition of the menu (complete refusal of meat, an abundance of plant foods), but also a special order of nutrition - a certain order of consumed products, a leisurely and thoughtful meal, active consumption of water, and the like. True, it does not explain how a leisurely and thoughtful meal is combined with the permissibility of “snacks” in order to avoid the very feeling of hunger. It turns out that the monks eat leisurely and thoughtfully all day long, fighting hunger. It is equally difficult to explain why, despite all the supernatural knowledge of Tibetan monks in medicine and gastronomy, they are by no means long-livers, and the average life expectancy in Tibet does not even reach 70 years.

Music of Tibetan monks

Another aspect of the spiritual and cultural life of Tibetan monks, which has recently received wide coverage in the West, is the musical and literary component of Buddhist rituals. The secrets of Tibetan monks, it turns out, also lie in their prayers, spells, and mantras, either read or chanted. Mantras performed by Tibetan monks, according to some Buddhists and adherents of esoteric teachings, have magical powers. This power is supported by a special vital energy activated during the reading of mantras.

But mantras alone as a text are not enough - the special throat singing of Tibetan monks is also necessary. Only when mantras are pronounced in a special throat way, accompanied by special music or without it (throat singing can be considered as an independent musical instrument), can the desired effect be achieved. The throat singing of Buddhist monks in the monasteries of Tibet is truly an original manifestation of cultural life and is actively studied by both professional musicians and ethnographers. However, in the fashion for mantras, the statement that the books of Tibetan monks contain mantra-spells that can provide a person with happiness, health, wealth, and even weight loss is alarming. It is highly doubtful that real Tibetan monks need wealth, or even more so, to reduce their body weight in a magical way.

Alexander Babitsky

Do you think it is possible for a person to spend the winter in a snow-filled cave at an altitude of 3-4 kilometers, without fire, in light clothing or without it at all (!), and not freeze?! Any doctor will categorically answer that no. And at the same time, every year dozens of Tibetan hermit lamas pass this test without the slightest damage to their health. Their extraordinary “frost resistance” is attributed to the ability to concentrate “tumo”. In Tibet, this term refers to heat, warmth, but not just heat emanating, for example, from a red-hot brazier, but specific energy released by the body solely as a result of long-term meditative training.

Very few lamas are familiar with all categories of tumo. However, its phenomenal effect, which preserves a person’s life in severe frosts and snow storms in the high mountain deserts, is known to all Tibetans. The old lamas who teach the art of tumo keep their methods in deep secrecy, claiming that information acquired by hearsay is completely useless. To successfully practice tumo, personal instructions from a teacher are necessary.

In the photo you see how the phenomenon of Tummo (conscious increase in body temperature or Heat Yoga) is being studied on one of the Tibetan monks - a low temperature is created in the room and with the help of various sensors information about the state of a person entering the state of Tummo meditation is read.

At a monastery in northern India, lightly dressed Tibetan monks sat quietly in a room where the temperature was just 4.5 degrees Celsius. Using a yogic technique known as Tummo, they entered a state of deep meditation. Other monks immerse sheets about two meters in cold water (9.5 degrees) and place them on the shoulders of the meditators. In untrained people, such cold wraps would cause uncontrollable shivering.
If body temperature drops under these conditions, death occurs. But soon steam began to rise from the sheets. As a result of the body heat generated by the monks during meditation, the sheets dried in about an hour.
The monks present removed the sheets, then re-covered the meditators with cold, damp sheets. Each monk must dry three sheets in a few hours.
How did they do this? Herbert Benson, who has been studying Tummo for 20 years, responds: “Buddhists feel that the reality in which we live is not the main one. There is another reality that we can knock on, which is not affected by our emotions, our everyday world. Buddhists believe that this state of consciousness can be achieved through good deeds for others and meditation. The heat they generate during this process is simply a by-product of Tummo meditation."

Positive results can only be achieved by students who already have special training in various breathing exercises and the ability to achieve incredible concentration of thought, reaching the point of deep trance. Finally, special permission must be obtained from a lama of special status. Initiation is always preceded by a long probationary period, which, among other things, gives the teacher the opportunity to check whether the candidate is in sufficiently good health.

After practicing for a month or two under the close guidance of a guru, the novice goes to a remote and completely deserted place in the mountains, at an altitude of at least 4 kilometers. Lamas assert that it is impossible to train using the tumo method anywhere in a village or nearby, because the air polluted by smoke and various ground odors counteracts the efforts of the student and can seriously harm his health.

A monk-disciple, having settled in a suitable place, can no longer see anyone. Only the guru sometimes comes to check whether the novice has died in an extreme situation.

The candidate must train every day until dawn. As the sun rises, a new set of exercises awaits him. Long before dawn, the monk leaves his cave or hut. No matter how cold it is, he is completely naked or dressed in a light shirt. Anyone who devotes himself to tumo renounces woolen clothing forever and never goes near fire.

Beginners are allowed to sit on a straw mat at night. Those who have advanced in learning sit on bare ground, and those who have reached the highest stage of learning sit on snow, on ice, or in a stream with icy water. Exercises are performed only on an empty stomach, with a complete ban on drinking water. Only two poses are also allowed - “lotus” or when the feet rest on the ground and the knees touch the chin.

The training begins with breathing exercises: together with the exhaled air, the monk expels greed, pride, anger, envy, and laziness from himself. When you inhale, the spirit of the Buddha, the five wisdoms - everything noble and high that exists in the world - are “drawn in.”

During the ten stages of exercises that follow, you must fully concentrate on the vision of fire and the associated feeling of warmth, completely getting rid of other sensations and mental images.

The tumo training period ends with something like an exam. On a winter moonlit night, students confident in their skills go with their guru to the shore of a rapid mountain stream. If the waters are already frozen, then an ice hole is cut. A night is chosen when a cold, sharp wind blows and the frost crackles - such nights are not uncommon in Tibet.

Tumo candidates sit cross-legged on the ground, completely naked. Sheets are dipped into ice water and the students are wrapped in them - they must dry them with their own bodies. As soon as the sheet is dry, it is again dipped in water and thrown over the novice. And so on until sunrise. The monk who can dry the most sheets with his body wins. There are initiates who have dried up to 40 sheets on themselves per night!

In addition to this exam, there are many more ways to test the level of proficiency in tumo.

For example, a snow test. The student sits in a snowdrift. The amount of snow melted on it and the size of the melting radius serve as an indicator of the intensity of the heat emitted by it.

At the beginning of training, the sensation and generation of heat occurs only during training; As soon as the concentration of thought and breathing exercises stop, the cold makes itself felt and can even kill a person. However, for those lamas who have systematically trained tumo for many years, generating heat when the temperature drops becomes a natural function that works automatically.

A true lama-tumo is a person who is always dressed in a dress made of light cotton fabric or a special white skirt - a distinctive sign of someone initiated into the secrets of tumo.

To counterbalance them, there are anchorites, super-specialists in the field of tumo. They are superior to ordinary lam-tumos, for they refuse even light clothing and live as hermits high in the mountains in snow-covered ice caves - completely naked, for several years, and some until their death, feeding on the rare offerings of their disciples, without knowing either fire or armfuls. straw on its frozen stone bed. This is by no means a myth, these are real people, and not so few in number - many Europeans have seen them.

And further. Doctors shrug their shoulders in complete bewilderment... 65-year-old monk Sahaj Maharaj has not eaten for exactly a year. Every day he got by with only a few glasses of warm water. Incredibly, there is no bluff in this story, which is best witnessed by the doctors who have been watching the monk all this time. “When thoughts are directed in the right direction, a person does not feel either hunger or thirst, neither heat nor cold,” Sahaj Maharaj explains his phenomenon.” And further in the article: “In mountain monasteries in the Himalayas, such a test is confirmation of monastic maturity. In a piercing wind at 20 degrees below zero, a monk wearing only a loincloth must use his body heat to dry several wet sheets. And what do you think - it dries out. The famous American medium Arthur Ford in his book “Life after Death...” writes the following: “In earthly life, such cases are known (for example, the famous German mystic Therese Neumann or the Indian woman known for her holy life, whose name was Yogananda), when people could absorb radiation instead of our normal food. For many years they did without earthly food."
A striking example of a person who fully draws energy from the environment was Porfiry Korneevich Ivanov. He walked in shorts and barefoot at any time of the year, doused himself with cold water several times a day, including in the cold, and in recent years ate raisins once a week. During the war, the Germans took him, naked, in severe frosts on a motorcycle around Kyiv, doused him with cold water, buried him in the snow and even put him in a well. And he survived because he knew how to use prana.

You may have heard or read legends about Tibetan longevity on the Internet. I propose to investigate this issue right now.

By the way, the authors consider the source of Tibetan youth to be an elixir of garlic, lemons (all 10 heads each) and 700 ml of honey. They promise that a teaspoon of this elixir three times a day before meals will work a miracle: acne will go away, the skin will smooth out, chronic fatigue will go away, potency and the menstrual cycle will improve, immunity will increase, and there will be relief in chronic diseases. In general, youth will return, and you will live happily ever after.

I will not dwell on the complex effects of a daily combination of garlic, lemons and honey on the body (especially with chronic diseases). I won’t suggest thinking about the liver, tooth enamel and cholecystitis..

Let's think about a more general and important question: Does Tibetan longevity really exist?

In the legends about Tibetan longevity they say that the minimum life of a Tibetan monk was 100 years, but mostly more...About the fact that some monks are still alive from the 16th century...The fact that youth and longevity for more than 100 years occur due to spiritual development and special Tibetan medicine..

But is this really so?

Of course, as part of our “Longevity” project, we could not ignore this interesting and important topic, so we tried to understand the issue.

What is Tibet

Tibet is a region of Central Asia, located on the Tibetan Plateau. Distinctive features are Tibetan language and religion: Tibetan Buddhism.

In 1950, the Chinese army annexed Tibet. The former government of Tibet, headed by the Dalai Lama (literally great teacher) signed the documents of accession to China and has been in India since then.

Since then, Tibet has been part of China as the Tibet Autonomous Region and several autonomous regions in the provinces, the capital being Lhasa.

Living conditions and longevity in Tibet

How do the indigenous people of Tibet live?

While researching the issue of longevity in Tibet, I came across an interesting document - the preliminary minutes of WHO meeting No. 20 (download) in Geneva, dated May 29, 1975.

I will quote an excerpt from it:

Ms TZUJENCHOKA (China) explained:
Until 1951 the masses of the Tibetan population were not provided with any medical care or medicine, and therefore there was a very high mortality rate for mothers and children.
Immunization campaigns have been carried out against certain diseases, and smallpox and cholera were eradicated.

There is no reason not to trust the eyewitness: she tells in detail how many hospitals have been opened, how many doctors have been trained, how much the population is covered by medical posts.

Here's more data:

During Chinese rule in the Tibet Autonomous Region, grain harvests and livestock numbers tripled.

The average life expectancy of the population increased from 36 to 67 years, the population itself has grown almost 3 times and in 2009 approached 3 million people.

Wikipedia

The picture of Tibetan longevity is not very pretty.

In recent years, Tibetans have had two serious problems.

1 problem: death of many Tibetans during a protracted conflict with the Chinese authorities. And this conflict essentially continues to this day: the last major performance was in 2008 before the Olympics in Beijing

US Congress Opinion, 1987:

Section 1243.

...more than 1,000,000 Tibetans died from 1959 to 1979, which was a direct consequence of political instability, executions, imprisonments and large-scale famine

Problem 2: the indigenous population of Tibet is experiencing difficulties due to the fact that it is being crowded out by Chinese migrants to the detriment of the indigenous population. Accordingly, difficulties with getting a job, low standard of living, etc.

Is longevity possible in this situation, at least for the general population?
Obviously the answer is no. For the bulk of the Tibetan indigenous population, the question of longevity is not an issue.

Facts about the longevity of Tibetan monks

Tibetan medicine was concentrated in monasteries, and only initiates, monks, possessed knowledge. And the main keeper of the secrets of Tibetan medicine are the Dalai Lamas.
It is logical in this case to assume that it is the highest monks who should have maximum health and longevity.

Let's look at the facts. Below is a table with the dates of life of the Dalai Lamas since 1391 (Wiki)

We see that there is no talk of any life expectancy of 100 years or more.

Conclusion about Tibetan longevity:

Rumors about Tibetan longevity are greatly exaggerated.
However, I would like to believe in a miracle that somewhere far away people have finally mastered the miracle of longevity...

At the same time, we in no way deny Tibetan medicine or its effectiveness- this issue was simply not considered within the framework of this article.

Since time immemorial, Tibet has attracted the minds of scientists and mystics from all over the world. In this article you will learn about the daily life of Tibetan monks, as well as about hermits who go into caves to gain spiritual freedom.

School of patience.
Among world religions, Buddhism, according to many theologians, is the most peaceful religion. Indeed, the followers of the Buddha, that is, the enlightened one, never imposed their faith on others, did not convert infidels to the true faith, and did not organize aggressive campaigns for the glory of their religion. The founder of the religion, Buddha, being Prince Gautama from the Shakya tribe, created his religion based on the Hindu Vedas. He brought a new teaching about improving the hidden capabilities of man, but at the same time did not deny the old gods of the Hindu pantheon. Buddhism was never propagated by fire and sword, but at the same time it acquired a huge number of followers among different nations.

The monks of the few Tibetan monasteries lead a secluded and rather measured lifestyle. They communicate with the outside world only when another caravan with food arrives at the monastery. Monks have no other means of communication with the outside world. The life of the monastery is measured and leisurely. The day begins with prayer and ends with it. Between prayers, the monks perform the work necessary for the existence of the monastery and indulge in meditation, that is, escape into other realities.
The life of the monastery resembles the other world. Apart from prayers, it is impossible to hear a single extra word. Monks are unusually reserved. You can spend hours talking to them, and they will listen carefully to the interlocutor, but will not utter a single word.
The actions of the monks are not without meaning. With their silence, they test the resilience of their interlocutor. According to the monks, the world is vain, but understanding the highest meaning can only be achieved through patience. But an impatient person who wants to know everything at once is not worthy of possessing higher knowledge.

This difficult test, in addition to its ethical meaning, also carries a sacred, mystical meaning. It would seem that the monk’s detached, unearthly gaze, directed into other layers of reality, actually looks into the souls of his interlocutor and reads his innermost thoughts. If a person came to the monastery, chasing the next sensation or simply for the sake of curiosity, then the secrets will remain hidden for him forever. Only to those who come for the sake of knowledge, for the sake of improving their soul, will the secrets of Tibet be revealed.

In voluntary confinement.
Monks always speak of hermits with respect. A monk who has chosen this path is already considered in the guise of a Christian saint during his lifetime. Tibetan monks speak very little and reluctantly about hermits, since this is one of the most hidden secrets.
Not everyone can become a monk in one of the Tibetan temples. Social status does not play a role here. Everything worldly remains outside the walls of the temple. And besides clothes, a warm blanket and a bowl, the monk has nothing.

And only a few of those few who were accepted into one of the Buddhist temples in Tibet become hermits. There is neither initiation into hermits nor special selection criteria. It’s just that one day one of the novices comes to the rector of the temple and says that he wants to become a hermit. The word of the monks has the same power as the thought, since the thoughts of the monks are open to each other. And the seal of chosenness is clearly visible to the abbot.

Hermits can be roughly divided into two types, each of which is a purely individual path for those seeking enlightenment. This path is chosen not by the person himself, but by his highest essence, the soul. She chooses not the shortest, but the most optimal path to knowledge. Some hermits retire to caves, of which there are many in Tibet. This category of hermits does not take a vow of silence.
It is worth noting that ordinary people treat monks, and even more so hermits, with a huge amount of respect. Food for the hermit is delivered free of charge. Moreover, often merchant caravans specially pave the way in such a way as to get to the hermit. Meeting him not only gives you safety on the mountain paths, where landslides constantly occur, but also brings wisdom, since every word of his contains a piece of enlightenment.

But the most severe test for body and spirit is the second type of hermitage. The one who chooses him voluntarily allows himself to be walled up in a small hut, deprived not only of communication, but also of sunlight and fresh air. Only the silent guard can bring food into the narrow hole in the wall.
Anyone who decides to voluntarily imprison himself must inform the rector of the temple about this. After this, the future hermit chooses a guard from among the monks, a person on whom his life will subsequently depend. In ancient times, the hermit and guardian built the hut themselves. After this, the hermit entered one of the rooms, and the guard blocked it with stones, leaving only a small hole to pass water and food to him.
The living space is very small - only a couple of steps in length and width. Light enters there through a small hole in the walled wall when the guard brings food. This happens once a week. The food is the simplest - for a week a bowl of tsampa (flour made from roasted barley grains) and a mug of water. The air in the room is renewed only once a week. So, in addition to hunger and cold, the hermit experiences a constant lack of oxygen.

According to a civilized person, such torture of the flesh is inhuman and cannot carry any spiritual values. However, Tibetan monks believe: the more the flesh suffers, the stronger the spirit becomes.
The hermit, cut off from the outside world, begins to see it differently. Darkness takes away your vision, but your hearing becomes sharper. Over time, he begins to hear blood running through his veins, and the sound of a brick moving away in the wall becomes similar to the sound of a rockfall. The muscles gradually atrophy, and the only thing the monk can do is go up and take a portion of food. The lack of oxygen plunges him into a state of trance, and gradually he gains the spiritual freedom for which he accepted voluntary imprisonment. Sergey Vetrov source: newspaper "On the Edge of the Impossible".

As the practical application of the exercises showed, people who practiced the method of awakening Tibetan lamas began to feel better, their migraines stopped, their vision improved, and their blood pressure returned to normal. Gradually, the body began to rejuvenate, many open acquired pathologies disappeared. This, of course, is not a panacea for all diseases, but the technique is effective.

Morning exercises of Tibetan lamas after waking up.

To begin with, wake up in the morning and pull yourself up with your eyes closed. Feel your position on the bed. Be aware of yourself in the here and now.

Exercise 1.

Raise your hands and rub your palms well for 20-30 seconds. On the hands of every person there are nerve endings leading to internal organs. With this movement you will wake up the body and diagnose its condition:

Hot and dry hands – the aura is normal;
Warm and slightly damp hands – the body is weakened;
Cold and wet palms are a serious health problem.

Regardless of the state of the biofield, do other exercises. After this, massage your earlobes with your thumb and forefinger.

Exercise 2.

The right palm is placed on the central part of the forehead, the left one on top of the right. Location - along the eyebrow line. Light shuttle movements are made from one temple to another. Repeat 30 times. Exercise will help with headaches and migraines. It will also stimulate the pituitary gland.

Exercise 3.

The hands are clenched into fists, and the knuckle of the thumb is exposed. They need to press on the upper eyelids and perform 15 circular movements. Vision improves and blood circulation in the brain tissue is stimulated.

Exercise 4.

The right palm is placed on the thyroid gland. Move your hands, lightly pressing on the thyroid gland, move your palms towards the solar plexus (diaphragm). Bring your hands back. Repeat 30 movements in one direction and the other. Stimulation of the thyroid gland, digestive organs, normalization of blood sugar, increased potency, normalization of water-salt metabolism.

Exercise 5.

Having made your breathing even, draw in and inflate your stomach. Repeat 30 times. It is especially recommended for those people who have problems with the patency of the gastrointestinal tract.

Exercise 6.

The left palm is placed on top of the right. Make circular movements clockwise with light pressure. Result: stimulation and improvement of intestinal function.

Exercise 7.

Lying on your back, pull your left knee 15 times towards your stomach, then your right.

Exercise 8.

It is performed lying on your back, with your hands placed under the back of your head. Stretch your legs, lift them vertically, as far as possible toward your head. exercise improves potency and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Exercise 9.

Sit on the edge of the bed, clench your hands into fists. The right foot is placed on the left knee. The instep of the leg is massaged. The foot changes, the movements are repeated.

Exercise 10.

In a sitting position, the right hand is placed on the back of the head, and the left on top of the right. With light pressure, move from the left to the right ear and vice versa.

Be healthy and cheerful!

Health-improving gymnastics is a set of exercises for experienced people and those starting their journey in exercise.

It is aimed at understanding your body, and is also suitable for normalizing the functioning of a large number of organs and systems. The simplest exercises will help restore vigor and strengthen the body.

Chinese qigong gymnastics has become widespread due to its ease of implementation and effective results. Just 15 minutes a day helps normalize the body's functioning and develop muscles.

Purpose

Eastern medicine actively uses this type of gymnastics in the treatment of diseases, as well as as morning exercises to awaken the body.

Qigong exercises have been practiced for hundreds of years, helping humanity maintain health.

The respiratory system according to the qigong method contains its own philosophy, so it is worth taking a closer look at its purpose:

The philosophy of gymnastics involves the presence of Qi energy in the air. This energy is considered in Eastern practices as the energy of life, a flow of strength and longevity, which can be independently controlled.
Breathing during gymnastics helps absorb this energy, saturating the body with strength, tone and vigor.
In the process of performing exercises, a person consciously manages energy and controls his body, thereby healing it.
The qigong technique allows you to direct the effort from exercises to specific areas of the body where problems are located.
Energy is concentrated in problem areas of the body, which helps harmonization and relaxation.

The main purpose of the qigong technique is to eliminate diseases, improve the general condition of the body, physically strengthen and increase protective functions.

People who practice the technique report feeling good throughout the day.

Benefits for the body

In addition to the fact that qigong gymnastics is good for health, it also improves your mood every day.

All attention is concentrated on the condition of the body, which allows you to make maximum efforts to feel great.

Note! Exercise helps you feel inner peace, relax, it trains willpower and develops determination. Traditional medicine strongly recommends the complex for older people.

The technique is based on correct breathing, which allows you to understand your body.

The complex can bring enormous benefits to the body:

Benefit	Description
For vessels	Increases blood circulation and normalizes the functioning of the heart muscle
For weight loss	Gymnastics is well suited as a means of weight loss. Exercise helps eliminate toxins and waste, normalizes metabolic processes
For the spine	Correct posture is restored
For digestion	Digestive processes are normalized, intestinal motility increases, which promotes good digestion of food
Self-development	A spiritual awakening opens in a person, consciousness moves to a new level
Self-healing	Many people who do this gymnastics claim that it has brought more benefits than pills
For joints	Improves joint mobility

Where to begin?

You can master qigong health exercises yourself from scratch, this is done at home.

For the first time, simple exercises are suitable, gradually helping to develop muscle flexibility and make the body work.

You can start training with the following:

Preparation. The complex does not require a lot of space; it is enough to practice in a room with dim lighting. It is important that no one is distracted during the exercises: turn off the TV and radio. Qigong masters advise conducting classes in the fresh air.
Posture. Before you start practicing, stand up straight and straighten your spine. Imagine as if a rope is holding your body by the top of your head.
Breath. Only with complete relaxation and trust in yourself can you feel breathing from your belly.
Brain. The mind should be free from any thoughts, all concentration should be on the body.
Basic tasks. Each complex should begin with this simple exercise: stand straight, relax your shoulders. Raise your arms to eye level 30 times, while breathing should be deep.

This exercise is considered a kind of meditation that helps you relax and begin basic tasks.

Important! In Eastern practice, there is also qigong massage, which allows you to remove energy blocks from the body.

This therapy will prepare the body for the main set of tasks; as a result, they will be easier to complete.

Qigong gymnastics exercises

Eastern health exercises help not only for weight loss, but also strengthen the spinal muscles and promote emotional well-being. You can perform the exercises both in the morning and in the evening.

Several basic options are presented below - before you begin, warm up your body a little:

The dragon rocks the cradle. Stand straight, relax, arms along your body. As you exhale, rise onto your toes and swing on them in different directions. At the second stage, you need to fall on the left side of the foot and make circular movements 5 times, repeat with the right side.
A big tree. The exercise is aimed at obtaining energy and spreading it throughout the body. The knees are slightly bent, the feet are pressed tightly to the floor, as if the person is a tree with deep roots. As you exhale, the hands are raised to the level of the navel, imagining how the tree is growing upward.
Iron shirt. This is the name of a set of tasks for more thorough mastery of the qigong technique. It consists of hard exercises and is suitable for late mastering.

Qigong is useful for all categories and ages, but it is not recommended for people with hypertension. This is due to the special respiratory system. It is also not advisable to practice during menstruation.

Tibetan gymnastics - for health improvement and longevity. Types of Tibetan gymnastics

Hormonal. This set of exercises affects the human hormonal system and allows you to put in order all the work inside the body. Considering the peculiarities of hormonal activity, you need to do such exercises before 6 a.m., that’s when it will be most effective. A set of exercises must be performed throughout your life. The first results appear only after six months. This is what promotes health and longevity.
Hormonal respiratory. It consists of performing exercises with special breathing that affects the hormonal system. The course is at least 21 days. Cleanses the body at the cellular level.
"Eye of rebirth". A more complex set of exercises designed to gradually increase loads. Such gymnastics allows the body to be saturated with energy and also become flexible. It is especially useful for the spine.
"Birch" ("Candle"). Reboots an existing biological program. Some even claim that “Berezka” helps cure cancer.
Practice "Shavasana". Helps relax. Especially useful for the brain.

Gymnastics of Tibetan monks for weight loss. What kind of gymnastics is it, how does it help?

This is a complex consisting of 5 exercises that must be done every morning, and ideally every evening.

This is a miracle - the procedure will take no more than 15-20 minutes of your time. You won't have to put in a lot of physical effort while performing this complex.

The essence of Tibetan gymnastics for weight loss is to activate all stagnant or malfunctioning energy zones of the body with the help of certain movements.

The exercises of Tibetan monks help a person maintain a balance of harmony in his body, which helps prolong youth, maintain excellent health and the necessary vitality.

When all chakras begin to work in their natural and correct mode, the balance of the energy system returns to normal and the human body automatically strives to get rid of unnecessary and superfluous things in order to normalize harmony in all its systems.

Video of morning exercises of Tibetan monks

Tibetan gymnastics - for men. In what cases is Tibetan gymnastics not suitable?

Despite the obvious beneficial effects of Tibetan gymnastics on the body, there are, nevertheless, conditions that prevent such exercises. In any case, it is necessary to consult a doctor about the possibility of doing even five minutes every morning, the gymnastics of Tibetan monks.

Contraindications to gymnastics include:

Parkinson's disease;
uncontrolled arterial hypertension;
hypertensive crisis;
surgical interventions undergone in the recent past;
some diseases of the spine, including intervertebral hernia;
arthritis in the acute phase;
conditions in which activation of the functional activity of the thyroid gland is contraindicated;
ulcerative lesions of the stomach and duodenum.

The Tibetan monks' gymnastics, which takes five minutes every morning, helps restore tone to the body, however, for comprehensive recovery, other aspects of a healthy lifestyle should not be neglected.

1. Turn your face down towards the floor.

2. The torso is supported by the arms, palms resting on the floor, fingertips bent.

3. Arms and legs are straight, at a distance of 60 cm from each other.

4. The back is lowered so that the torso is in a bent position.

5. Tilt your head back as far as possible.

6. Arching your lower back, place your body in the opposite position of the letter “V”.

7. Press your chin to your chest.

8. Return to starting position.

9. You should try to lower yourself from the top position to a point almost touching the floor. Tighten your muscles both in the extreme upper and extreme lower positions.

10. Follow the same deep breathing as in the previous exercises. Raising your torso, take a deep breath, lowering it, exhale completely.

These are the 5 exercises the gymnastics of Tibetan monks offers: with a certain complexity and specificity, they are designed to heal and rejuvenate the body. If the technique seems incomprehensible to someone, you can watch a special video “Eye of Rebirth 5 exercises video”, in which trained people clearly demonstrate their implementation. Conquers a large number of positive reviews about this unique system. Having become familiar with it in theoretical terms, many want to implement it in practice. For it to be as effective as possible, you need to adhere to certain recommendations.

Yoga for weight loss. Which yoga is better to lose weight?

The following can be said about existing areas of yoga:

Like other “hot” methods, Bikram yoga provides the greatest cardiac activity. Burns more than 450 kilocalories per hour, and not only due to the high load on the muscles. True, this is definitely not yoga for weight loss for beginners at home. If only because it is necessary to heat the room to +40 °C and study there for an hour and a half, and it is better not to start this without preparation.

Ashtanga yoga for weight loss is considered a little more gentle for beginners. It is classified as a power method, since the posture and breathing rhythm change dynamically. But at the same time, a significant effect is achieved through meditation and “kindling the inner fire,” which helps to improve psychologically and then physically. This way you can burn about 350 kilocalories in an hour.

Recently, power yoga has been identified as a separate type/direction of yoga - for weight loss, this direction is also suitable for beginners, but initially weight regulation is not a priority for this type of yoga.

The simplest yoga techniques are offered everywhere, even in studios and gyms, where no one tries to delve into the psychological and spiritual component.

Hatha yoga is usually offered to beginners. Or rather, its physical elements, strength and flexibility training. Is it possible to lose weight with the help of this type of yoga without going into its spiritual component? In general, yes, because you can burn up to 200 kilocalories per session. But hatha yoga should rather have a complex effect.

Finally, there are practices where there are no strength exercises at all or their role is minimal. For example, kundalini yoga for weight loss is not considered the most effective. Rather, it is intended to perform a psychotherapeutic, meditative role. But still, burning 150 kilocalories in an hour is quite possible.

Any Japanese anti-aging gymnastics (there are several of them) slows down the aging process, as it works the facial muscles quite deeply. If you do it competently and regularly, you can achieve the following complex effect.

Rejuvenating effect:

the skin becomes elastic;
a tightening effect is observed;
pores are reduced;
cheekbones become less saggy;
dark circles under the eyes are removed;
improves complexion;
the depth of wrinkles decreases.

Anti-edema effect:

excess fluid is removed from the cells;
along with it, toxins are eliminated (as a result, swelling and puffiness subsides);
swelling under the eyes disappears;
gets rid of blackheads.

Toning effect:

blood vessels are restored;
facial muscles are toned;
more pronounced facial expressions appear;
you can get rid of rosacea: the vascular network and stars become less noticeable;
tension is relieved.

Japanese facial gymnastics has not only a cosmetic effect, but also a therapeutic one: for example, headaches disappear after it. Its advantages also include the ability to do everything quickly (in a maximum of 10 minutes), at home, and the fact that no additional devices are needed, so you won’t have to spend money either.

Few procedures can boast the same rejuvenating effect without any harm to health.

On a note! Japanese gymnastics exercises resemble massage movements, which is why in some sources it is called massage.

Tibetan gymnastics. What is Tibetan gymnastics

Tibetan gymnastics are five exercises that can work wonders on our body. This practice is often used for weight loss, although experts claim that it restores lost health and good spirits. The extra pounds will go away, and if the weight is insufficient, it will gain. Tibetan monks call each of the exercises of the technique a ritual.

Tibetan gymnastics restores strength, energizes and improves health

From the point of view of Tibetan medicine, 19 vortexes should rotate in a healthy body. In another way they are called chakras. Together they symbolize the human endocrine system. Each chakra is responsible for certain endocrine glands. When the vortices slow down and do not go beyond the human body, it means that the body is sick or aging.

The exercises are designed to disperse the whirlwinds again, rejuvenating the person and restoring the functioning of the endocrine glands. If we translate it into the language of modern medicine that we understand, this means that gymnastics helps restore healthy hormonal levels.

Daily exercise can:

relieve headaches, osteochondrosis;
reduce weight;
normalize the menstrual cycle;
improve hearing and vision;
increase joint mobility;
increase performance;
give a great mood.

If you do gymnastics daily and combine it with proper nutrition, you can reduce your weight by 3–5 kg in a month.

The gymnastics of Tibetan monks was shrouded in mystery for a long time, and no one except the monks themselves had ever heard of it. Everything changed after the publication of Peter Kalder’s book “The Eye of Renaissance,” where he talks in detail about the methodology of this program.

According to Tibetans, 19 energy flows - vortexes - circulate in the body of every person. And only with the harmonious rotation of this energy does a person remain healthy and full.

If the circulation of at least one vortex is disrupted, this affects the functioning of the entire system, and the person feels tired, depressed, health problems begin and excess weight appears.

Gymnastics are aimed at improving the circulation of vortices. With regular exercise, very soon the metabolism in your body will improve, the functioning of all body systems will improve, you will become stronger and more resilient, excess weight will go away, and your body will become more toned.

The "Eye of Rebirth" consists of the so-called Five Tibetan Pearls or Five Tibetans. Each exercise is performed 21 times. But it is recommended to start with three repetitions, gradually increasing by 2 repetitions every week.

How do Tibetan monks live?

Tibet. At the mere mention of it, a feeling of some almost tangible mystery arises. Since time immemorial, the brightest minds, mystics, adventurers, as well as mere mortals have flocked to Tibet. All of them had only one thing in common: a thirst for answers to unspoken questions.

Buddhism is quite rightly considered the most peaceful religion. This opinion is confirmed by centuries-old history. The “Enlightened Ones” never forced anyone to join, did not try to impose their postulates everywhere, and there could be no talk of any igni et ferro. But, despite the complete absence of violence, Buddhism managed to acquire an incalculable number of followers everywhere.

A day in the life of a Tibetan monk

Let's try, lifting the veil of secrecy, to look at a completely isolated little world called a Tibetan monastery. The image of monastic life is quite closed. Those who thirst for enlightenment are very laconic, but truly patient. A world mired in vanity is not worthy of attention; the true meaning is in efforts and the ability to wait. He who strives to get everything and is immediately too distracted by the pursuit of the imaginary, such a person is not given the opportunity to possess the highest knowledge. The secrets of Tibet are accessible only to those who come with true spiritual aspirations, to those for whom improvement is the primary goal in itself.
So, the monastery exists in isolation from the outside world. The only connecting link is a caravan with food. However, most food is grown and produced by the llamas themselves. Manual labor is considered more preferable, excluding the use of even equipment such as a plow or plow.
Tibetan lamas practice vegetarianism, but it is permissible to eat milk and eggs. In view of the meager range of products on the table, it is logical to adhere to separate meals. Monastic table etiquette excludes hasty consumption of food against the backdrop of a lively conversation. Llamas eat silently, slowly and very intently. As for the portion, it should be sufficient to just saturate and maintain vitality for work and prayer.
The day of each monk begins with prayer and ends with it. In the intervals between these, meditations take place, and more vain affairs are also carried out, promoting order in the territory of the monastery and the like.

Hermitage

There is a special type of Tibetan monks - hermits. Some of them simply retire to caves without taking a vow of silence. They are visited by everyone; caravans deliberately lay out a route that intersects with the habitat of the hermit monk. Such a meeting promises not only safety during the journey, but also wise instructions, for the monk does not waste words. The second category of hermits subjects their physical body to the most terrible tests in the name of speedy enlightenment. With their permission, llamas are walled up in caves or huts, leaving only a small hole for the weekly transfer of food.
Deprived of light and doomed to eternal silence. Suffering from severe cold and insatiable hunger, hermit monks resignedly follow the path of enlightenment. It is known that such conditions, among other things, often provoke attacks of oxygen starvation, which plunge one into a state of trance. In this way, the lama achieves a feeling of spiritual freedom, in the name of which he once resorted to imprisonment. When the soul of a hermit comes to the monastery to report the death of his physical shell, the monks enter the cave and remove the body from it. A little later, the dismembered body of the hermit is left to be eaten by vultures. This tradition is associated with the rocky nature of the Tibetan terrain, which excludes the possibility of burial. Firewood is too valuable to be transferred to an obsolete material form, devoid of content.
Tibet is truly majestic and still retains its enchanting appeal. It abounds in sacred knowledge, which it very reluctantly reveals only to those who are pure in intention and sincere in their search.