By: Erica Eddleman Rogers
Recently, I stumbled onto a book that shared some simple information to improve health and stretch the common concept of aging. I truly enjoyed the emphasis of the book—our well being and vitality depends on the integrated, balanced relationship of our unseen bio-energy (chi, ki, prana or lifeforce). When all the centers of bio-energy are active and harmonious, then we experience the magic of life and even the fountain of youth. 
Written by Peter Kelder, Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth shares the personal story of his relationship with Col. Bradford. The colonel becomes the ultimate before-and-after testimony to the power of life force on our health. Peter met the colonel in a random encounter when Mr. Bradford was in his late sixties. Then, the colonel sets off on a trip. In the midst of the colonel’s travels, he chose to trek to the source of a myth. He heard that the fountain of youth could be found in a village in the Himalayas. Without spoiling the story line too much, I’ll say that he discovered healing practices that reversed aging, not an actual water source. Peter goes on to describe what he learned when the colonel returned. It is inspiring!
In case you don’t plan on reading the book, I’m going to cut to the chase. The colonel discovered a village where no one appeared old. The secret lied in the energy-exercises everyone did that restored youth to old bodies. These rites are very effective. The power accessed is not in the muscular development of the exercises so much as the effect of stimulating the bio-energy centers. When the body’s major energy centers are turned “on” and in balance with one another, it is like turning on all of the power stations in a city, so there’s ample electricity flowing throughout.
Let me get to it. There were 5 rites to practice daily. With consistency, they will reverse the symptoms of aging. If you’ve ever practiced yoga, or the like, then the moves will be familiar. The number of repetitions varies per person. For beginners or challenged individuals, start with a cycle of 3, then 5, then 7, and so on working up in intervals of 2 week-by-week, until reaching 21 repetitions total. Even if you know that the movements are doable, start slow then work up. (The spinning rite will indicate where best to start.)
Here are the rites:
- Spinning—like a top, the first move is to twirl around as a child would. Arms extend to sides in a T, feet flat, spot a wall like a dancer, spin and breathe. Rotate toward the right only (clockwise). In the beginning, spin to the point of dizziness and stop; note how many turns it took until dizziness sets in, say 7, then that is your count to use in the other rites.
- Straight leg raises—for the core, lie on the floor flat (on the back facing up). Start with the legs together on the ground and the hands under the hips for support. Use the breath exhaling to lift the legs and head simultaneously. The chin will tuck to the throat and the legs should stop once vertical at a 90 degree angle from the floor. Then, with the breath, lower down to return flat. If the movement strains the back, do it with bent legs and gradually work the legs toward straight. Also, leaving the head down the whole time is an easier option. Continue with the breath to do as many as your count indicates, like 7 from the example in rite #1.
- Camels—to be done immediately after the leg raises, start with the body upright kneeling. Knees hip width apart, tops of the feet on the floor and hands on the hips. From this neutral position, exhale forward into a rounded position, like trying to touch the forehead to the navel. Don’t bend at the hips, just the torso. Then, inhale back to neutral. Next, exhale arching back with the arms supporting the low back or the back of the thighs depending on ability. Arch as far as the spine can go without any pinching or pain sensations. Inhale back to neutral and repeat.
- Swinging table top—from a seated position, plant the hands alongside of the hips, and extend the legs straight out, shoulder-width apart. Start by pressing into the hands and bending the legs to get the feet on the floor. Follow by swinging the weight toward the feet, lifting the hips off the floor and moving the torso towards a horizontal position, flat like a table. The head can stay tucked, chin to the chest, or if comfortable looking backward. Once lifted as high as possible, breathe and pause. Then, return. Swing down to the seated position. Next, round the upper body forward, forehead toward the navel while exhaling. Finally, inhale to return up to neutral. Repeat.
- The Dogs—start in Downward Facing Dog. (To find your down dog, kneel on all fours—hands lined up and the shoulders and knees under the hips. Then stub your toes to shift the weight back and lift the hips up in the air, ultimately looking like an inverted V.) Ideally the limbs are straight, but bending the knees helps ease the intensity. With the breath, float forward to a plank (push up position) and ease further into Upward Facing Dog, where the body arches open. The hips sink down, and the shoulders and head lift up, while pressing into the hands and feet. Then, return back to down dog by exhaling and squeezing the navel to the spine. Of course this can be challenging, so bend the knees in either Dog to ease the position. Repeat.
There was in fact a sixth rite explained in the book. However, I think that it is best to leave it to the author to share. Or better yet, I’ll pass that off to Stephen to write about in the next installment. I will give you a hint: it requires a lifestyle commitment and it harnesses the most potent bodily force we all have to work with in life.
All in all, the book was a very easy read. And even though the author didn’t touch on it, I’d add that a whole lifestyle would support the power of the rites—balanced breathing, eating, drinking, sleeping, eliminating, and copulating along with moving. Additionally, I recommend getting a boost from nature in my favorite adaptogenic formula, ShenTrition.
There you have it. Now, make time to access your own fountain of youth. It is pretty easy. After all, who wouldn’t mind the wisdom gained from living long, as long as we don’t have to suffer helplessly old.
Live long and prosper!
Have I mentioned that? Well let me tell ya…I was really impressed with how well they handle their hoses. Yep, 100+ year old monster trees with 30 foot tall flames, not a problem, put-er right out time after time… 20 to 30 foot tall grass fed fires rushing, or should I say racing, up not one hill but two hills…not a problem, put-er right out. Did I mention when pine trees catch on fire a tee shirt and rake won’t put it out?! I sure am going to miss that shirt. 
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