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The ancient Chinese discovered that there were 8 signs of health:
1. Vitality. This means having a life full of energy. It should show in the way you walk and in the condition of your eyes. There should be a spring in your step and you should have the energy to do whatever is required for you to do.

2. Appetite. This means not only having an appetite for food when you are hungry, but also an appetite for new experiences (depending on your personal belief system this may even mean for sex). Perhaps a better term would be a lust for life.

3. Deep and Sound Sleep. According to the Chinese you should only need 4-6 hours of sleep a night. This does not mean that a way to health is to start cutting down on the sleep you need. Rather, it indicates that as you get healthier you will need less sleep. If you need 10-12 hours of sleep per night on a regular basis, however, you may want to see a doctor as this could indicate a medical problem.
Notice, too, that it is not just quantity of sleep which was recognized by the Chinese, but also quality. In this tradition "sound sleep" indicates a dreamless sleep. This, of course, is a misnomer. Perhaps it means a sleep with undisturbing dreams. Most of us have experienced nights where we slept and awoke feeling tired, have you? This is certainly not a sound sleep!

4. Good Memory. This is fairly clear and indicates that you should have both a good short-term and long-term memory. In a curious reversal of Western thought, the ancient Chinese believed that as you got older your memory should improve, not deteriorate. Old age was not seen as a cause of poor memory, disease was. Further, the Chinese believed that you should have a good memory of the past, present and future. Present memory referred to what we call short-term memory.
Past memory is long-term memory. Future memory is the ability to remember the plans we made, months and years ago, for our future. It also means that we should still be trying to achieve those goals.

5. Humor. We should have a good sense of humor to be healthy. We should especially be able to laugh at ourselves and the world immediately around us. As a friend of mine said, "Don't take life seriously ... you'll never get out alive!"

6. Infinite Giving. No, this does not mean that you should give away all of your possessions and money. Rather, it means that to be healthy you should be able to give of yourself to your friends and to those in need. Also, you should be able to give time and effort to yourself.

7. Clear Thinking and Precise Action. This indicates that a sign of health is the ability to quickly see through a problem, make a decision, and act on that decision without an undue length of time. Procrastination and fear are seen as types of diseases associated with imbalances in the body's energy system. There is also the implication that part of being healthy is having intuitive and psychic abilities which are correct more often than not, and our awareness and use of them.

8. Realization of Oneness. This is a state of utmost health. It is indicated by the having of all your dreams instantly realized. Perhaps another way of putting it would be that the healthiest person is a natural magician.

_The five Rites of Rejuvenation or Five Tibetan Rites are described  in the book 'Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth' (1985) by Peter Kelder or in 'The Eye of Revelation', as it was originally known (1939).

The Five Tibetan Rites is a system of exercises reported to be more than 2,500 years old, which were first publicized by Peter Kelder in a 1939 publication entitled The Eye of Revelation.

Although practically nothing is known about Kelder, one source reports that Kelder was raised as an adopted child in the midwestern United States, and left home while still in his teens in search of adventure. In the 1930s, Kelder claims to have met, in southern California, a retired British army colonel who shared with him stories of travel and the subsequent discovery of the Rites.

Originally written as a 32-page booklet, the publication is the result of Kelder's conversations with the colonel. The Rites are said to be a form of Tibetan yoga similar to the more well-known yoga series that originated in India. However, the Five Rites and traditional Tibetan yoga both emphasize "a continuous sequence of movement" (Sanskrit: vinyasa), whereas Indian forms focus on "static positions". Although the Rites have circulated amongst yogis for decades, skeptics say that Tibetans have never recognized them as being authentic Tibetan practices.

_Rite  1
Stand erect with arms outstretched, horizontal to the floor.  Right palm facing up, left palm facing down. Gaze remains fixed on the left-hand thumb.
Spin around counter clockwise, until you become slightly dizzy.


Gradually increase (in increments of 2) practicing from 3 up to 21 repetitions 
per day, for each rite until reaching 21 times.

Recovery
I have found that standing, for a few breaths, looking straight ahead (with eyes either open or closed), with the hands crossed over the chest helps to ride the momentary dizziness that is created, by the Whirling.

_ Rite 2

First, lie flat on the floor, face up.
Fully extended your arms along your sides, and place the palms of your hands against the floor, keeping the fingers close together.

Then, raise your head off the floor, tucking the chin against the chest. 

As you do this, lift your legs, knees straight, into a vertical position. If possible, let the legs extend back over the body, toward the head; but do not let the knees bend.

Then slowly lower both the head and the legs, knees straight, to the floor.
Allow all the muscles to relax, continue breathing in the same rhythm.
Breathe in deeply as you lift your legs and breathe out, as you lower your legs. Increase by increments until you are completing 21 cycles.

Recovery
Lie on your back, while stretching your legs out lengthwise, for a couple of breaths
Raise your hands above your head
Bring the soles of your feet together (outer ankles lying on floor), while resting them on the floor-pull them up toward    your pelvis
Interlace your fingers together, above your head; at this time extend your index fingers, into a "steeple" configuration
Raise the crown of your head, thereby straightening your neck
While stretching your fingers and arms, allow your knees to relax outward, toward the floor, stretching the inner thighs and hips
Breath deeply and fully, while relaxing

_ Rite 3

Kneel on the floor, with the body erect. The hands should be placed against the thigh muscles. Incline the head and neck forward, tucking the chin against the chest. Then, throw the head and neck backward, arching the spine.

As you arch, you will brace your arms and hands against the thighs for support.

After the arching, return to the original position, and start the rite all over again. Breathe in deeply as you arch the spine, breathe out as you return to an erect position.s you complete this exercise. Increase by increments until you are completing 21 cycles.

Recovery
 When you complete this rite, remain on your knees and bring your toes together,   allow your body to flex forward with our knees separated a bit rest your elbows together, between your knees place one fist (along the outer edge of your hand) on the floor, place the other fist onto the thumb side of the first wrist place your forehead on your combined fists take 3-4 deep full relaxed breathes allow your spine and pelvis to continue relaxing downward, into the floor feel for the continued stretch, within your spine, pelvis, and hips.

_Rite 4


Sit down on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you and your feet about 12 inches apart. With the trunk of the body erect, place the palms of your hands on the floor alongside the buttocks.

Then, tuck the chin forward against the chest. Now, drop the head backward as far as it will go. At the same time, raise your body so that the knees bend while the arms remain straight.

The trunk of the body will be in a straight line with the upper legs, horizontal to the floor.

Then, tense every muscle in the body.
Finally, relax your muscles as you return to the original sitting position, and rest before repeating the procedure. Breathe in as you raise up, hold your breath as you tense the muscles, breathe out completely as you come down. Continue breathing in the same rhythm as long as you rest between repetitions.This posture produces a fine amount of stretch, at the end of the Table position. Increase by increments until you are completing 21 cycles.

Recovery
Lie on your back, while stretching your legs out lengthwise
Raise your hands above your head
Lace your fingers together, above your head; at this time extend your index fingers, into a "steeple" configuration
Raise the crown of your head, thereby straightening your neck
Now stretch your full extremities in opposite directions
While stretching, cross one ankle over the other (for a couple of breaths), and then repeat, for the opposite ankle

_Rite 5


When you perform the fifth rite, your body will be face-down to the floor. It will be supported by the hands, palms down against the floor, and the toes in a flexed position. Throughout this rite, the hands and feet should be kept straight.

Start with your arms perpendicular to the floor, and the spine arched, so that the body is in a sagging position.

Now, throw the head back as far as possible. Then, bending at the hips, bring the body up into an inverted 'V'. At the same time, bring the chin forward, tucking it against the chest. Breathe in deeply as you raise the body, breathe out fully as you lower it. Increase by increments until you are completing 21 repetitions.

Recovery
A comfortable stretching posture is pleasant, for the end of this exercise:
Close your eyes and breath deep full breaths, in and out
Relax your hands, while resting them on the floor, in their original position
Gently start to sit back on your heels.
Let your head drop toward your chest.
As you sit back, allow your hands to drag on the floor;
providing a sense of stretch to your upper body and down your spine
Take 3-4 deep breaths, while resting in this stretching posture.