Magical movement ('Phrul' Khor): Ancient Tibetan yogic practices from the Bön religion and their migration into contemporary medical settings

Abstract

Magical movement is a distinctive Tibetan yogic practice in which breath and concentration of the mind are integrated as crucial components in conjunction with particular body movements. Present in all five spiritual traditions of Tibet-though more prevalent in some than in others-it has been part of Tibetan spiritual training since at least the tenth century CE. This report describes some varieties of magical movement, and goes on to examine their application within conventional biomedical settings. In particular, a pilot study of the method's utility in stress-reduction among cancer patients is considered. © 2007 Brill Academic Publishers.