Projection is few different things: the key is that you have to believe, even if it doesn't appear to work at first.
An art, called Tumo, is a way to generate large amounts of heat in the body, so that you do not get cold. There is a complicated way of teaching the full technique (which is known and proved in the annals of science). But try this: go somewhere cold and then project that you are inside a fireball. And you start feeling warmer.
Mantras are another interesting thing. Mantra repeating can force certain brain states that are usually only obtainable in sleep. It's also a way to investigate how sleep works, but from the inside out. Other interesting abilities may pop out. I know of one person, while meditating, could see infra-red. I found this out with a Wiimote IR pen for my whiteboard.
There is definitely something there... But we lack the scientific method and grammar to explain it.