• Table of Contents
  • Kalyana Mitra Lecture #1 by Swami Veda Bharati
  • Svadhyaya by Swami Rama
  • Cultural Activities by SRSG Children by Chandramani
  • Yoga and Science Retreat by Rajah Indran
  • TTP Students' Sangha by Beatrix Dekkers and Jim Fraser
  • The Hazel Diaries V by Roxanne Currie
  • A Labour of Love by Michael Smith
  • Musing by Jyoti Gerlitz
  • The Gifts of Silence by Aditi M Gaur
  • Gayatri Marx, a Dear Friend Moves On by Randall Krause
  • Go-Shala at SRSG Campus by Swami Veda Bharati
  • 2014 Events and Beyond
  • Full Moon Meditation Dates
  • Location of our SRSG ashram
• AHYMSIN Newsletter Archive

Yoga and Science Retreat

Himalayan Yoga Science Society Sabah

by Rajah Indran

The Himalayan Yoga Science Society Sabah (HYSSS) held its annual retreat on the 13th, 14th and 15th December 2013, at the foot hills of Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia. The objective of the retreat was to provide an opportunity for participants to understand and experience YOGA and SCIENCE.

Thirty-one people from the Philippines, UK, USA and Malaysia participated in this memorable event.

HYSSS hosted a Welcome Dinner on the 12th evening in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, for the sponsors, donors and participants to set the tone for the retreat and for the participants to get to know each other.

The group left Kota Kinabalu on the 13th morning, in a luxury coach, going up a windy road for a three hour ride, stopping at Pekan Nabalu for the participants to take pictures of the mountain and to purchase local handicraft. The weather was fine, and the retreat program began after we had checked in at the resort.

Swami Nitya, the main facilitator of this retreat, led five sessions on the theme of the retreat, Yoga and Science, which were very well received.  Datuk Hiew Thien Choi provoked the minds of the participants with his presentation on Brain Plasticity. Datin Judy Rajah led the sessions on Warm ups and Hatha Yoga in coordination with breath and mind.  She explained the Philosophy, Principles, and Practices of Yoga as taught by the Himalayan Tradition. Participants were divided into several small groups and were given the opportunity to discuss relevant topics related to the theme. Their findings were shared with the rest of the retreat group. Datuk Rajah Indran coordinated the whole event and led the guided meditation sessions. All HYSSS committee members assisted in one way or another towards ensuring the success of this retreat.

From the feedback obtained from the participants, it is noted that everyone has enjoyed the venue, the Hatha Yoga sessions, and the presentations and its contents.  Time management and fellowship was well appreciated. Some have suggested that future retreats be held over longer periods of time.

The three day event ended with the presentation of Certificates and a special take home gift, donated by Eliza Oh. We returned to Kota Kinabalu on the 15th after lunch, looking forward to the next retreat.

Prepared by Rajah Indran
Advisor to HYSSS

Editor’s Note:

The Himalayan Yoga Science Society Sabah (HYSSS) in Malaysia is an AHYMSIN affiliated center. Rajah Indran has written that the 'Institute for Himalayan Yoga Science and Philosophy' has functioned in Sabah, Malaysia, since 1990 with the blessings of Swami Rama and is now registered as the 'Himalayan Yoga Science Society Sabah' with the ROS of Malaysia. We invite you to visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/hysssabah

Rajah Indran is a mantra initiator and a member of the AHYMSIN Spiritual Committee.

Swami Nitya’s full name is Swami Nityamuktananda Saraswati and her website is: http://www.athayoga.info/

Photos courtesy of Ramesh Sivanathan