Workshops
Movement and Wellness Workshops
Arts-based therapeutic workshops for persons living with dementia and for the caregivers who walk beside them.
Movement Workshop
Movement Workshop for Persons Living with Dementia
An experiential workshop designed for persons living with dementia, using tools of Indian classical dance as a form of expression.
About
This workshop incorporates movement practices and tools inspired by Indian classical dance to encourage connection, emotional expression, creativity, and imagination. Participants will explore movement in a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment.
Who this is for
Persons living with mild to moderate dementia who require little to no support. Caregivers are welcome to accompany participants for safety and are invited to observe the workshop.
Purpose
This workshop uses music, rhythm, reminiscence, and movement to explore how the arts can support wellbeing, stimulate engagement, and foster meaningful connection beyond words. Through creative and interactive experiences, participants are invited to connect with memories, emotions, and one another in an engaging and supportive environment.
Clinically, these approaches can play a meaningful role in supporting persons living with dementia. Familiar songs and shared memories help stimulate cognition, memory recall, identity, and emotional connection, while gentle movement and rhythm encourage participation, coordination, and self-expression. Together, they offer accessible and person-centred ways to support emotional, cognitive, physical, and social wellbeing.
Focus areas
Rhythm and musical engagement
Gentle, guided movement
Non-verbal expression and embodied communication
Enhancing emotional connection and presence
Focus areas
Questions, gently answered.
Who is this workshop for?
This workshop is designed for persons living with dementia. It is suitable for individuals at different stages, as all activities are gentle, guided, and adaptable.
Do participants need any dance experience?
No prior experience is needed. The movements are simple, accessible, and based on natural gestures, rhythm, and expression.
What if someone has limited mobility?
All activities can be done seated, on wheelchairs, or with support. The focus is on participation and expression, not physical ability or performance.
What should participants bring or wear?
Comfortable clothing and footwear, or non-slip socks, are recommended to allow ease of movement.
Is this a physically demanding session?
No. The workshop is designed to be gentle and supportive, with rest periods and slower-paced movement throughout.
How does this benefit persons living with dementia?
The workshop supports engagement, mood, memory stimulation, coordination, and social connection through music, rhythm, and movement-based activities.
Is there a cost to attend?
This workshop is offered free of charge.
Can caregivers or family members join?
Caregivers or family members may observe and provide support if required.
Is this a therapy session?
This is a creative movement-based engagement workshop. While it incorporates therapeutic principles, it is not a clinical therapy session.
Workshop Series
These workshops will be held by Dr. Shivakameshwari, Founder of Sukhaalyam.
A series of workshops and talks will be organised from August to October 2026. These have been organised together with community organisations such as Central Sikh Temple, Dharma Muneewaran Temple and Temple of Fine Arts. We have also approached community centres such as Woodlands, Kampong Chai Chee and Toa Payoh Community Centres.
Our Facilitator
Dr. Shivakameshwari Dattathri
Wellness & Yoga Physician · Gerontologist · Founder
Shivakameshwari Dattathri is the founder of Sukhaalayam and a wellness and yoga physician and gerontologist working between Singapore and India. Her practice is rooted in research, community-based facilitation, and a lifelong commitment to holistic wellbeing — from a child’s first encounter with movement to an elder’s final chapters of life.
She brings together yoga, movement, reminiscence, dialogue, and creative expression to design programmes that are evidence-based and deeply human — spaces where the body, mind, and spirit are honoured together.
At the heart of her work is a belief that healing is relational. That it happens not in intervention alone, but in the quiet act of being seen, heard, and held. Her years of working across the lifespan — especially at life’s edges — have shaped her understanding of care as meaning-making, presence, and connection.
Sukhaalayam was born from this intention: to build something thoughtful and experiential, where care is not only delivered, but felt — and where shared humanity becomes the ground for belonging.
Sukhaalayam
A movement, wellness, and care practice offering community and outreach sessions across Singapore.
