Holding Space for Stillness: An Ayurveda Workshop at the Asian Civilisations Museum

The Ayurveda workshop led by Muffyn Liuliu at the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore unfolded quietly, without spectacle or urgency. Set within one of the city’s most culturally significant institutions, the experience felt intentional from the moment participants entered the space. Surrounded by history, artefacts, and stillness, the workshop invited everyone to slow down and listen, both to the teachings and to their own bodies.

The Asian Civilisations Museum, located along the Singapore River, offered more than a venue. Its layered textures, warm light, and hushed interiors created a grounding presence that allowed ancient Ayurvedic practices to feel both rooted and relevant. Time seemed to soften here. Nothing needed to be rushed, explained away, or performed.

Rather than positioning Ayurveda as something to be demonstrated, the workshop focused on embodiment. Gentle movement practices eased bodies into awareness. Breathwork created space between thoughts. Hands warmed oils before resting on temples, shoulders, and crowns, simple gestures guided by intention rather than instruction.

What lingered were the in-between moments. A participant pausing with eyes closed longer than expected. Quiet laughter as tension released. Mouths open while breathing intentionally. These moments did not ask for attention, yet they defined the experience more than any formal structure.

As a documentary photographer, my role was to observe without interruption. I moved through the room quietly, allowing moments to unfold as they were. There was no staging and no direction. Presence did the work.

Photographing a wellness workshop demands restraint. It is not about capturing peak action or perfectly timed gestures, but about recognising subtle shifts. Shoulders dropping. Breathing deepening. Expressions softening without awareness. Over the course of the session, the room changed gradually. Movements slowed. Postures relaxed. The collective energy settled. Participants sat, stood, and leaned into the practices with trust. These visual layers grounded the workshop within its setting, allowing the images to carry both context and emotion.

What made this Ayurveda workshop particularly meaningful was its shared nature. Healing did not happen in isolation. It emerged through collective action, mirrored movement, and the subtle comfort of being held within a group. Participants of different ages and backgrounds moved through the experience together, without hierarchy or expectation.

There was no pressure to perform wellness. Space existed for curiosity, uncertainty, and rest. The workshop became less about learning techniques and more about reconnecting to the body, to breath, and to the present moment.

The Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore played an integral role in shaping this experience. Its architecture and atmosphere encouraged reflection, making it a fitting setting for mindful, embodied practices like Ayurveda. The museum did not dominate the workshop. It held it gently, allowing ancient wisdom to sit naturally within a contemporary space.

Location matters when documenting experiences rooted in introspection and cultural continuity. The museum added depth and grounding, giving the workshop a sense of respect and quiet authority.

In the end, this workshop was not about dramatic transformation. It was about subtle shifts that linger beyond the room. That is where documentary photography finds its purpose. Not in perfection, but in truth.

The images from this session hold space rather than demand attention. They reflect what the workshop offered, calm, connection, and the permission to simply be. At Of Wild Promises Photography, this is how wellness and cultural events in Singapore are documented. With patience. With honesty. And with deep respect for the moments that unfold naturally.