The Healing Power of Pine Forests: Breathe in Health in the Finnish Woods

In front of me stretches a forest of pillar-like pines. These trees, some of the oldest among them bearing deep grooves and various holes in their thick bark, stand strong and steadfast like ancient guardians. In a Finnish pine forest, there’s a feeling of being at home, with nothing to fear. There’s lots of light, […]

Early Evening Luxury in Finnish Winter: Enjoying the Darkness and Milky Way Right After Work

The darkest days of the year are upon us in Finland, and weekday evenings after work are pitch black. It’s easy to be tempted to curl up on the couch instead of going out. While darkness affects at least some of us negatively in the form of seasonal depression, nature and being outdoors have good […]

Nature Boosts Health – You Don’t Need to Do Anything, Just Go There, Be There, And Let Nature Take Care

I walk into the forest wearing a twenty-year-old jacket, old torn sweatpants, and rubber boots. I have no measuring devices, snacks, time limit, or any specific plan other than to spend a moment in the nearby woods. I’m there for as long as I happen to be this time, basically doing nothing. And you know […]

The Finnish Secret: Embracing Nature for Better Health

I leap over a ditch from the roadside into the forest. The gentle energy of the trees’ embrace wraps around me in an instant. Although the sound of the road still reaches my ears, an invisible wall—a protective force field—has appeared between me and the mundane human world. On the forest side, with each step, […]

Finnish Autumn at Its Best: A Photo Report from Patvinsuo National Park in North Karelia

Article by: Karoliina Kaski We embarked on a three-night autumn hike to Patvinsuo National Park in September. This was my first visit to this park. Patvinsuo offered exactly what I had hoped for and what online sources had promised: sandy beaches, towering pine forests, expansive mires, and unbroken natural tranquility. Welcome to a photo journey […]