Are my humble everyday choices a luxury for some?
- Kati Pankka
- Mar 26
- 5 min read
As a typical Finn, I’m drawn to the forest when I need time for myself—to escape the hustle and bustle, to hear the birds, to hear the wind, to hear the silence.
And when I want to relax my body, I heat the sauna and let the pampering steam embrace me.
These are all quite commonplace experiences for me, but I’m discovering that they can be seen as a luxury by those who don’t have access to them close to home. I recently came across Five Senses Retreats, which seems to offer this kind of luxury in a well-packaged way.
What drew my attention to Five Senses Retreat?
I first noticed this retreat in a Visit Finland LinkedIn post. There was a photo of two chairs and an open outdoor fireplace with text on top: “Sit. Breathe. Be.” Oh, so simple—but it resonated deeply with me in that very hectic moment.
Then I read the caption, which described a new Nordic mindfulness retreat opening in Nuuksio National Park, in my hometown. It combines Finnish nature, silence, sauna, yoga, and seasonal local food. I paused for a moment. “Wait a minute… those are all very simple things. Very quotidian for me. I go to the forest multiple times a week and bathe in a sauna whenever I can. I wonder what could be so special about this new retreat that people would want to pay big bucks for.”
After glancing through the website, I silently complimented the team who had put this retreat together for making simple things sound so luxurious. Then I went on with my life and forgot about it.
Until I received an email from someone called Jonathan Lee from Five Senses Retreat…
Is this for real?
In full honesty, I initially felt a bit suspicious. I caught myself thinking that the name sounded a bit too general and not very Finnish at all. Of course, he could be someone who has moved to Finland, and I didn’t want to jump to conclusions without further research. Still, I wondered if it might be some sort of phishing email—or just someone who had used AI to create “the perfect wellness getaway in Finland.” It all seemed a bit too good to be true.
So I decided to check whether it seemed legitimate and went back to the LinkedIn post by Visit Finland. I noticed that the renowned sustainable accommodation provider Haltia Lake Lodge’s official page was also tagged—that was a good sign.
Then I discovered that one of the hosts is herbalist and biologist Anna Nyman, also known on social media as @foragingwithanna.
“Ah, what a relief—that’s a familiar name!”
I thought to myself. I’ve joined a couple of her foraging events in Helsinki before and absolutely loved them.
Another host is Arja Kastinen, who specialises in Karelian kantele traditions and has dedicated her career to preserving Finland’s musical heritage. This is a topic that has recently sparked my interest. My family roots are in Karelia, and I believe that traditional local musical instruments are an interesting subject for my future clients and international visitors.
After my research, I concluded that creating Finnish experiences from a “foreigner’s” perspective is actually very beneficial. It has allowed Jonathan to curate an impressive combination of Finnish experiences that would attract international visitors. He has also managed to find local facilitators and crafted it all into a single high-end package that we locals might take for granted.
Sometimes, simple and basic is all that travellers need! Especially when it comes to slow and immersive travel. That’s what I also look for myself when I travel abroad. I’d rather see how the locals enjoy their life authentically, without putting on a theatre show to entertain the tourists.
To me, this all is starting to look like a thoughtfully planned retreat. As a tour leader, I know how much skilful planning it takes to design scheduled daily programs and logistics with local partners. You want to include as much content as possible, while still keeping the pace relaxed for the guests.
Couldn’t I just do all of this DIY-style?
For a moment, I wished I were back in my past corporate life, where I could easily afford to click “book now” and pay for such a retreat.
But then it hit me: “Remember, Kati, these are all ordinary experiences that you could recreate yourself—DIY-style—by heading to our extended family’s mökki cabin in the forest. Walking in the forest, foraging a bit, listening to calming music, dipping in the lake, letting the sauna steam pamper me… For a Finn, it’s not really that unusual.”
However, in that scenario, I would need to invest time and effort to organise it all by myself. Chop the firewood, carry the water, put on the bedsheets, brush up on my foraging knowledge, cook all the meals, do the dishes, fire up the sauna, and clean up after everything. All of a sudden, it’s starting to feel like a lot of work to get a little time to rest…
More importantly, I would need to carve out space in my calendar to actually allow myself to pause... As a new mom, career-shifting student, and entrepreneur... I’ve discovered that finding time for myself is often easier said than done.
Then I read this quote from Jonathan:
“You don't have to be at a breaking point to deserve a moment of stillness.”
And that really hit the spot.
Why wouldn’t you let someone guide you?
Taking a break on your own is always possible, but when you need a proper reset, it’s easier when someone gently guides you through the process.
Just imagine how much more relaxing it would feel if a team of specialist hosts were taking care of all the labour-intensive tasks behind the scenes, and all you needed to do was to show up. That way, you can actually lean into the stillness.
“This isn't just a ‘break.’ It is a guided journey back to yourself.”
Jonathan says.
I felt that. I need that.
And if you’ve been reading this far, maybe you need it too?
To my pleasant surprise, Jonathan invited me to attend the spring retreat experience and offered me a chance to share my local insights. Maybe we can help each other create more immersive experiences rooted in Finnish nature, culture, and wellbeing in the future.
I’m very much looking forward to being guided through a weekend of rest and reconnection in my beloved Finnish forest.
I warmly encourage you to join as well!
Are you ready for a retreat?
Get a 50 EUR discount on the Spring or Summer Retreat Program by using my referral code: Kati_April_26
Who is Kati? And what does she know about Finnish-style wellness?
Hi! I'm Kati! Born and raised in Espoo, Finland. I have lived abroad—in South Korea, Ireland, and Australia—and travelled around the world for both work and pleasure. Only to discover that the best place to find calmness and relaxation is very close to home: in a Finnish forest.
There’s no better feeling than standing by a freshwater lake, hearing only the sounds of nature, and feeling the bliss after soothing your body in a hot, steamy sauna and dipping into the cool water.
I have worked as a tour leader in the Nordic and Baltic regions since 2019 and am currently juggling my roles as a toddler mom and a local guide student. My goal is to become an authorised local guide in Helsinki and continue sharing my passion for authentic local experiences in Finland, specialising in slow, sustainable travel and saunas!
Psst... The cover image of this blog post is from Furuvik Rantasauna, one of my ultimate favourite seaside saunas in Helsinki
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