Rainy Photo-Walk on The Well-Being Nature Trail in Espoo, Finland
Hello, everyone! This is a blog post about a very special place for me. It is called Terveysluontopolku (terveys= health; luonto=nature; polku=trail) and it is located in the Central Park of Espoo. And yes, Espoo Central Park is actually…a forest! Isn’t this amazing? A forest in the middle of the city.
The Entrance of Olarin Terveysluontopolku in Espoo Central Park, Finland
It has been raining for the last 3 days in Finland. I am now listening to calming music, drinking a warm tea by the candle light and writing this blog. (check my Instagram for behind the scenes). It feels…unbelievably cozy. My heart is filled with mixed feelings from yesterday’s photo walk. And you will soon find out why!
The last drop of light - The photograph I chose to represent the feelings I have for this November
Today is an important day: the day that I came to terms with Finnish November.
If you are not living in Finland, you should know that November is the darkest month in here. If you ask anyone living here to choose the most depressing month of the year, they would say November without thinking twice. It is the moment when the snow is not yet here, but there is A LOT of water from all the pouring rain. The trees are skinny and empty and at 15.30 it is getting dark.
Me Practicing Phone Photography
In the last 5 years living in Finland, autumn was a time for frustration, sadness and anxiety for me.
If you know me, you know that I do not like, but i LOVE the sun. Being a photographer makes it even more heartbreaking because LIGHT is what inspires me to do my creative work. However, this autumn I had time to reflect in more depth about the darkness that is inevitably coming again this November (and it will stay here until March) and I came up with new conclusions.
Farewell to Light, Espoo Central Park, Finland, November 2023
Taking my camera on rainy days and hiking alone, with my dog or with my partner is my game changer. I realised that this is exactly what I need when feeling low in energy, nostalgic, sad, annoyed or frustrated. (And yes, I tested this on multiple complex moods and it always works).
Allan, my partner, leading the way on Olari Health Trail
When hiking in Finland, you are usually alone with the forest. You can see one or two people in one-hour trail. Being with my camera, in silence, listening to the forest’s noises, smelling the rain, connecting with the old wise trees and taking photographs became my meditative practice that had positive effects on my mental health since day one.
So, why is this hiking trail named the health trail and why it is my favourite?
First of all, the blue hearts will guide your road. The trail is made of these and you need to follow them into the woods.
On Olarin Terveysluontopolku you are following the blue hearts to arrive to sensorial spots in the forest
Every sensorial spot has instructions in Finnish, Swedish and English on how to connect with nature through practical well-being exercises that you can do alone or together with friends right on the spot.
Allan reading some well-being instructions from the health trail
Since I moved to Espoo last October, Olarin Terveyspolku has become my favourite place to go for photo-walks. I moved from Tampere to Espoo because I am following my dream of combing art with health. When I saw this creative way of encouraging people into practices to improve their well-being, I knew I am in the right place.
Suomi in Finnish means Finland. Suo in Finnish means swamp.
I remember the first time when I discovered it in October 2022, I was doing my research on the role of photography on mental well-being. Finding this place filled my heart with a mystical and warm energy I did not feel in a long time. Somehow this was my sign that I am on the right path.
Mesmerising Lil’ Swamp, Finland, November, 2023
Allan having a break from his nordic walking
My hiking shoes and my favourite plant from Finland: The Moss
Happy Me Documenting Autumn’s details with my Phone Camera
This enchanting hiking trail has cast its spell on me, inspiring me to host a well-being photo walk workshop right here in 2024. So stick with me on this journey and let’s meet for a well-being photo-walk soon! 🤍
Can you hear the silence? , Espoo, Finland, November 2023
Reality Mirror, Espoo, Finland, November 2023
All in all, I hope you enjoyed this virtual photo-trip with me and Allan in Olari Health Hiking Trail in Espoo, Finland. Hopefully you got some well-being inspiration for your next photo adventure.
If you are from Espoo, I hope we can meet and take some photographs together. I wish you a warm and cozy autumn, filled with warm tones and soft light!
Moi moi! Bye Bye! Adiós! Pa Pa!
