Whycation to Youcation; From Another Level to Gravity

While listening to morning news podcasts, I’m bombarded with advertisements about how to capitalize on the transformation AI is bringing to businesses: reducing costs, elevating customer and entertainment experiences, making 3D mainstream, promising leverage to grow.

I shiver a little. I am no longer walking those endless corridors or joining meetings where I was already thinking about the next one unpresent in the moment, and unpresent in myself.

I had another glimpse into the state of today during a sustainability communications training I recently attended. Suddenly our group found ourselves in a shared room, tasked with solving a problem together to be presented in 15 minutes.

I was the only one with my video on, introducing myself and asking for input.
Silence.

I suggested an approach. One voice, calling from a car, said: “Great, and sorry, I’m barely able to participate.”

I solved the issue, shared it with the group who remained quiet, busy with other tasks or unable to face others, and then presented it to the full class.

Today, I am in a privileged position: I choose where to be present.
Not necessarily financially, but mentally and emotionally.

We are expected to grow businesses, utilise the newest tools, and take experiences to “the next level.” But with all these loops, hurdles, and levels, we begin to lose our ground spinning like whirling dervishes.

Presently in Bangkok, between executive speeches about growth and market insights, we heard the Tourism Authority of Thailand share how, in just one year, they shifted from cultural experiences and parties to a new theme:
“Luxury of Healing.”
Soundless nature escapes, singing bowls, natural spas, stories, and sustainability.

Again I was reminded of the balance we all need.
There is a gravity pulling us back: a craving for nature, for simple ways, for nostalgia.

When transforming and growing businesses, we should not lose the most important factor:
ourselves.

Companies and people should invest first in wellbeing, inner connection, and personal growth.
Machines still need humans to learn from: people who can think for themselves and for others, after first taking a deep breath for themselves.

Whycation to Youcation

There are deeper reasons we travel.

Why means more than where.
You mean more than anything.

I walk alongside you, observing and listening. I offer my ear so you can shape the solution you already carry within you, once you start listening in.

You might be amazed by how much you have inside when you lend yourself an ear and quiet the noise.

It may be Thailand, Finland, or another land entirely that wakes something in you, but you are the one who takes the learning home and integrates it into daily life.

My gentle solution is simple:
listen to yourself when you step intentionally into nature, wherever you are. Pay intuitive attention and begin to notice what your inner self is whispering together with a trusted coach, next to you or online, present.

Take a leap, and allow yourself to land for a moment.
You will be happy you did.

Schedule a Complimentary Discovery Call

Your nature is calling you. Luontopolku Back to Your Senses® and I are ready when you are. Book a complimentary call.

Seeking Answers

I still get lost sometimes and need to return to my nature trails to reconnect. Even in the excitement of building something new, there is a mountain of tasks waiting, not always favourites, yet necessary.

What Is Weighing on Me?

This week, between pitching competitions where I got to speak about my Luontopolku Back to Your Senses® method, the way to Finnish Happiness, to the finals and receive supportive feedback from wellness-tourism leaders, I found myself wondering: What is weighing on me?

There is the pressure of things undone, the constant whisper to do more, the old feeling, shared by so many of us, that we still need to prove something. Even after letting go, the echo returns. In conversations this week, we explored that balance: how to stay engaged without losing ourselves, how to understand what is “enough,” and how to find a renewed sense of meaning and direction.

When I Return to the Trail

Every time I return to a trail intentionally and start listening to the nature around me, something shifts.
The stormy waves inside quiet down.
A pigeon lands and meets my gaze.
A poster on a wall brings back a memory of who I used to be.

When I note down the intuitive thoughts that arise, I begin to see what is missing, why I feel the way I do, and what needs to be released or added to feel whole again.

Nature Shows Us the Way

Nature shows us the way if we choose to listen.
But when we are burned out, overwhelmed or moving through transitions, we often don’t hear anything at all. We operate in a trance, not fully present in our own lives.

We need to break that cycle. Step out.
Travel helps awaken the senses and shift perspective, but we are not always able to travel far. In the end, it wasn’t the height of Machu Picchu that changed me. It was the depth I needed. Myself I sought.

About Luontopolku Back to Your Senses®

The Luontopolku Back to Your Senses® method I developed during my Travel Coach studies doesn’t require distance. It requires listening.

In Finland, we say:
“The forest answers what you shout into it.”

Luontopolku Back to Your Senses® is a nature-based transformational wellbeing and travel method that guides individuals back to clarity and inner balance. Rooted in mindful presence, nature practices and reflective guidance, it offers a structured yet intuitive pathway toward emotional renewal and meaningful change.

Finnish research shows that even 10 minutes in nature calms the heartbeat. Nature walks lower cortisol, support burnout recovery, prevent depression and increase mindfulness.

Luontopolku, nature trail in Finnish, draws from ancestral knowledge, Finnish science and global wellness insights, including the principles of Japanese forest bathing.

Slowing Down to Listen

Meaningful change happens when we slow down, tune in and allow nature to support our inner journey. Through movement, reflective exercises, sensory awareness and meaning-centered travel coaching, Luontopolku becomes a gentle companion toward self-understanding and inner clarity.

By following the steps in the Luontopolku® guide, you begin by asking what you wish clarity on. Then you step into nature, holding the question lightly.

Magic happens: answers appear in leaves, patterns, symbols.
You pause. You listen.
You write down the intuitive thoughts that surface.

The more intentionally we return to nature, the clearer the inner voice becomes.

A Path You Always Walk With Yourself

At 54, I gained the courage to change my life.
And so can you.

You are always journeying with yourself: listen closely to know when to stay on your path, or when it’s time to turn.

Wishing you a wonderfully slow weekend.
Take a mindful walk.
And if you feel called to explore your personal journey through a guided session, online or as a reflective Luontopolku Back to Your Senses® walk, you’re warmly welcome to make a booking.

Care for Yourself

We often feel responsible for everyone but ourselves. We take care of children, family, spouse, parents, and work. At work, we leave nothing unfinished and ensure others have answers; at home, we make sure everyone else takes their breaks.

It’s admirable to be reliable, the person everyone can turn to but who do you turn to? Who allows the leave for you? There may even be the option: adequate holidays, understanding supervisors who won’t push you for yet another achievement—but do you allow yourself to take it?

Fear Wears Many Faces

Fear can appear as being unheard, missing out, becoming left out, forgotten. Perhaps the hardest: facing yourself without structure, after so long taking care of others, managing responsibilities, following routines.

Being alone with your thoughts can feel bewildering, yet it’s here you can start listening. You can question the weight in your backpack and ask yourself:
“Do I really need to carry all this anymore?”

Start Gently

Care for yourself a little at a time.
Pay attention. Turn your ear to the journey waiting. Accept that you also need time, space, and peace.

Allow yourself to unwind in ways that feel natural. Travel and leisure trips are not challenges to conquer, achievements to measure, or races to win.

Beauty lives in the moments in between, in the truths hidden under ordinary stones. Mindful walks in nature, strolling through an unfamiliar street on a work trip, turning your gaze inward all can spark small aha moments, giving depth and clarity to your reflections.

Time is precious. Connecting with yourself begins the journey toward your natural calling. It may smoothen your experience where you are or eventually lead you somewhere entirely new but the most important thing is that you are steering.

Walking Together

As a certified travel coach and fellow traveler, I walk with people who are questioning the weight of their backpack and what to carry forward.

The journey is yours, and I’m here for the moments you need. I’ll walk alongside as you map where you wish to go using travel as your vehicle.

Pause. Reflect. Consider what you truly want.

Together, we can plan your journey back to your senses whether it’s a personal reflection path, a solo adventure you long to embark on, or a wellness retreat where you wish to immerse fully. Just book a discovery call to chat about your desires.

Horses Can Talk

How Jack the Irish Cob and a walk in nature led to courage, connection, and healing

We should walk the walk—not just talk.
I believe our steps can lead us intuitively to where we are meant to go.

Since I began walking—literally and metaphorically—serendipitous events have kept unfolding. I started my sabbatical tour of Spain by driving to Oliva beach in the autumn of 2024. Soon after settling in, I found Centro Hípico Oliva and went riding the very next day.

By January, I had moved to Dénia and, through booking a hairdresser, discovered she kept her horse at the same stables. I returned to ride with her. The natural beauty of Oliva's nature reserve—with water bodies, birds, and wildlife framed by mountains—soon became a grounding space for me. Alongside Montgó, it offered peace.

Meeting Jack

This July, a curious Irish Cob named Jack caught my attention. Observing me with his stablemates, he seemed to seek connection. He was talkative, a little cheeky, and clearly eager to do more. I suggested to his owner that I ride him out, but she was hesitant—terrified, in fact.

Jack had lived in Spain for a year but had never gone out on a hack. His owner only rode him in circles, gripped by fear from a fall when Jack was younger.

A Coaching Journey in the Saddle

Anne-Marie, Jack’s owner, had also recently acquired Novela, an 18-year-old Spanish mare. Longing to ride Jack outdoors again, she agreed to a one-week plan that combined intention setting, coaching, and gentle progress.

I rode Jack while Anne-Marie rode Novela. The horses sensed her nerves, and Jack, being a spirited soul, added a dose of macho energy to our first ride. We rode several times together, gradually increasing the distance, adding gaits, and building confidence. Anne-Marie and I also had one-on-one sessions to ensure everyone—horse and human—felt safe and seen. Jack responded beautifully—curious, expressive, and engaged. On day seven, Anne-Marie rode Jack confidently by my side, a moment she called a triumph.

Walking Toward Courage

Anne-Marie’s dream was to ride Jack to their new home in the countryside. But until we met, she hadn’t found anyone to support her in that journey. Yesterday, she did it—with me walking beside her.

It was exactly what she was meant to do, and she did it with pride. She's now smiling, glowing, and enjoying her horse—and herself—more freely than before.

Let the Journey Lead You

I don’t know how these things unfold—but they do. Since I’ve been walking my walk, staying connected to my senses and inner nature, I move lighter every day.

Would you like to dare something new for yourself?
Don’t let fear hold you hostage. You can walk around it.

Send me a note. Let’s see where your path can take you.

🌀 — Mirka Kristiina
Transformative Travel Coach | The Journey Studio

Humans Travel For—and With—Humans

Travel is all about wellbeing, and we are different people on different journeys. Whether traveling together or solo, we are always seeking something deeper: space, time, togetherness, distance, or connection. But these are not the words we typically hear when booking a trip. Instead, we see the glimmer of well-known destinations with iconic sights and sunsets flashing at us online.

Yet often, it’s the offbeat trails, the smaller towns, the cobblestone villages that leave a lasting imprint. Cultural immersion, nature connection, and authentic human encounters—these are what turn a trip into something truly transformative.

What Is Calling You?

It’s good to ask ourselves why we want to go somewhere. What is calling us? Sometimes we feel the urge to do something, to be somewhere—but don’t yet know where or why. Maybe there’s a way of traveling we’ve never tried, or a destination we’ve held back from because of what we’ve heard or assumed.

Maybe there’s more we could bring back from our holidays—insight, peace, presence—if we started with intention and allowed ourselves to follow the deeper cause behind our desire to journey. Maybe it’s finally time.

My Journey to Solo Travel

Looking back, I’ve progressed from family trips to traveling alone with my children to meaningful destinations. It took years to realize I didn’t need to wait for someone else’s availability.

Solo travel, for me, began as a way to meet someone—my own quiet escape. But somewhere along the way, I realized I didn’t need a reason or a person to justify going. I could simply travel for myself.

As I began following my own interests—horseback riding, nature trails, slow mornings in unfamiliar places—I found something surprising: serendipitous encounters, spontaneous joy, and a renewed sense of self.

It’s Not the Destination

It’s never just about the destination. It’s the journey—the transportive moments along the way—that remind us who we are. These experiences have the power to reconnect us with our inner compass and support us in becoming fully empowered, content individuals—wherever we happen to be.

Fast-track search engines and AI can get you the ticket, but not the clarity you’re looking for. That comes step by step: through conversation, reflection, presence, and paying attention.

Travel Can Be Your Tool

Helping others find clarity and confidence has become my calling—especially when they don’t yet know the exact direction, only that it’s time.

I hope you find that time for yourself too.

Use travel as your tool. Not just for escaping, but for returning—to your self-esteem, your rhythm, and the connections that nourish you.

🌿 Begin with intention:

Download my intentional travel guide:

Luontopolku – A Nature Trail Back to Your Senses

📞 Feel something calling?

Book a free discovery call to explore how your next step might look.

🧭 Want to travel solo—together?

Join us for a transformative retreat in Alicante, October 9–12.

Limited spots available.