From Countryhouse to Slow Life Retreat
Basic information
Project Title
From Countryhouse to Slow Life Retreat
Full project title
From Countryhouse to Slow Life Retreat
Category
Reconnecting with nature
Project Description
Vera Icon C / O is located in a historic farmhouse in the beautiful Finnish countryside, surrounded by forests, fields and a river. Providing a space for multidisciplinary wellness activities, we strives to help people find a connection between mind, body and nature.
Geographical Scope
National
Project Region
The actual venue is a countryhouse, (Mynämäki, Finland). The restoration line of the vocational school (Raisio, Finland) participates in the restoration of it and the barn. A number of Finnish and international teachers and instructors participate in the training program of the retreat (e.g. Rome, Italy; Vilnius, Lithuania). International marketing students (Turku, Finland) are responsible for building and branding the travel program., Finland
Urban or rural issues
It addresses urban-rural linkages
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
The guesthouse was established in the farmhouse in 2018. In the summer of 2022, its services were expanded by starting the planning and implementation of the retreat program. The retreat program includes various courses that combine cultural-historical Finnish rural life with pedagogical, physical and spiritual exercises of slow life and connection with nature and community. Both Finnish and international body/mind instructors are invited to lead the courses. The owner of the place, pedagog and doctor of arts Mari Krappala is responsible for the coordination of the services and courses.
The Trade School in the area participates in the restoration of the buildings with the students and teacher of the restoration line.
The guesthouse is developed together with local chefs and food producers.
The Trade School in the area participates in the restoration of the buildings with the students and teacher of the restoration line.
The guesthouse is developed together with local chefs and food producers.
Key objectives for sustainability
Vera Icon combines old country life and new body and mind exercises in its retreat programs. The programs are rehabilitative and empowering. The programs include various nature connection exercises, meditation, yoga, forest walks, sauna and river swimming.
The environment is aesthetically beautiful and calming. The buildings are from the 19th century and the main building has been restored for accommodation and catering. The renovation and repurposing of the barn continues. Trial versions of yoga and nature connection courses were held last summer on the upper floor of the barn.
Vera Icon's Sustainability is based on reviving the old milieu partly with methods that have always been there, partly with current methods of nature and body awareness. We strive to use sustainable, local and recycled resources, producing minimal amounts of waste.
The environment is aesthetically beautiful and calming. The buildings are from the 19th century and the main building has been restored for accommodation and catering. The renovation and repurposing of the barn continues. Trial versions of yoga and nature connection courses were held last summer on the upper floor of the barn.
Vera Icon's Sustainability is based on reviving the old milieu partly with methods that have always been there, partly with current methods of nature and body awareness. We strive to use sustainable, local and recycled resources, producing minimal amounts of waste.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The goal of Vera Icon's project is to create an aesthetic and multi-sensory experience for retreat participants with the power of a multidisciplinary professional team. Professionals of the body, art and mind are also responsible for the training parts of the retreats. Connecting visual arts exercises and producing fiction will also be tried out as part of the retreat program.
Another goal of Vera Icon's project is to awaken an aesthetic and experiential atmosphere by transferring exercises from the yoga mat to nature and vice versa.
The third goal is to create a place that leads from the old rural milieu to a peaceful and slow life, physically and mentally. There is e.g. for meditation, the main building's salon with hand-painted wallpaper. The house has old farmhouse furniture, lots of art and old dishes. Among other things, in connection with meals, the aim is to tell about the cultural history of the place and objects.
The fourth goal is to develop the aesthetics of flavors by designing the food service with local chefs with vegan versions of the 100-year-old cookbook.
The fifth goal of the project is to create a sense of community both in nature and in the same retreat.
The the sixth goal is that professionals renovating buildings in accordance with crafts students create and develope renovation methods combining new and old construction methods.
The seventh aim is that the whole project will be documented on Instagram and on the blog.
Another goal of Vera Icon's project is to awaken an aesthetic and experiential atmosphere by transferring exercises from the yoga mat to nature and vice versa.
The third goal is to create a place that leads from the old rural milieu to a peaceful and slow life, physically and mentally. There is e.g. for meditation, the main building's salon with hand-painted wallpaper. The house has old farmhouse furniture, lots of art and old dishes. Among other things, in connection with meals, the aim is to tell about the cultural history of the place and objects.
The fourth goal is to develop the aesthetics of flavors by designing the food service with local chefs with vegan versions of the 100-year-old cookbook.
The fifth goal of the project is to create a sense of community both in nature and in the same retreat.
The the sixth goal is that professionals renovating buildings in accordance with crafts students create and develope renovation methods combining new and old construction methods.
The seventh aim is that the whole project will be documented on Instagram and on the blog.
Key objectives for inclusion
Using service design methods, retreats are designed to suit different types of groups. The groups consist of about 15 people, so everyone's individual needs can be taken into account, even within the group.
Retreats are offered both to clients from the social sector, as well as a wellness service for those in need of rest.
Retreats are offered both to clients from the social sector, as well as a wellness service for those in need of rest.
Results in relation to category
The guest house has served as accommodation for an international clientele for five years. Groups from all over the world have visited the destination. The operation of the Vera Icon company will properly start in the spring of 2023, when the final phase of the renovations, and the implementation of the retreats will begin. Improvements focusing on the guest rooms will be made in order to accommodate the visitor's needs and comfort. Marketing initiatives will focus on the accumulation of both national and international clients.
Vera Icon has proven to be successful in bringing together multidisciplinary actors, and will continue providing a place for collaboration, learning and growing.
Vera Icon has proven to be successful in bringing together multidisciplinary actors, and will continue providing a place for collaboration, learning and growing.
How Citizens benefit
Professionals and students from different fields participate in the renovation of the place and the planning and development of its operations; professionals with old artisan methods, yogis, physio/psychotherapists who teach modern body-mind exercises, and food preparation professionals with historical and new methods and ingredients. The initiative opens up several job opportunities within various fields. The initiative benefits the local economy by bringing a new group of tourists to the countryside.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
Vera Icon combines the old milieu with new teaching, rehabilitation and training methods. Local and global also meet when we open the retreat to international guests. Vera Icon brings both traditional and experimental wellness practices into the Nordic forest. Combining different practices results in a new kind of approach to the wellbeing of both people and nature. By bringing yoga to the Finnish forest we offer a new way of approaching Nordic mythologies and local folklore, while learning new ways of coexisting with nature.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
Restoration training program students, tourism students, business school students, their teachers, physiotherapists, mindfulness specialists, yoga instructors, therapists, carpenters and local catering services have all participated in the development. The applicant is responsible for coordinating the entire group. The representatives have both collaborated and worked in harmonious coexistence, resulting in innovative solutions combining traditions and functionality.
Methodology used
The restoration methods follow the curriculum of the vocational school. To these can be added the visits of old craftsmen who are still rarely found in the countryside.
The training methodology of the retreat consists of a multidisciplinary group of teachers and instructors. The central idea is to combine mind and body exercises, to do them partly in the attic space reserved for exercises and partly in the forest and elsewhere in nature. It is also possible to combine artistic methods, for example in feedback discussions on exercises.
The training methodology of the retreat consists of a multidisciplinary group of teachers and instructors. The central idea is to combine mind and body exercises, to do them partly in the attic space reserved for exercises and partly in the forest and elsewhere in nature. It is also possible to combine artistic methods, for example in feedback discussions on exercises.
How stakeholders are engaged
The aforementioned have been engaged in the design and implementation of Vera Icon as independent entrepreneurs, students and teachers. The municipality of Mynämäki is involved with its own company that supports local small business operations, and Turku Business region assists in the start of international operations.
Global challenges
Vera Icon responds to Europe's state of war with peaceful, community-building gestures. Vera Icon takes people to nature, opening a new view for them with nonhuman beings. In this way, in the time of climate change and massive deforestation, small but stable steps are taken towards a more sustainable, nature-friendly lifestyle.
Vera Icon battles unemployment and furthers the economic development of the Finnish countryside by collaborating with different fields, as well as making advances in the tourism sector. Vera Icon chooses it's employees and collaborators based on knowledge and skill, therefore fighting both gender- and income inequality.
Vera Icon battles unemployment and furthers the economic development of the Finnish countryside by collaborating with different fields, as well as making advances in the tourism sector. Vera Icon chooses it's employees and collaborators based on knowledge and skill, therefore fighting both gender- and income inequality.
Learning transferred to other parties
It is possible to document and share the exercises developed during the training sessions of the retreat as a book or as virtual programs, e.g. via social media channels.
Keywords
Community
Countryside cultural history
Aesthetics
New rehabilitation / wellness methods
Nature connection
