Teacher

Koistinen Minna

I am Minna Koistinen from Heinävesi, a nature guide, a Forest Mind guide, a Master of Theology and a Bachelor of Arts, and I am also currently studying to become a natural product advisor. I work as a textile work guide for people with intellectual disabilities and mental health rehabilitation and do nature guidance as a light entrepreneur.

Graduating as a nature guide in the spring of 2023 was a great way to combine everything I had done in my life up until that point and everything I had accumulated over the years. Nature is a diverse treasure trove, which already serves as a place of refreshment and recovery for us. In addition, nature offers many craft materials and ingredients for natural cosmetics - nature supports human well-being in many ways.

Nature offers people the opportunity to stop in the present moment. Lately, I have been thinking a lot about why it is so difficult for people to ground themselves in the present moment, the mind likes to tinker in the past or the future. In nature, orientation to the present moment happens automatically, which is why when walking on forest paths, the mind calms down and the feeling is peaceful, then you can tell yourself that with every step I have already arrived, being is here and now.

Teacher

Koponen Raila

I studied literature and art history at the University of Jyväskylä and weaving at the Kuopio Institute of Arts and Crafts. After my studies, I worked as a crafts entrepreneur for a few years and taught crafts at a community college. For the longest time, almost 30 years, I worked in the social sector – first as a textile work instructor and later in administrative positions. After recently retiring, I have again delved more into crafts and art. I have learned and practiced eco-printing / contact printing with plants alongside my work for about 10 years. My previous knowledge and experience of dyeing with natural dyes have been a good foundation for this skill. I live in Heinävesi and the Valamo Monastery has been familiar and close to me since childhood.