On Updates & Transitions

Written By mia kataisto

Hi y’al! It’s been quite a while (five years?!) since I’ve written a blog post, or really any kind of long form post honestly, and I’m happy to be back at it. I find it an important way for me to get my thoughts out and process them. And not only that, I find it a nice way to build community as well. We all have our own things going on, and when we can share and talk about things more openly, we all benefit. But in any case, I’ve had some major shifts and transitions in the last few years, and want to share some updates about what’s been happening and what I’m focusing on.

From the top of Keimiötunturi Fell

As some of you may know, I’ve been living up here in Finnish Lapland for almost six years now. Nuts! It’s been a whirlwind of a few years, and I’m grateful for where I am in this moment. I started a business just over five years ago in the midst of covid, I got married, I completed a nature & wilderness guide degree as well a degree in solo-entrepreneurship, I ran a yoga studio for about two years, held yoga retreats, and more changes in the works, which I’ll share more about in a future post.

But what I really want to share is how life up here has brought me so much closer to nature and to myself. And how we can all reap the benefits of nature, no matter the amount of exposure we get to the outdoors. It all has an impact, and every moment matters.

When I was opening my yoga studio three years ago (2022), I had quite a difficult time choosing the name. Should it be a Finnish word, an English word, a combination? I knew I wanted something related to the outdoors; I thought about my offerings, and how I wanted to incorporate their themes into the name. When I finally landed on Evergreens Studio, I knew that it could take on many meanings, even if they weren’t fully apparent to me yet. And only now I’m realizing how fitting the name really is. It’s amazing how things come together in ways you can’t even imagine.

Springtime skiing

Evergreens Studio used to be a physical studio, but in 2024, after much contemplation, I knew I needed a change and decided to close the space. While having a physical location was always a dream of mine, I realized that what I really wanted was to focus on the outdoors, enjoying all that nature has to offer. When we take our practice (or just life in general) outside, we can connect with ourselves in a completely different way. Whether it’s through breathing fresh air, moving freely, hugging a tree, grounding your feet into the grass, or feeling the wind against your skin, each moment in nature is special.

Nature brings us back to simplicity. It reminds us to slow down and listen. It reminds us that we are perfect exactly as we are. While living up here has been a great lesson in slowing down, it does’t mean it’s been easy. I’ve had periods of exhaustion, and have really had to make changes and simplify in both my personal and work life. I had no idea that these years up here would have all kinds of twists and turns, but I know there’s been a purpose for everything, and honestly, there’s been so much beauty in those twists and turns. There’s been so much beauty in change. And that’s what these years have really been all about.

Simplicity. Nature. Slowing down.

And now that our focus isn’t on a physical location, we have much more freedom to explore and play in our ‘studio’ outside. The studio that is nature, that is the outdoors, and in some situations is the online world, as in the case of our Change: A Seasonal Journey course that follows the seasons of Lapland through various practices.

Our studio truly lives in the Evergreens.

From the top of Särkitunturi Fell

So as I move into a new era of my business, where things are more simplified and more in connection with the natural world, I would love it if you joined me on this journey. Perhaps through reading my blogs/newsletters, perhaps through the Change: A Seasonal Journey online courses, or perhaps even coming to Finnish Lapland and joining me for some Forest Yoga or our Return to Nature Retreats with co-facilitator Barbara Kataisto!

I can’t wait to start this journey with you!
- Mia

PS. Our Change: A Seasonal Journey course is being released on September 15, 2025, so be sure to get on the mailing list to be the first to get access!
Immerse yourself in the seasons of Finnish Lapland through yoga, mindfulness, and meditation practice videos in nature!
Included:

- 48 videos (4 practices for each month)
- 12 prompt questions (a theme for each month)
- 13 months access to the videos.

PSS. Sneak Peek Journey (FREE) and Short Journey (4 shorter videos for 27€) are available right now!
Get a little taste of the seasons of Lapland in these packages!

Incredible fells in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park

mia kataisto