Arctic Cocooning Is the New, Cozy Winter Version of Forest Bathing

Finland’s latest winter activity involves some hardcore tree hugging and a campfire barista.

After crawling into a sack tethered between two pine trees , I ’m tucked in under a warm , cozy cover that harbor me from the surrounding freezing temps . The only thing exposed to the weather is my face , which I quick hide under the blanket to keep ardent . I ’m gift a gentle push and begin swaying beneath the towering trees . It ’s the utter sentence for an Arctic forty winks , or if you ’re like me and ca n’t slumber , a pure time to unbend and reflect , while the only sounds around are my own breath and a indulgent wind whooshing through the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .

For about half an minute , I lie in wintertime ’s silence , observe the trees above dance under a drear sky dotted with cotton confect clouds . As I suspire in , the odor of the campfire a brusk distance forth fills my nostril . I ’m atHaliPuu , a pine tree and birch tree woods in Veitservasa in the Arctic Circle , where this sack activeness — call arctic cocooning — is an alternative form of forest bathing .

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Adjusting to life at home, Americans are taking a cue from snowy, secluded Finland.

It ’s in reality not rare in Finland for parent toput their babies outside in inhuman conditions to kip in sub - zero temps . They say the fresh aviation help meliorate sleep . Why not give it a attempt for grownup ?

This most gentle of Arctic adventures is far more accessible to your average somebody . No surd core ice spikes needed here , despite the far - Second Earl of Guilford journey to get to HaliPuu , near the distant Lappish town of Levi . It ’s a two - flight kind of destination . After taking the main flight of steps to Finland , visitor will want to get on a second , short domesticated flight .

Finnairoffers nonstop tickets to Helsinki from Dallas , Chicago , New York , Miami , and Los Angeles . From Helsinki , another Finnair flight whisks passenger to Kittilä in the Arctic Circle . Upon land , you could charter a car or arrange a machine service for a short 20 arcminute drive to HaliPuu . There , the arctic cocooning body process awaits , along with cozy campfire treats and lovesome beverage .

arctic cacooning

HaliPuu

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It’s got hundreds and thousands of islands.

HaliPuu , a 25 - acre wood that ’s been in the same family for generation , was n’t always a place for glacial merriment . At first , the end was to reduce these trees down , since it begin as a woodland for harvest home baseball bat .

In 1948 , forced to flee the battle of WWII , Kaarle Raekallio moved here as a child with his kin from Petsamo , Finland — now live as Pechenga , Russia — near the Barents Sea . The family flee the expanse when Russia invaded and stop up in the forest in Veitservasa . Selling lumber from the timber ply an income for the family , and Kaarle spent his liveliness in these woods , collecting pinecones for seeds and later working as a faller while simultaneously striving to aid the woodland produce healthy .

In 2014 , Kaarle and his family determine they want to preserve the wood and keep the trees standing rather of tailor them down . It was Easter , and Kaarle and the family were sitting in the woods , grill sausages and drink coffee , when Kaarle noted that the woods was advanced for felling , but he did n’t need to cut it down .

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“ He was kind of joking , but he pronounce ‘ let ’s adopt the tree to people of the existence as hugging trees , ’ ” says Riitta Raekallio - Wunderink , Kaarle ’s girl . “ I immediately felt it was a brilliant idea and started developing the idea further . ”

Tree smooching , an element of wood washup , is recognize for its health benefits , include reduce focus levels , boosted immunity , and loweredheart rateandblood pressure sensation .

First , HaliPuu come to life as a space where visitors could “ adopt ” a tree , where they purchase a tree from the timber and then visit it to experience the healing force of nature and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree fondling . But Riitta desire to do more , so she came up with the idea of arctic cocooning . “ I had a vision of hammocks hanging between the trees , and it immediately made sense to me , ” she says . And as I rock back and forth in my hammock , bundled up like a baby as I soak in the looker of the woods , it micturate sense to me , too .

winter hammock

HaliPuu

Of course , many visitors seek tocatch a glance of the Northern Lightswhile in the Arctic Circle . The meth - domed igloos atLevin Iglutare perfect for this , as you’re able to rest from the lovingness of your bed while staring up at the sky , watching the Lights saltation in spook of greenish , dark , and purple . Levin Iglut has a eating house on situation for a three- or five - course menu that changes with the season , but often feature local green goods like Charles Edward Berry , fish , and lichen . The hotel can also arrange activities such as snowshoeing andreindeer farm visits .

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Back at HaliPuu , eyes closed and in an Arctic haven , I feel a gentle jog on my shoulder . It ’s Riitta , who whispers that I ’m welcome to proceed cocoon or make my way to the campfire where her married man , Steffan Wunderink , is whipping up warm drink and treats . Of course , the stomach wins and I head to the campfire a short distance aside .

Pots , kettles , and coffee manufacturing business warm over the open flack , and Steffan recommends I try his dirty chai latte , made with Lappish chaga syrup , Genista raetam berries , and birch rod farewell , which add an Arctic plait to an already leading caffe latte . As I sip my lovesome drink and laugh at a homemade cowberry marshmallow over the fervor , Steffan tell me he thinks he might be the earth ’s first campfire barista , a title he ’s proud to arrogate as he pull in live chocolates and passes out lingonberry - chocolate lump biscuit . certainly , there have been people prior to Steffan who have made coffees over a campfire , but how many of them are harvesting chaga mushrooms from birch tree tree diagram to boil down into their own homemade syrup for strong suit Arctic lattes ? Campfire barista , indeed .

After warming up , Riitta and Steffan encourage me to steer out into the forest and pick out a tree that speaks to me . Riitta enjoin me it can be any tree ; I just need to give it a secure hug to harvest in those tree diagram - bosom benefit . I choose a towering pine tree , wrap my arms around it , and give it a squeeze . Riitta present pressing her cheek against the barque , which I emulate . It feels goofy at first , but shortly enough , I finger at peace in the timberland . It ’s almost like hugging a get laid one — a loved one with a rough , scratchy cheek .

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I stare around the forest , looking back at my hammock strung between two Tree , the smoky campfire , and quarrel of trees put up in the forest , waiting for a hammock or a clinch . This place was never mean to be hack down . It was meant to take delight and relaxation to those who do n’t get to see magic like this too often . It was mean for Arctic cocooning . I say goodbye to my Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and make my way through the snow , hope to return one twenty-four hours for a moment more Finnish solace .