About

Finnish Archipelago Immersion

[July 15-19] — 4 nights, 5 days on a private island ·  All inclusive

About the Place

Hamnskär is an island in the outer Finnish archipelago — a place that feels forgotten, and has been kept that way intentionally. The whole island is one smooth rock shaped over centuries by ice and water. Nearly no trees grow here, and there are no buildings or human beings in sight, only open water.

Our family began coming here in the 70s, and everything on the island was brought out and built by us, with the help of the local people. There is no electricity, out here the days are shaped by the sun, evenings by candlelight.

On the island there's one main house, two sleeping houses, and a sauna. The rest is open water and rock. Walking around and finding a favorite nook to sit and read or a cliff to jump off into the cooling water is something we love to do. Sauna is a natural part of Finnish daily life, and we tend to end each day with sauna and a swim.

For a long time we hesitated to bring people out to this place that is sacred to us. But we've discovered how naturally it supports the work we do with You Are the Sea — and we feel that the rawness and minimalism that has shaped us is something that makes sense for us to share.

About the Immersion

In a world moving disturbingly fast, we believe the answer isn't to add more - but to subtract. This immersion is meant to be an antidote to the stimulation of modern life. An invitation to slow down and just be. The bareness of the landscape does much of the healing on its own. There's plenty of time to rest, read, write, or simply exist. A place to soften and come back to a more raw version of yourself.

Over the years we've also noticed that integration is one of the most vital — and most neglected — parts of bodywork. As soon as we leave the massage table, we tend to return to the shape we came in. This immersion is built around giving that process real time and space, and we believe there’s a particular potency in sharing this process as a group.

What we offer isn't a method so much as a quality of attention. A way of being present that allows things to soften on their own.

About the Structure

Each day includes a movement or meditation practice, and every participant will have one individual bodywork session with Franco. The rest of the time is yours.

We invite you to either hand in your phone or keep it on flight mode for the duration. We encourage bringing a journal, a book, or whatever creative tools spark something in you — knitting, painting, anything that invites creative expression.

We will gather around three simple and nutritious meals each day and end the day with sauna.

Getting There

The immersion starts here - traveling out to Hamnskär means traveling through the stunning Finnish countryside and archipelago. We organize shared transportation from Helsinki. The journey takes you by car, then ferry to one of the larger islands, and finally by small motorboat to Hamnskär. Travel costs from Helsinki to the island are included.