Winter retreat in snowy Finland

Winter retreat in Helsinki, Finland in an amazing venue on the island of Suomenlinna, with a World Heritage Site sea fortress. You can stay on-site at Hostel Suomenlinna or book your own accommodation. 

Join us for dancing wave after wave, with darkness and light, between moving and resting. Allowing the winter hibernating bear part of us to rest with other dancing bodies. Waking up the fire and energy inside us, reaching towards our own inner light in the darkness of winter. Weather permitting, there will also be opportunities to move outside in the winter, to hopefully dance with and in snow, and to play with the elements of winter in many ways.

Suomenlinna is an easy 20 minute ferry ride away from central Helsinki. And you can fly direct to Helsinki from many international airports. If you want to explore the Arctic and the North of Finland as well, you can have an adventure in winter magic before or after this retreat. This is the best time of year for skiing, for instance!

Teaching is in Finnish with translation into English available if it is needed (please let us know!).

Endless Waves: residential retreat in Suomenlinna, Finland (2025)

Welcome to the 7th annual Endless Waves 5Rhythms summer retreat on the island of Suomenlinna, just off the coast of central Helsinki. Join us for dancing wave after wave and unwinding back to yourself through movement and breath. 

Dance to clear your mind, free your body, and ignite your creativity. Dive into your movement, breath by breath, wave by wave, layer by layer, and allow yourself to be embraced by the dance. We’ll learn how to soften into our stuck places, allowing them to set the pace and teach us how to open. There will be time for silence, movement and rest, sharing and solitude, and magic in motion. We'll dance with the elements of earth and water indoors and outdoors, allowing ourselves to be inspired, supported, and nurtured by nature - the Baltic sea, the open sky, the wind, the smooth bedrock moulded and rounded thousands of years ago by the last ice age.

Suomenlinna is an 18th-century sea fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a bewitching combination of nature, cultural history, and stunning views over the urban Helsinki skyline. You can stay at Hostel Suomenlinna for a residential experience or arrange your own accommodation. Join us for an unforgettable dancing experience!

GUIDANCE IN FINNISH WITH TRANSLATION INTO ENGLISH.

GETTING THERE

Flights to Helsinki airport. Easy transport to the centre from the airport (bus and / or train). There is a ferry every 20 minutes to Suomenlinna from Kauppatori (the Market Square). The venue is a 25-30 minute walk from the ferry terminal (the hostel is right next to the ferry terminal). See the public transport journey planner here.

SCHEDULES

Sunday 10 – 17

VENUE

Dance venue: Ruutikellari (an amazing 17th century building that was previously used to store gunpowder!), island of Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Accommodation (optional): Hostel Suomenlinna

WORKSHOP TUITION

230€ early bird price, incl. 10% VAT (until 31 December 2024)

245€ early bird price, incl. 14% VAT (1 Jan - 17 May 2025)

275€ full price, incl. 14% VAT

(VAT rates are increasing on 1 Jan 2025 in Finland, so book your place by 31 Dec 2024 to enjoy the cheaper price!)

ACCOMMODATION IN HOSTEL SUOMENLINNA

Accommodation at the hostel is optional. You can also arrange your own accommodation elsewhere.

All rooms at the hostel are shared, with shared toilets and showers. The price includes 2 nights in the hostel and sheets and towels. Does not include meals. Breakfast can be ordered separately (or you can make your own).

Available rooms are for 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 people, with some of them only for men or only women. Prices range from 68 – 98€ for 2 nights (10% VAT, available if you book by 31.12.24) or 71 – 101€ for 2 nights (14% VAT, available if you book on 1.1.25 and after). Please see our online booking system for exact prices.

REGISTRATION:

Book your place in the workshop: Online here

Book your accommodation: Online here

Please contact us if you have any trouble with either of these.

ABOUT THE TEACHER

Karoliina Valontaival is the first accredited 5Rhythms® teacher in Finland. She’s been a passionate 5Rhythms dancer since 2005. She brought 5Rhythms® to Finland in 2012, trained as a Spaceholder in 2015, graduated as a Waves teacher in 2018, and has taught 5Rhythms full time since 2019. She is based in Helsinki and also teaches in other areas.

Karoliina creates a safe, grounded, and accessible space that is an invitation into the unique magic of your own dance. Her expertise in holding space and facilitating group processes is based on a wide variety of education and work experience in science, arts, and embodied practices. She studies psychology and her previous training also includes dance movement therapy, therapeutic breathwork, yoga teacher training, theatre, environmental education, and a Master's degree in Chemistry. Her inspiring music, sensitive soulfulness, powerful presence, and gentle and intuitive guidance will enable you to discover the joy and wisdom of your body and movement.