Give yourself permission to rest

So what can you do when your calendar is packed, lunch hours vanish into meetings, or jet lag steals your sleep? In the midst of a hectic life, Vilpponen advocates self-compassion and kindness. “True recovery doesn’t come from an intense run,” she says. “Instead, it begins with rest.”

Stress disappears in a serene environment

Rest and recovery are part of the Circle of Joy, a holistic wellbeing concept created by Vilpponen for Hotel St. George. The circle also includes food and drink, exercise, friendship and love, and art.

The hotel’s serene atmosphere encourages recovery. Rooms are decorated in calming, natural tones, while dimmable lighting creates a tranquil ambience. Guests can adjust the room temperature to support restful sleep, and blackout curtains ensure soft darkness in the sleeping area. Each room also features a premium DUX bed.

“Restorative sleep thrives on consistent evening rituals, repeated at the same time each night,” Vilpponen explains. “It might be a warm bath or shower, reading, or watching a feel-good series in bed. These quiet routines help lower the heart rate by calming both the nervous system and the mind.”

According to Vilpponen, short moments of rest during the day are just as important. “When your patience wears thin and your resting heart rate is elevated, the brain becomes forgetful and decision-making suffers.”

Unhurried moments and the power of cold water

St. George Care, the hotel’s spa with its pools, saunas, relaxation areas and treatment rooms, has been designed for deep, holistic relaxation. In Vilpponen’s words, it’s a place where “all the rush, pressure, and external demands are stripped away.”

At the spa, the silent Finnish sauna culture, screen-free time, the cold pool, and the cool relaxation pool all support recovery. “We chose the cool pool over a hot tub because exposure to cold water is both calming and restorative. It also helps muscles recover from minor inflammation,” Vilpponen explains.

By the poolside, Finnish-designed Neurosonic loungers use low-frequency vibrations to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which prepares the body for rest and recuperation. Noise-cancelling headphones are available to help guests fully immerse themselves in the experience.

“The headphones help shut out the outside world completely. The combination clearly works, as one guest told us their 45-minute session felt like just a couple of minutes,” Vilpponen recalls.

Pampering makes you pause

For Vilpponen, a pampering treatment is the ultimate form of rest. “A soothing facial or massage is one of the rare occasions when I can truly let go. Anything that relaxes you also supports recovery,” she says.

One of the most popular treatments at St. George Care is the 80-minute Stress Recovery, a full-body ritual that includes a restorative facial and a scalp, back and foot massage.

“The popularity of this treatment says a lot about how much we all need ways to release stress,” Vilpponen reflects. “When we’re tired, we crave the safe, empathetic touch of another person. In a treatment, all you have to do is lie still and be accepted, exactly as you are.”

Restorative moments over exhaustion

“People often try to relieve stress through intense workouts,” Vilpponen says. “But when the body and mind are already tired, they can no longer distinguish between helpful and harmful strain.” Rest, in contrast, supports both mental and physical renewal.

“It’s during rest that the brain processes the flood of information and learns from it. The body does the same. Muscles strengthen as the body repairs itself,” she explains.

Gentle yoga is ideal for restorative movement, and at Hotel St. George, guests can enjoy a guided session in the comfort of their own room.

Vilpponen reminds us that even when it comes to movement, the most important thing is to listen to yourself. “Ask yourself: who’s telling me I have to exercise for a full hour if I don’t feel like it? The answer is: no one but yourself.”

Is happiness in Finns’ nature?

Spending time in nature is another powerful way to de-stress. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that Finland, repeatedly ranked as the happiest country in the world, is nearly 74% forest and home to almost 188,000 lakes. “For many Finns, true relaxation comes from simple pleasures in nature, like walking through forests, swimming in lakes, or picking berries at their summer cottage”, says Vilpponen.

Fortunately, nature is also near at Hotel St. George. A leafy park lies just outside, and scenic seaside walking routes to Hietalahti and Ullanlinna begin only a stone’s throw from the front door.

Let go of performance mode

Every effort we make to support recovery is a step in the right direction. But Vilpponen is clear that restorative activities, too, should feel genuinely enjoyable. Otherwise, even relaxation can become just another item on the to-do list. If staying up late and laughing with friends leaves you more energised than going to bed early, it’s worth embracing.

“I encourage people to listen to their body and mind, and to explore different options with curiosity,” she says. “For some, reading is the perfect way to unwind. But if that’s not for you, you might listen to a podcast or audiobook, or meet friends for a walk or a drink. Mindfulness can be a gentler alternative to yoga.”

The first step towards recovery is allowing yourself to lower the bar. “We need to stop performing, whether it’s for the perfect life, holiday, or career,” Vilpponen concludes.