Sharpen your physical and mental balance with A Simple And Healthy Idea! ASAHI®, the Finnish Health exercise. Asahi is simple to learn. The more you practice it, the more you will realize just how ingenious a method it is for physical and mental health.

Designed for the 21st C., Asahi draws from the timeless wisdom of Eastern martial arts, but is firmly based in modern medical science with no religious, philosophical, political or martial elements. Asahi is safe for everyone of all ages and in all states of health and is done standing (or in a sitting position) with no extra equipment.

Asahi is the simple and effective solution to the negative effects of inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle. The eye exercises built into Asahi along with slow movements and deep breathing help to calm the Vagus nerve and restore mental and physical balance. Many other chronic health issues can be alleviated by regular Asahi practice. It is also a time efficient method, because it is both a gentle workout and a mindfulness practice in one! Asahi improves leg strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, stamina and reflexes. Regular repetition of Asahi’s gentle movements can be more effect than surgery for joint injuries and back pain.

In this lunch break practice, you can do the Asahi method standing or sitting, both of which are equally effective. We will go through the first Asahi series with a special focus on improving balance, and end with a shorter repetition of the series in silence so you can better understand the calming, mindfulness aspect of Asahi.

Presenter Bios: Asahi Head Trainer Margaret Vainio is an American musician, translator & health coach, who has lived in Finland for almost half a century and has gained dual citizenship. Seeing so many Americans with health issues that could be alleviated by adding movement to their life has compelled her to bring Asahi to the US. To date, she has trained about 60 US teachers and has presented Asahi at FinnFest since 2016. In addition to being an Asahi Head trainer, she also completed the 500-hr European Yoga Teacher certification in Oct. 2024.

Sharing teaching responsibilities for the Asahi Workshops at FinnFest this year will be the first US teacher trainers, who certified in January 2024: Sue Schaefer of Milwaukee, WI; Carol Curtis of Urbana, IL; Deb Wahlberg of Ironwood, MI; and Don Bode of Marquette, MI.