FinnFest USA is pleased to welcome Saara Martikka, a teacher in Hämeenlinna, Finland. Martikka’s innovative teaching methods in her language arts and literature classes have gotten the attention of the New York Times. Since 2011, Finnish Education has been a popular and well-respected topic at FinnFest festivals, and the 2023 Festival will have a workshop about Finnish teaching methods. Saara Martikka is a passionate advocate for literacy skills and an accomplished Finnish language and literature teacher at Kauriala School in Hämeenlinna, Finland. Her extensive background includes serving as a multi-literacy advisory teacher and being a valued member of the media literacy project group for the Uudet lukutaidot (new reading skills) development program. As an expert in teaching Finnish media literacy in international media, Saara’s knowledge and experience are widely recognized. Interestingly, Saara is also a renowned international judge of competitive cheerleading, demonstrating her expertise and versatility outside the classroom. Whether evaluating routines, educating students or developing new teaching strategies, Saara’s expertise are respected globally.

Performers constantly renew folk traditions, fusing old songs and tunes with new influences to entertain audiences and establish their musical place in an ever-changing world. Join folklorist Jim Leary for sounds, images, and observations from 40+ years of fieldwork with Finnish American musicians in the Upper Midwest, along with a sneak preview of the stylistic range and creative visions of folk musicians figuring in FinnFest 2023. Jim Leary, current vice president of FinnFest USA, is an emeritus professor of folklore and Scandinavian studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he co-founded the Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures. An award-winning author and two-time Grammy nominee for Best Album Notes, he is the curator of FinnFest’s 2023 folk arts programming. Finnish American Folk Music: All Tradition is Change.

Sedentary lifestyles and chronic stress are leading determinants of physical and mental health. Long, uninterrupted periods of sitting stress the spine and impact how we breathe, cognitive function, and our capacity to release tension. Stress accumulates in the body and suppresses immunity, digestion, and systems also affected by sitting. The combination of prolonged sitting and chronic stress, when unaddressed, can be toxic to our health. This workshop begins with a brief overview of stress response in the body. Recent research on the health effects of sitting will be highlighted. Using a public health lens, we will examine how core characteristics of ASAHI, a science-based Nordic practice, can derail the effects of prolonged sitting, reduce the allostatic load of long-term stress, and build inner resilience.