Seinäjoki gives you space to live your life
Jiri from Seinäjoki made a bold decision: his old ride had to go
Jiri Lampi, 32, has made a bold move and given up his car. Everyday services are easy to find nearby.
– Everything I need is within a seven-kilometre radius. I realized that a car is just an unnecessary expense for me.
Jiri covers his four-kilometre commute by bike year-round. The bike is a vehicle that makes getting around possible.
– Sometimes, if my partner drives the same route by car and I go by bike, I might arrive faster. Seinäjoki has good bicycle paths to get anywhere. When you travel by bike instead of by car, you somehow notice the surroundings and the seasons in a completely different way. Even in winter the bike paths are often in pretty good condition. On the worst slushy days I might walk to work. You feel alert starting the workday.
Jiri lives with his partner and two dachshunds near the center of Seinäjoki. He likes the area’s services and nearby running routes, but he also feels drawn to more remote areas.
– I guess it’s because I’m originally from Nurmo. When I go out for a bike ride, I often head further away. I can easily end up doing a 60-kilometre loop without noticing. Wide open fields are my favorite kind of landscape.
In addition to cycling and walking Milo and Leo the dachshunds, Jiri trains at the gym. A self-confessed night owl, he often goes to the downtown Fitness24Seven in the small hours. – You never have to queue for equipment.
His free time is also spent playing computer games. His newest hobby is playing guitar, which Jiri is learning on his own with the help of YouTube tutorial videos.
Jiri has never moved away from Seinäjoki. Not even though opportunities have come up, including job offers abroad. Community spirit and a can-do atmosphere keep the man in the capital of space.
– I’ve never yearned to go elsewhere. Seinäjoki and the people here are pleasant and suitably true to themselves. A bit stubborn.
Jiri likes his job so much that he doesn’t always even think of it as work
Jiri’s massage business Nyrkkipaja is located in Seinäjoki. The company’s name signals that the service isn’t exactly the gentlest of caresses.
– The name is a humorous nod to my firm touch. My clients include people who believe a massage should actually be felt, Jiri says.
Jiri founded his company shortly after graduating as a classical masseur from the Seinäjoki massage school. The masseur profession feels to him like coming home.
– Before entering the field I did all sorts of jobs. I’ve worked as a courier, elevator attendant, HVAC installer and mail carrier. Physical work has always been my thing. When I started massage studies encouraged by my own physiotherapist, I had no desire to do anything else.
Jiri has experience in many different sports, mostly those that require strength. His interest in maintaining the body’s functionality stems from his own background.
– Many of my clients are competitive athletes, but also ordinary fitness enthusiasts and others who have liked my style. The best thing about this job is when a long-time client says after a massage, “you won’t ever quit, will you?”, Jiri says.
Read Jiri’s full entrepreneur story here.
Text: Kirsi Haapamatti
Photo: Tuukka Kiviranta
In Seinäjoki it’s worth shouting about the good things. We have, according to research, the cheapest single-family housing costs in Finland. Here the opportunities of a big city combine with the warmth of a small town. There is plenty of culture, events and hobbies, and just enough space to breathe and enjoy everyday life. What if you broadened your life and moved to Seinäjoki? Our doors are open to everyone who wants a good life.