Father’s illness left a mark on Saija Tuupase: “Panic sets in” – 2024-02-27 05:38:34

– I blamed myself again for the fact that I worked a lot last year.

Vocalist Saija Tupanen, 41, admits that the pace of work has been so intense at times that he has noticed small signs of exhaustion in himself again. For singers, exhaustion is already a familiar nuisance.

According to the 2003 tango queen, the pressure to work does not come from the music industry at all, but from herself.

– I have always been a hard worker and a workaholic. I’ve only realized in recent years that I always easily get ahead of work, he admits to Iltalehte.

Saija Tuupanen makes sure that exhaustion doesn’t get a hold of her anymore. UNDER LIESIMAA

However, the musician assures that he now knows what he needs to do to prevent burnout. One of the most important ways is taking care of your own holidays. According to the artist, it is easier today than, say, 10 years ago.

– Before, I just forcefully pushed forward. It’s really stressful. Nowadays, sometimes I remind myself that I am also important, Tuupanen says.

– I’ve learned to think for myself, although I still may not know how to do it. I am kinder to my own body and my endurance, he adds.

Father’s illness

Taking vacations has become even more important also because Tuupanen could see his parents. Its importance has grown bigger since Tuupanen’s father Raimo unexpectedly had a cerebral infarction in the fall of 2021.

Father was hospitalized at the same time as Tuupanen was competing The tone of autumn – show, which he finally won a month later. The singer remembers how her father’s speech became slurred after a brain infarction.

The situation was a shock for the whole family.

– Such things remind us that none of us is here forever. The facts of life hit the skin, says the singer.

According to Tuupanen, his father is doing better these days. Dad got his driver’s license back, and the snow and wood work is going smoothly. However, on the other side of the father’s body there are small traces of the brain infarction.

– My father has indeed recovered from it, and he is able to do things that are dear and important to him. But of course the illness left its mark, the singer says.

The situation has also had a big impact on Tuupanen’s mind. Her mother has also had issues of her own that make her life difficult, which have caused concern in her daughter.

– I notice that I get neurotic if my parents don’t answer the phone. One of them always answers, but if they don’t, I panic. The thought comes that “has something happened”, the artist describes.

– Yes, it scared me in such a way that I’ve wondered if things like this will happen to me when I’m my father’s age. Even before this situation, my father has reminded me to move and take care of myself. Now those teachings have been emphasized, when I have seen in him a huge desire to do things that he loves, the singer continues.

The halting situation also made Tuupanen realize that he had forgotten to focus on life in the moment. The singer strives to practice this skill, even though it is really difficult for him.

– Especially in a job like this, where you have to be in Rovaniemi one day, and somewhere else the next. For me, it’s a lottery win to reach my parents, whose phone connection doesn’t work properly. Everything is forgotten there – only people and what is most important in life remain, the musician states.

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Tuupase has already had health concerns during his life. The singer has suffered from lower back problems since his youth. Tuupanen’s back has also been plagued by a bulging disc, the pains of which he clearly still remembers.

– It was so bad at one point that I pooped in the toilet. It was terrible. But it passed and was not operated on.

He feels that his ailments can now be treated with sports, which would help him get his back position in better shape.

– I haven’t been exercising that much now and I notice that certain positions and my abdominal muscles are loosening. My posture improves when I keep my core in shape. Then it’s harder to stand even in high heels, the musician says with a smile.

It is important for Tuupase to accept what the aging body is capable of today. The artist laughs about how it is no longer obvious to him that he can jump on stage in high heels for two hours.

Tuupase has one important goal in the future: he wants to know himself and his body better.

– I feel like I’m at the source of what things are good for my body and soul. I need to get to know myself even better, he says at the end.

Makeup and hair: Tintti Valanti

Style: Henna Koste

Clothing details: Light blue and green dress/ My o My Kämp Gallery. White Dress/ YAS Rings and Dangle Earrings/ White Elephant. Denim flower earrings/ Glitter.

Shooting location: Peak of the wave