Christina Iversen on ocean therapy, moments of respite, and making time for her daughters

On a sunny day in February, Christina set aside a couple of hours with her daughters to meet us at a charming 1970s cottage by the Limfjord. We threw on our coats and took a walk toward the sea, which holds a very special meaning for Christina. With the sound of the waves and the girls playing in the background, it wasn’t hard to see the fascination with the sea that started it all back in 2019.

The World at Her Feet

Christina is at a point in her life where things are moving fast. She’s busy, works as a freelancer, and is a mother of four. “I spent many hours at the beach thinking about how I could create a life for myself where I could cut back on physical labor. I could feel that I needed that. Then one day, there was a seashell at my feet, and I looked at it and immediately thought, ‘I have to make a seashell cup.’”

With high demand both domestically and internationally, the seashell cup marked the beginning of Christina Iversen Studio—a creative universe through which Christina could cultivate her admiration for sustainable well-being and, most importantly, her fascination with the ocean. Christina had long been fascinated by ceramics—the organic shapes and the slow processes. “For me, the cup came about because I think people should sit down and enjoy a good cup of coffee. We need to get better at slowing down and taking care of ourselves in our daily lives, and usually, even the smallest things can make a huge difference.”

Breathing Room in Everyday Life

To slow down the pace of her busy life as a new entrepreneur, it’s been important for Christina to take small breaks in her daily routine. “I take care of myself by taking these breather moments. I started winter swimming about five years ago, and I think I realized pretty quickly that the ocean has something very special to offer me. It gives me peace.”

“I remember reading about the term ‘ocean therapy.’ I’ve embraced that, and it’s kind of become my thing. Taking half an hour to jump into the cold water. It’s the wildest luxury. It can also just be going for a walk by the water in the middle of the morning. Just feeling the sand and the stones under my feet. It’s a sense of being grounded in a completely different way.”

> Just getting away and being pulled out of your usual routine. Something just happens. It’s as if time moves differently. And there’s a different sense of presence.

For Christina, ocean therapy is inextricably linked to her energy and vitality, and in addition to using the ocean as inspiration in her ceramic art, she incorporates nature into her daily work. “I actually make a real point of doing things you might not expect to do when you start a business. I create my breaks by thinking that I might as well work while I’m out for a walk. In a way, I’m more present that way, and I’m certainly no less at work if I take a phone call one morning in the woods than if I were sitting in an office. Just grab a cup of coffee, sit on a bench in nature, and tell yourself you’re at work. Then you’re at work.”