Meet Finlay Bressler | Founder and CEO of Terra & Tu

We had the good fortune of connecting with Finlay Bressler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Finlay, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve always felt that our culture’s general approach to wellness is over-restrictive and over-commercialized. Instead of focusing on what makes us feel good, wellness seems to ask us to beat ourselves up when we don’t eat the “right” foods, do the “right” exercises, and use the “right” serums and supplements. I wanted to find a way to expose people to ways of wellbeing that we may not see in LA, so I created Terra & Tu, which uses the power of travel to do exactly that.

We found that Italy is the perfect answer to the rigid and trend-driven wellness culture to which most of us are accustomed. In fact, most Italians are baffled by it. They rarely diet, skip dessert, or forego wine at meals, and yet, they’re among the healthiest and longest living people on the planet. It’s no coincidence that they also learn to eat intuitively from a young age and don’t compromise on the quality of their ingredients. In short, they pay attention to what makes them feel good instead of just what’s supposed to. On each of Terra & Tu’s trips, guests find from the start that food, movement, and mindfulness are pillars of our experience—just not in the way that you might think.

What should our readers know about your business?
Terra & Tu organizes wellness-focused tours in Tuscany’s beautiful Crete Senesi region. From the minute our guests arrive arrival to the day they leave, every detail of our departures is meticulously planned to provide an experience that is equal parts wellness, luxury, and adventure. We embrace a more balanced itinerary than you will find at most wellness retreats, and traditional wellness components such as yoga are seamlessly incorporated into a broader travel experience. Our itineraries are designed in coordination with our local partners and guides, which brings a unique authenticity to our trips as well.

Terra & Tu’s focus on balancing a retreat experience with cultural immersion and adventure travel allows us to serve guests who wouldn’t otherwise be interested in attending a purely wellness or yoga retreat. We’re proud to be able to provide something for everyone, and we’re excited to keep pursuing this mission for years to come.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love taking my friends to Hot 8 Yoga, especially if they haven’t tried hot yoga before. It has a great community vibe and classes are super fun. In the evening, I love a nice walk along Venice canals followed by a stop at a taco truck. For entertainment, you can’t beat underground comedy shows (I personally love the Comedy Patio.) And for the most authentic of LA experience, we’ll probably spend some time in between these activities sitting in traffic on the 405.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Journalist Annie Daly’s book Destination Wellness was instrumental in informing Terra & Tu’s business philosophy. Daly travels the world to examine what wellness means in different cultures, and the result is an insightful commentary on what it truly means to be well. Not only has her work expanded my own idea of wellness, but it continues to inform Terra & Tu’s approach to it as well—one that leans into the unique practices of each destination’s culture and focuses on the individual.

Website: https://www.terrandtu.com

Instagram: @terraandtu

Linkedin: Terra & Tu

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terraandtu