Why Not? Maiju Left Tampere and Founded Keho Center in Joensuu

When Maiju Leppäluoto talks about Keho Center, she keeps coming back to one thing: how people feel. Sometimes, we simply need a place where we can leave feeling a little lighter than when we arrived.

This idea led to Keho Center, which opened its doors in Joensuu in the summer of 2026.

Keho Center offers group exercise and wellness classes with a focus on body care and overall well-being. The classes are designed to help people relax and recover from everyday stress. The selection includes yoga, Pilates and sound bath relaxation.

- Our expertise is our strength, Maiju says.

For Maiju, entrepreneurship has been a natural part of life for many years. She started her first business in 2013. Over the years, she has worked in customer service, as a coach and in massage therapy.

Through her work with customers, she noticed the same pattern again and again: people were tired and stressed, and their everyday lives were full of things to do.

These observations gradually gave her the idea for Keho Center – a place where well-being could be supported through relaxation and group classes focused on taking care of the body.

Turning an idea into action with support from Business Joensuu

To help develop her business idea, Maiju turned to Business Joensuu and its business advisory services.

Together with business advisor Lasse Immonen, she discussed topics such as the profitability of the business and how to turn her plans into reality. She also had an expert to talk to along the way – someone who could challenge her ideas and help her find solutions to questions as they came up.

- I wouldn’t have known how to do everything on my own, so the support was important. After the coaching, the plans turned into action. Then I just decided to get started and began looking for suitable premises, Maiju says.

Today, Keho Center opened its doors, and customers have found their way there. The feedback has been very positive, covering everything from the premises and equipment to the classes, location and parking facilities.

- Wow, what a place. How many places like this are there in Finland? one customer wondered.

The feedback has made Maiju happy and shows that the work on the Keho Center brand has been successful. But she does not see the business as finished yet.

Ambition to grow and explore new opportunities

- For me, the company is like a teenage child, Maiju says.

Even though Keho Center has only recently started operating, Maiju is already looking ahead. Her goal is to build a business that has the potential to grow. Future steps could include expanding the business and, later, possibly even talking to investors.

Why Joensuu?

Maiju, who is originally from Tampere, answers the question with a smile.

- Why not?

Maiju has enjoyed living and working in Joensuu, and she has been especially impressed by the local entrepreneurial community. She has made new connections naturally, and it has been easy to become part of local networks.

The sense of community can sometimes be found in the smallest encounters. Maiju recalls meeting someone she knew from Instagram, who invited her to join a local WhatsApp group for social media influencers. One meeting led to another network and new connections.

Compared to Tampere, Joensuu is a smaller business environment. Maiju sees this as a strength, too. It is easy to meet people, build networks and find a supportive community in unexpected places.

- The atmosphere in Joensuu is really nice, and help has always been easy to find when I’ve needed it, Maiju says.

Information:
Keho Center,  +358445562675 , info@kehocenter.fi
Instagram | Verkkosivu

Text: Emilia Mujunen, Marketing Intern, Business Joensuu
Photos: Business Joensuu