Doing What I Love
Hi friends! Iām Natalie Koivu. While I stopped updating this blog in 2024, Iām leaving it here in case you still want to browse old posts.
My hope with this blog was to inspire & transport, to pass on valuable skills & ideas, and to help readers live with a little more balance, joy, courage, wellness, and of courseā¦natureās freshest air.
A little background: Growing up in Minnesota, Iāve always had a love for nature & all things āNorth.ā That said, in my twenties Iād find myself living & working for nearly five years in the heart of one of our nationās biggest cities, feeling stressed, unhappy & just plain stuck. It wasnāt until a difficult relationship suddenly ended that I found the courage to turn my life upside down: switching jobs, moving home, stepping into strength + joy, and quickly cultivating the belief that I was in fact free to live the life God meant for me.
Nattie up North, which was just the name of my personal Instagram handle, started to become a āthingā in 2018 when the digital content I was making for fun began to grow a following. While it was unplanned, I soon realized I had a platform, and I strove to do with it work I believed in. I ran the Nattie up North Instagram account and YouTube channel for several years, aiming to teach and encourage as best I could. Topics included: fishing + outdoor adventure, health + fitness, nature, Christianity, purpose, cooking, & cultivating strength through facing fears and doing hard things.
I gradually retired all my socials in the early-to-mid 2020ās, choosing to focus on other endeavors and aspects of my life. I am deeply grateful for and humbled by the amazing opportunities Nattie up North brought to my life, and especially for the immense support and heart-warming feedback I received along the way.
I have worn many hats, but each has been a different way to do the work I love: support people along their journey to live better lives. While faith and family are number one, āoutside the homeā Iām a Master-Certified Professional Life Coach (MCPC), a yoga, prenatal yoga + fitness instructor, & a breathwork facilitator in training.
Previously, I worked as on-screen talent and/or producer for various programs, including Due North Outdoors, Major League Fishing, & the series Covering Water. I also worked in media relations for an NHL franchise and in the corporate world in human resources & project management. I have written and edited for numerous publications, hosted seminars, and have been featured on various podcasts + shows. I graduated from Miami University with degrees in Journalism and English and went on to acquire various certifications in coaching and holistic health + wellness.
Hobbies
I love all things outdoors, including hiking, foraging, swimming (especially after sauna!) fishing, biking & cross-country skiing. Previously I volunteered as an Emergency Response Team Lead with the nonprofit organization IOCC and helped run social media channels for my home church. I love God, serving my family and caring for our home, writing + reading, cooking, holistic health + fitness, history + culture, & lots of quality time with my loved ones (human and canine!).
