HARROW’S debut trial of a health weekend escape for mind and body has proven to be a success, with more “Active Hideaways” planned.
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Last weekend, four people took part in a three day program of nature experiences, art instruction, yoga, massage and interval training.
Active Hideaways manager Loren Linto said she had planned two more weekends in coming months based off the success of the first event.
“We have been considering it for a while and got a lot of positive feedback from it now that it has been actually happening,” she said. “The food is all low-processed and we tested some meals out at a movie night the week before.
“We have had a lot of interest since the first trial. Now we just have to get the word out there to people who might want to stay.”
Mrs Linto said the weekends were aimed at people starting or maintaining a health regime.
“Instead of going away and just sleeping in or not being sure what to eat, Active Hideaways are fully catered for to continue a health journey or in some cases just to start it and kick it along,” she said.
“It offers all the different style of classes – interval training, yoga, Pilates, walking, stretching, and you get to do some relaxing things too like sketching.
“It’s basically getting people to disconnect to reconnect. Back to basics.”
On the first day of the program, guests are encouraged to explore Harrow, meet and greet with the weekends active instructor, go on an evening walk followed by Pilates at the Harrow Bush Nursing Centre.
Guests are then encouraged to write a letter, turn in early and rest their minds and bodies before the first full day starting at 6.30am.
Mrs Linto said she had seen people become much more health conscious.
“I’m a personal trainer and I run classes and I’m finding a big shift lately whne people ask how was your walk.
“They’ll say I burned 600 calories on 6000 steps over 2.5 kilometres instead of saying they’d really enjoyed it or ti got me set up for the day.”
Active Hideways in planning more weekend events in July and September.
“Because the concept was so well received we are looking at longer stays and some more weekends beyond that,” Mrs Linto said.
“Hopefully we can get a few more on now that the trial went so well.”
Active Hideaways has kept the group sizes to a minimum of four and a maximum of six.
“It’s like an exclusive small groups session. The accommodation, Seldom Inn, can hold up to six,” Mrs Linto said.
Active Hideways intended to target its services at people in capital cities.
“The traffic the website is getting is from Victoria. The problem is that when you are on your mobile it tends to say you’re from Melbourne,” Mrs Linto said. “It’s really hard to see where the interest is coming from just from the website.
“I have had a lot of interest from local people that call or email.
“Initially we thought it would be more corporate people coming for a weekend away but it has given us a nice surprise that people within a two-hour radius of Harrow have expressed an interest as well.”