Family retreats into health and fitness sector for new venture

A Shropshire family is tapping into the thriving health and fitness sector with the launch of a new educational health and fitness retreat.

Nestled in the heart of the Shropshire Hills, just outside Church Stretton, Eden Hills Health Retreat will open in January for its first week-long residential course.

Understood to be the first of its kind in Shropshire, the educational retreat is intended to provide a structured programme of health, fitness and nutrition classes for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of work or family life to either get in shape, lose weight or initiate a complete lifestyle change.

The new venture is the brainchild of father and son duo, Ian and Sean Roberts who believe consumer appetite for improved health and wellbeing is set to rise further in 2018.

The duo, from Sambrook, near Newport, have years of experience in the hospitality, health, fitness and nutrition sectors.

Sean, who currently works in partnership with Telford & Wrekin Council providing personal training classes across council-owned gyms, will be the centre’s head of fitness.

Ian, who over the last 25 years has owned a number of businesses in the hospitality sector, will take on the role of operations manager for the retreat.

The pair will be joined by a team of trained professionals in health, fitness and nutrition, including Sean’s fiance Maxine Boulton, who will run the retreat’s studio classes.

Sean’s sister Sammy, is returning from maternity leave to oversee the administration of the retreat.

Sean said: “The bespoke programme provides guests with a combination of practical and educational sessions aimed at improving health, fitness, nutrition and general wellbeing.

“What we hope to achieve at the end of each course is to have put in place a number of starting blocks which will enable people to adjust their lifestyle for the better.

“The residential retreat is about equipping guests with the right information and tools to enable them to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”

He said the retreat did not believe in fad diets or quick fixes and the focus would be on developing programmes to suit individual needs.

“One of our biggest aims is to help people change their entire lifestyle so we have also developed workshops which will help guests with on-going planning so that when they return home they can continue with the programme. We also provide post-retreat support with nutrition and fitness,” he added.

The family believes there remains untapped growth potential in the industry as more and more people turn their attention to healthier lifestyles as opposed to quick fix fitness regimes.

He said: “There is a big emphasis on health and wellbeing and with more people working harder and longer hours it becomes increasingly more difficult to find the right work-life-family balance. The retreat aims to help people redress this balance in their life in the right way.”

Ian and Sean have partnered up with family-run Eaton Manor Country Estate to host the retreats, making use of the luxury self-catering accommodation.