The People of Hopewood - Meet Anet

The People of Hopewood: an ongoing blog series

Meet Anet

Anet is the Duty Manager for the Reception Staff at Hopewood.  She is responsible for the smooth day-to-day running of the reception team, reservations, and the bookshop.  Anet helps to ensure that guests have a pleasant arrival and a relaxing stay.

How long have you been working at Hopewood?
10+ years

What do you enjoy most about working at Hopewood?
I enjoy seeing the ‘butterfly transformation’ of our guests.  When they arrive they may be stressed and in need of a serious break or health kick, and it’s a joy to see them on departure when they are happy, relaxed and refreshed and ready to float away back into their world.

Do you have any tips for how you take care of your own personal health and wellbeing?

Water is your best friend, keep hydrated.

What is your favourite memory of Hopewood?
Honestly, there are too many to tell.  Working at Hopewood is not like ‘going to work.’  I could not count the number of times that guests have said to me over the years, “You are so lucky to work here.” This verifies for me that Hopewood is a wonderful place to be.  A place where memories are created every day.

How to Stay Fit & Healthy During the Holidays

The Christmas season is a busy time and as we rush from here to there, buying presents and attending dinners, we often forget to take care of our own health.  We naturally begin to focus more on other people this time of the year—and rightfully so, it is the season of giving after all—but it’s important to maintain your own wellbeing.  Doing so will leave you feeling happier and more ready to enjoy the festivities.  Keep the following tips in mind and you’ll be on your way to a healthy, stress-free Christmas.

#1 - Eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Think colour when eating fruit and vegetables. Eating a variety of different colours gives your body a wide range of valuable nutrients like vitamin A, C, potassium, magnesium and fibre.

#2 - Limit processed foods, sugar and saturated fats.  Most of your energy comes from the quality of the foods you eat. Natural foods will ensure that you’ll feel more energised and more able to keep on top of your busy Christmas plans.

#3 - Drink water. In Australia, Christmas can be one of our hottest periods of the summer. Don’t fall into the trap of spending the day racing around, not thinking about your hydration levels. Drink plenty of fluids (not sugary ones!) to keep yourself hydrated and you will concentrate better, look better and feel better.
Quick tip: Start your day with 25% lemon juice in warm water – a great source of vitamin C!

#4 - Don’t overindulge. All those delicious offerings can be tempting, but you’ll enjoy it more if you keep your portions small.  Focus on the taste and not the quantity. Too many sweets and rich food can be hard for your body to process, resulting in headaches, stomach pain, and a feeling of sluggishness.  Be sure to practice moderation when it comes to food and your body will thank you.

#5 - Have healthy snacks handy. Why not freeze some berries into ice cubes and add them to your drink or have as an ice block?  There are many beautiful fruits in season now—mango, nectarines, peaches, apricots—why not slice some up and arrange them artfully on a snack tray?
Quick tip: When preparing a meal, aim to have 60% salad on your plate.

#6 - Keep up your regular exercise plan. Regular movement is important to keep the body healthy and well tuned. Exercise increases the metabolism, gives a feeling of wellbeing and is known to give you more energy.  You’ll find those tired, stressed feelings can disappear with a simple walk or yoga stretching.

#7 – Be sure to get enough sleep and relaxation. You can’t handle all the tasks of the Christmas period along with your normal work and lifestyle if you don’t give yourself the chance to rest. Practising meditation or listening to a relaxation tape for 15 minutes can do wonders to restore your vitality.
Quick tip: Limit your caffeine and alcohol intake to ensure a good night’s sleep.

#8 - Remember what Christmas is all about. As the list of things to do grows longer and time grows shorter, it is easy to lose sight of what is important to us at Christmas time. Don’t forget what Christmas means to you. Christmas is meant to be a holiday, so treat it as one. Whenever you feel overwhelmed by all your Christmas preparations take a moment to yourself and put everything back in perspective.

Hopefully these tips will help you stay healthy this holiday season and give you a chance to really enjoy it!

Happy Holidays from Hopewood!

By Jenny Colless-Buhn, Naturopath at Hopewood Health Retreat

Shake Your Stress Away in the New Year

Join us in 2012 for these exciting activities!

7-8 January: "Shake away your stress"

This dance themed weekend will have you shimmying your way to fitness. Classes are a great workout and a lot of fun. They focus on safe movement and introducing exercise in a safe, non-threatening, relaxed environment. We’ll also focus on balance this weekend as we learn to stretch, relax, and meditate. 

14-15 January: "Restorative Yoga and Meditation Retreat" 

A range of activities from the yogic 'tool box' to help you release, restore and re-align.  Leave behind the stressors of every-day life, take a deep breath and be ready to be nurtured in Hopewood's unique healing environment.  Workshops are designed to help you re-connect with your true nature and to give you a greater sense of positivity and inner strength.
*Restorative yoga is suitable for anyone with injuries or medical conditions as well as experienced yoga practitioners.

More events to add to your calendar:
21-22 January: Take Charge of Your Health Naturally
28-29 January: Wholistic Health and Wellbeing for Stress Management

Book early to reserve your space.  Call us on (02) 4773 8401.

Christmas Day Lunch

You’re invited to our Christmas Day Lunch!

Join us for a Christmas Day Lunch on 25th December at 12:00pm.  Enjoy our delicious new vegetarian menu prepared by Chef John. Christmas Day Lunch at Hopewood is a delightful buffet of scrumptious offerings, prepared with the healthiest and most nutritious ingredients.  This guilt-free, stress-free meal is best enjoyed with friends so book your space today.

$50 per person or $90 for 2 people

Call (02) 4773 8401 to book now.


Take a look at the delightful menu that John has created!

Christmas Day Lunch Menu
Prepared by Chef John Estival

Hors d'oeuvres:
Non-alcoholic beverage served with canapés

Salads: 
Potato and Leek terrine
Mushroom salad on bed of wombak
Beetroot and roasted capsicum
Nicoise
Green and White Asparagus
Mixed green salad
3 Salad dressings: Yoghurt; Balsamic; Hopewood dressing

Main Course:
Hopewood Cashew Nut Loaf
Pumpkin/spinach/coconut curry
Mushroom risotto
Italian eggs
Baked vegetables in rosemary, honey & balsamic

Desserts:
Hopewood Christmas Pudding with yoghurt or custard
Banana/Raspberry Ice cream
Summer fresh fruit platter
Dried fruit and nut selection

Rebecca's Story

Rebecca came to Hopewood in October after traditional medicine had failed to relieve symptoms caused by Parvo virus. The virus caused her to have arthritic pain in her joints and when Rebecca arrived at Hopewood, she was exhausted because the pain made it impossible to sleep through the night. Our naturopaths recommended an initial fasting program for Rebecca, coupled with hydrotherapy and massage. Here is Rebecca’s story.

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"The friendly, kindhearted staff welcomed me at Hopewood Health Retreat, as did the beautiful sound of the bellbirds, the colourful gardens and tranquility of the grounds.

"First up was a grand tour, where I was shown the facilities throughout the retreat. I was asked about my goals whilst visiting Hopewood and some questions regarding my eating requirements, which Jennifer sorted out quickly with the kitchen, before she then gave me the opportunity to unpack and settle into my room before heading to lunch.

"Being surrounded by specialists in natural healing, gave me hope that I would soon feel good again, after more than 3 months of chronic pain. Their care and dedication to my health and wellbeing was just what the doctor ordered and I knew I was in good hands. The Naturopaths, Hydrotherapy, 7 Day Fasting program, Reiki and numerous treatment options for pain elimination (especially the Shiatsu Massage which immediately rectified some of the pain which had been keeping me awake at night) all contributed to an overall sense of wellbeing. I felt even throughout the hardest days of fasting that I had the support I needed to successfully rid the toxins from my body. This process gave my body a fighting chance to then deal with the pain caused by this unusual Parvo virus, which has plagued my body with arthritic symptoms.

"Another one of the brilliant things about Hopewood is that temptation is taken away from you and I strongly recommend that if will power isn't your strongest attribute, then Hopewood definitely makes it easier to be kind to your body. They will go to great lengths any time, day or night, to help you with any of the discomfort associated with eliminating those naughty things which our society makes so easily accessible to us.

"During my stay at Hopewood I attended a few of the activities, with Yoga, Belly Dancing (what a laugh!) and the Cooking Demonstration being my favourites. Having switched to a diet free of gluten, most animal products, caffeine and sugar, the cooking demonstration was especially helpful and gave me extra ideas on substitutes for things like wheat, fats and sugars. I think everyone was delighted by John's Christmas cake recipe and how simple it could be. I can't speak highly enough about the food on offer at Hopewood.  Once I finished my fasting program and was able to resume eating again, I was so taken by the flavours and variety of food on offer.

"Everyone on staff was more than welcoming and bent over backwards to ensure my experience was a good one, despite the hard nature of Fasting. Not only were the staff supportive, but having the option of inviting love ones to join me at Hopewood was comforting. I left feeling refreshed, energized, and optimistic that my body will be able to rid itself of the virus.

"Thank you for having me at Hopewood!"

Elite Sydney Hairdresser and media personality, Troy Thompson visited Hopewood Health Retreat in October and here's what he had to say,

"Hopewood Health Retreat allows you to get back to a state of natural health and well being."

"I found myself becoming more and more calm every day."

"Whether you have a day, a weekend or a week to invest in your health and wellbeing—Hopewood has the perfect package available."

Visit Troy's blog to read more about his experience at Hopewood.

Hopewood Welcomes a New Chef

In October, we were delighted to welcome Chef John Estival to our staff. John was born in Belgium, where he spent most of his youth at his grandparents’ farm, tending to the animals and helping to grow fruit and vegetables.  John’s love and passion for food was given to him by his grandmother who taught him how to cook.

Before moving to Australia, John travelled all over Europe to discover new foods and cooking styles.   John came to Australia in 1988 and fell in love with this beautiful country which offered so much potential for a food fanatic.  His work in Queensland and Sydney has given him an appreciation for how food is grown and processed, and its effects on the human body.

He is currently studying a course on Human Nutrition. John feels blessed with being offered a job as a chef at Hopewood Health Retreat where he can share his experience in the food and hospitality industry and has taken on a new challenge in vegetarian cooking.