Rob and his wife Belinda are the founding couple behind Rest and Restore Wellness Retreat. Both were simultaneously caring for others and managing chronic health conditions. It was through unsuccessful attempts of finding a retreat to support their complex and individualised needs that Rest and Restore retreat was born. They are both passionately committed to supporting others in their quest for health and rest. Rob is the Managing Director and plays an active ‘hands on’ role in the day to day aspects of the retreat.

For much of Rob’s life, he suffered from ‘a rushing persons’ syndrome. He was focused on doing and achieving in life, juggling a never ending to-do-list, wearing multiple hats and putting others ahead of himself. Caught up in the momentum of this fast paced life, Rob wasn’t able to see the toll this was taking on his health and wellbeing.

Although Covid lockdowns were stressful, it also provided an opportunity and the impetus to reprioritise and re-set life in order to keep going. Rob started tuning into how he was feeling and listening to his body. He retreated from his hectic life for a few nights in Warburton, where he reconnected with nature, natural remedies and a number of amazing therapists and practitioners – who have formed the crucial foundation to the success of Rest and Restore’s Retreat. Rob’s vision is to help restore our community’s physical, emotional and mental well-being.

Rob’s Rest & Restore practice

• Swimming 3x a week and ocean water swims during summer

• Feel connected by finding small moments of time each day to reflect and practice being still in silence, breath and relax

• Infrared sauna followed by a cold shower

• Weekly Network Chiropractic and Clinical Pilates

• Substituting Coffee with spiced chai and alc-free drinking

• Walking and cuddling up to the family dog ‘Maddi’

• Positive mindset - moving away from ambitious goals and towards intention setting

Rob & Belinda’s practical self-care tips

• Listen to your body - it knows!

• Doing something is greater than doing nothing. If you only have 50% capacity left and you use that 50%, then you have given 100%!

• Be kind to yourself by having realistic expectations and practicing positive self-talk. From time to time our capacity will fluctuate, and it’s OK to make adjustments to better meet our current needs. Sometimes ‘good’ is good enough.

• Self-care is not selfish, it’s your way to sustainably help others

• Sometimes we can’t change our busy, anxious or stressful environment. When having a break, seek out a different location to unwind and focus on breathing and self-regulation

• Immerse yourself in nature as often as possible and notice the little things

• Rest is not a reward, it does not need to be earned or justified. You are worthy, and our bodies love rest. Follow exertion with a restorative break

Rest & Restore’s Purpose

To share our knowledge of restoration and self-care, which leads to awareness and understanding, offering our community the tools to be able to self-advocate for their well-being needs.

Rob & Belinda’s Mission

Rob and Belinda’s mission is to inspire and support people to regularly take time out for themselves in restoring their nervous system and self-care.

Rob and Belinda are humbled by the growth of Rest & Restore's Retreats and feel so blessed to be doing what they love. The restoration and results they see from guests arriving and leaving after the retreat inspires the team to continually enhance the experience and provide greater accessibility to those in need. Rob and Belinda believe health, wellness and self-care should be seen as a daily necessity integrated into our lives, not a luxury. It’s their privilege to lead an amazing team and to be of service to others.