As Grant Wee proffers, wellness lies in balance. A sporty individual who’s tried yoga, Brazilian jiujitsu, and personal training among other activities, he founded The Trapeze Group in 2021 to help others achieve holistic well-being.
Staying active is both a career and a way of life for the 30-year-old, who says it helps him unwind. Each week, he does three strength training sessions and plays golf, followed by active recovery, which involves lower-impact workouts to help his body recover from higher-intensity workouts.
“It helps reduce muscle soreness and gets my heart rate up to zone 2, which contributes to burning fat and improving endurance,” he explains and reminds me to consult with a healthcare professional to determine my optimal heart rate zone before doing any high-intensity workout.
In addition to zone 2 cardio, such as swimming or cycling, which he describes as “quite meditative”, he also enjoys saunas and cold plunges. The optimal time required for the last tasks is 11 minutes every week, as American neuroscientist Dr Andrew Huberman recommends, adds Wee, who does hot and cold sessions weekly.
In contrast to Trapeze Recreation Club (TRC), which Wee opened in 2021 and offers fitness options, such as a yoga studio, gym, reflexology lounge, an outdoor cold plunge, and sauna facilities, Hideaway focuses on restoration and rejuvenation and encourages individuals to reconnect with themselves.
Tucked away on the fifth level of New Bahru on Kim Yam Road, it aims to enhance the therapeutic experience with its restorative massage treatments and facilities.
However, this doesn’t mean Hideaway lacks a social aspect. With one- and two-person treatment suites for massages, it welcomes both solo getaways and shared relaxation. Alternatively, you can invite one to three friends to the Hideaway Bathhouse, where semi-private and private pods are available.
“It was important that Hideaway felt luxurious, but not cold. As the name implies, it’s intended to be a hideout for people to escape the city’s hustle and bustle,” says Wee.
To achieve this experience, he looked to Parable Studio, the local award-winning design firm behind TRC. “Although traditional bathhouses are communal facilities featuring shared spaces like saunas and soaking pools, our guests can expect a modern interpretation that provides a more private experience while still embracing the social aspects of traditional bathhouses.”
In the bathhouse design, this blend of past and present is especially evident, especially in the use of glass blocks, which evoke the nostalgia of Singapore’s classic community spaces.
RELAXing FROM THE GET-GO
I felt relaxed from the moment I stepped into Hideaway, a reimagining of traditional wellness centres and heritage bathhouses. With its tactile wall art and soft rugs, the Tea Lounge was my favourite area where I was asked to choose between energising, restoring, and unwinding massage treatments guided by three pathways. After choosing the classic massage to help me unwind, I was led to the Bathhouse to enjoy the infrared sauna and then take a cold plunge.
Drawing on the philosophy of Nordic-inspired hot and cold therapy, the alternating cycles of heat and refreshment are believed to boost cardiovascular strength and muscle recovery, as well as improve mental health. Although it was too early to tell if the benefits were real, I felt energised after leaving the Bathhouse.
Soon, it was time for my hour-long massage, which combined long strokes, kneading movements, and light-to-firm pressure. It released the muscle tension in my upper back that I’d had for some time.
If you have more time to spare afterwards, the Hideaway Retreats, consisting of 90- to 120-minute treatments, aim to improve sleep, detoxification or muscle recovery, and more.
Active types might benefit from the Recovery Retreat, which includes dry brushing, scrubs, and massages to boost lymphatic drainage and exfoliation. You can also opt for a 30-minute foot reflexology treatment to activate reflex points and meridians and release tension.
“My hour-long massage combined long strokes, kneading movements, and light-to-firm pressure. It released the muscle tension in my upper back that I’d had for some time.”
Wee emphasises that Hideaway’s menu of massages can relieve a variety of work-related ailments, including carpal tunnel syndrome and text hand syndrome caused by repetitive typing, gripping, and swiping.
With the year-end festive parties coming up, he plans to give himself an occasional cheat day or two to enjoy a good meal with friends. “This is also where the concept of playful balance comes into play,” he says. “I never beat myself up for having fun and living life.”
