Local former business executive Zita Alves set up Bath’s first outdoor group exercise classes in 2009, and now Zest Bootcamp is set to celebrate their 10 year anniversary.
48-year-old Personal Trainer Zita recognised that many people do not enjoy going to the gym, and for many, 1-1 personal training is not a viable option, so she set out to help more people enjoy the benefits of exercise.
Zita wanted to create a friendly, supportive environment that could offer personal training style exercise in a group format, and that’s exactly what she provides.
Zita has numerous testimonials from people she has helped over the years and most recently a 58-year-old “Zestie”, as the members are known, shared these powerful words: “You have made a big difference to my health, fitness and mental well being and I am very grateful for the fact that our paths have crossed – so thank you.”
The 45 minute classes run 3 times a week at various times of day to fit in with people’s busy lives, including an early class at 6.30am that allows many working mums to fit in some regular exercise.
Members range in age from their 20s up to late 60’s and go for a variety of reasons, including stress relief “I genuinely don’t know how I handled stress etc before Bootcamps came into my life!” said a busy professional female member.
Bath Bootcamp, as it was known in 2011, was highly commended in the Bath Life Awards for its innovative approach to fitness and they were also the Winner of “Best Fitness Business” in the 2015 Bath Independent Business Awards.
A recent addition to the Zest offering is the ‘Zest Retreat”, which gives members the chance to experience meditation, yoga and more relaxing health activities in the UK or in Morzine, France.
Zita, who was previously an overweight, asthmatic non-exerciser says she is passionate about helping more people, especially women over 40, to feel great.