Sharita Davis is on the verge of bringing something new to the $26 billion U.S fitness industry known for its flashy gyms and overnight weight-loss schemes.
On November 23, Davis is opening the Vitality Holistic Spa in Florissant. It will offer innovative fitness classes and wellness programs in a nurturing environment where the whole family can come to get fit.
“My goal is to educate everyone, especially our youth, that fitness can be fun and eating healthy can be tasty,” said Davis, 42, a certified message therapist, Zumba instructor, Yoga for Rehab specialist, and trained occupational therapist.
At Vitality’s free grand-opening event, there will be music, tasty treats, free massages, nutritional assessments and fun fitness sessions, including Davis’ Butts & Guts body-toning blitz, Zumba, Cardio-Jam, and Step and Line Dancing.
Participants can also dive into Timbuk Fitness, a new African dance-based workout created and launched by Diadie Bathily, artistic director of Afriky Lolo.
“So many people sign up for a gym membership and never go, or start a diet and never finish,” Davos said. “We give you a personalized and fun experience, while yielding high results. We meet you where you are, and help you get to where you need to go.”
A spunky mother of two, Davis most prides herself on Vitality’s 12-week youth fitness program for kids ages 4 to 16. The Vitality Kids VClub offers dance classes such as Creative Crunk for boys, African funk, and pom and cheer dance, plus nutritional guidance, small group attention and support.
“It’s important we engage the youth in healthy lifestyles,” Davis said. “We need to break the generational curses of diabetes, hyper-tension, and obesity.”
Like many Americans, she grew up on a diet of high-fat, greasy foods. While Davis has always been petit, by the age of 18 she had full-blown cellulite. At 19, Davis shed the cellulite while in the U.S. military, but the effects of a poor diet still took its toll. The young soldier was riddled by digestion problems which caused pain, cramps, chronic constipation, disturbed sleep and even vomiting and irritability. Doctors diagnosed Davis with Gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD).
She took pork and beef out of her diet. “With those things taken out, I saw an immediate improvement in my digestion and lessening of cramps,” she said. “Over the years I realized ice cream, milk, and cheese gave me problems, so I began talking those out. When I did, I had even better digestion and my mood improved.”
Realizing the power of diet, Davis set off on a journey to master wellness. In 2003, while practicing massage therapy, she saw the need to help transform the whole person, by integrating fitness, diet and nutrition into her work.
“People need to be renewed through fitness,” she said. “It’s my job to motivate people and provide the programs to transform their bodies, their habits, and their lives.”
The night before the grand opening, Davis will host Vitality’s pre-grand opening soiree at the spa on Friday, Nov. 22.
Vitality’s free Grand Opening Fitness Extravaganza for adults and kids is Saturday, November 23, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Vitality Holistic Spa, 1766 N. New Florissant in Florissant. Vitality’s Pre-Grand Opening Soiree is Friday, Nov. 22, 8-11 p.m. at Vitality. Class sizes are limited. To RSVP call, 314-329-5802, email vitalitystl@gmail.com or visit www.VitalitySTL.com for more info.
