A FORMER theatre manager has quit her job to empower others in reclaiming their health.

Alice Hardaker, 32, who lives in Colchester, left her job at the Southwark Playhouse, in April, to launch East Bay Health - a nutritional therapy service.

As a naturopathic nutritional therapist, she focuses on stress, fatigue and hormonal health working with people with chronic health conditions, athletes, and those who want to boost their performance.

It is a venture she has worked towards for three years, squeezing in studying for her qualifications with a full-time job and commuting from London.

She said: "I just came to the realisation I couldn't juggle them both.

"Although they're two very unrelated industries, the theatre was good training for setting up my own business because I was managing the daily runnings of the venue and both of them are based around listening to, and understanding people.

"It's a huge change but I'm loving it. It's really exciting but also daunting because suddenly I'm the person setting up everything. However, I've had so much support from others who have just been wonderful."

The premise of nutritional therapy is establishing the root cause of a mental or physical problem, which is complemented by scientific knowledge to find a solution.

Mrs Hardaker offers one-to-one consultations from her Colchester clinic room as well as home visits, lunchtime workplace appointments and online consultations.

It was a small health scare which led her towards natural health.

She said: "Fortunately, I wasn't diagnosed with cancer, but doctors found some pre-cancerous cells at a really stressful point in my life.

"I began training to learn about my own health and as I continued on this journey, I began to realise the body has an incredible capacity for revival - it’s amazing to see.

"What's even more brilliant is it's about things people can do to help themselves so it's empowering.

"By the time people have got to me they've explored quite a lot of options already, but the point is to supporting their journey back to health from the inside out."

Ms Hardaker is also keen to spread awareness by giving free talks and workshops.

Visit www.eastbayhealth.co.uk or call 01206 978 436.