Shaun T. Fitness

Shaun T. Fitness
Born Shaun Thompson
(1978-05-02) May 2, 1978
Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
Residence Phoenix, Arizona
Alma mater Rowan University (B.S.)
Occupation Physical fitness expert, presenter
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Spouse(s)
Scott Blokker (m. 2012)
Website www.shauntfitness.com

Shaun T. Fitness (born May 2, 1978) is an American motivational speaker, fitness trainer, fitness motivator, businessman, television personality and choreographer. He is best known for his home fitness programs for adults and children which include T25, Insanity and Hip-Hop Abs. Shaun is 6 feet (2 m) and weighs 190 pounds (86 kg).

Life and career

Born as Shaun Thompson in Camden, New Jersey, he grew up in Philadelphia and was raised by his grandparents in Deptford Township, New Jersey, where he enjoyed football, baseball and running track as a student at Deptford Township High School.[1] He received a bachelor's degree in sports science from Rowan University where he also minored in theatre and dance. He was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. After gaining 50 pounds in his freshman year of college, Thompson became interested in fitness and changed his course of study. He lives in Phoenix, Arizona.[2][3]

He began his professional life as a health and fitness specialist. He also became a personal trainer and health program manager at Wyeth and also worked at a number of fitness chains, including Equinox Fitness. Thompson began dancing in college, at 21 years old. He was requiered to teach an aerobics class which was part of his Sports Science degree and then became an aerobics instructor. After graduating from Rowan University, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked as a choreographer, dancer and trainer.[4] Whilst in L.A., he received his first professional job as a dancer, which was for American pop star Mariah Carey. Thompson was teaching fitness classes at Equinox Fitness where he was approached by Beachbody whom asked him to submit a demo for a workout video.

Thompson has been openly gay since coming out via Twitter in October 2012 and is married to Scott Blokker.[5]

Home fitness programs

Insanity

Carl Daikeler and Jon Congdon launched the Beachbody fitness company in 1998. There goal was to look for new fitness workout home videos. They approached Thompson who submitted a demo which would later be called "Insanity", released in 2009. It was termed "the hardest workout put on DVD". It was sold through TV ads. As the difficulty of the workout was substansial and its popularity, Thompson has been a guest on many talk shows such as: The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Tyra Banks Show, Doctors and the Dr. Oz Show.[6][7][8]

Hip-Hop Abs

Shaun T's first non-demo work for Beachbody, Hip Hop Abs was released in 2003. In 2007, it was the top selling workout video in the United States.

Videography

  • 2017: Shaun Week
  • 2015: Cize (Exercise video series, tagline "The end of exercise")
  • 2014: Insanity Max 30 (Exercise video series)
  • 2013: Focus T25 (Exercise video series)
  • 2012: Insanity: The Asylum Vol. 2 - Elite Training Series (Exercise video series)
  • 2011: Insanity: The Asylum (Exercise video series)
  • 2009: Insanity (Exercise video series)
  • 2008: Rockin' Body (Exercise video series)
  • 2008: Shaun T's Fit Kids Club (Exercise video for ages 7 and up)
  • 2008: Get Real with Shaun T (Exercise video for pre-teens)
  • 2007: Hip Hop Abs (Exercise video series)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kuperinsky, Amy. "How celebrity trainer Shaun T went from Camden survivor to fitness superstar", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 8, 2016, updated July 21, 2017. Accessed September 27, 2018. "Shaun Thompson was born in Camden and spent his early years with his mother and brother in Philadelphia. Feeling trapped by what he describes as four years of sexual abuse by a family member, he took refuge with his grandparents in Deptford.... At Deptford High School, Blokker was a natural at track and field, but he really wanted to be the next Anderson Cooper."
  2. ↑ Shaun T Biography from www.shauntfitness.com
  3. ↑ Coach Wayne, Interview for Team Ripped
  4. ↑ IMDB biography
  5. ↑ Juzwiak, Rich (2012-10-15). "Insanity Creator Shaun T Comes Out via Retweet". Gawker/. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
    Twitter items referred to by Gawker (may require registration to view):
  6. ↑ "Insanity Workout - Extreme Home Workout DVD - Insanity Workout Reviews". beachbody.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
  7. ↑ 11/08/2010. "Shaun T's Insanity Fitness - ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
  8. ↑ "Fitness Review: Beach Body Insanity DVD Workout Program". Webmd.com. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
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