“The word selfish has become this unbelievably negative word,” fitness trainer Shaun T said from the stage of Irvine Auditorium Wednesday night. “But being selfish is the most amazing thing you can do.”
The creator of fitness programs such as “Hip Hop Abs,” “Focus T25” and “Insanity” spoke about the relationship between physical and emotional health in a Q&A session in the latest installment of the 2014-2015 Year of Health events. In addition to being a fitness trainer, Shaun also works as a choreographer, professional dancer and motivational speaker.
As the event began, a short video played, featuring endorsements spliced between clips of Shaun exercising and dancing across the screen. “Insanity saved my life,” one tearful teenager in the video said.
Afterwards, Shaun took to the stage and began to answer a series of questions submitted prior to the event.
Shaun emphasized the mental and emotional aspects of fitness. “I use exercise as my therapy,” he said. Though working out can be tough, he believes that sticking to a workout routine can be instrumental in building confidence and mental strength.
He said that he keeps the mental well-being of his audience in mind when designing his programs. It is important to him that fitness programs do not foster feelings of excessive commitment with no reprieve . “People want to be free,” he said. “That’s why I create all of my workouts to time.”
Even Shaun’s creative process takes into account the importance of emotional health. He often interprets his feelings into movements before hitting the gym to develop a new workout routine.
To Shaun, taking care of one’s personal well-being is important in maintaining emotional health as well. At the event he openly addressed questions regarding his personal life, including his sexuality. “I’m not even sure why it’s a big deal,” he said, describing himself as an openly gay man working in the world of fitness. “I never thought about it, so it never hindered me.” Shaun married his partner in 2012, and publicly announced it on Twitter.
After answering the selected questions, audience members were given the opportunity to stand up and ask their own. Many of the participants, students and non-students alike, introduced themselves as long-time fans of Shaun’s programs, thanking him profusely before posing their questions. Audience members expressed that Shaun’s ability to connect to people helped them reach their goals.
“You helped me learn how to feel confident for the first time in my life,” one fan said to him during the session.
“The reason that he’s successful is because he understands himself and understands people,” Wharton freshman Bettina Lu said after the event.
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