Shawn Jenkins

Hollywood’s Celebrity Fitness Trainer

By Monica Davis

“I don't want you to ever give me anything because whatever I have, I want to know that I've earned it, because if I've earned it and I lose it, I know the journey to get back to it. If you give it to me, I can never find my way back."

These are the words of a man who believes you get out of life what you put into it.

Shawn's path to becoming a well regarded Hollywood fitness instructor was not a straight one. He attended Morehouse College to study Biology, but there was something missing in his life, the ability to express himself through art. As a result he enrolled in theatre. He was one of the first male students to study dance at Spelman College.

His talents and hunger to be the best at his craft landed him lead roles in musicals and dance performances. Shawn's ability and desire to obtain these roles were often met with resistance. Others were intimidated by his perfectionism and he often found himself being pushed to the back of the room or others being favored over him.

Because of his ability to dance and give dance instructions, Shawn was often approach by people to become a fitness instructor. That was absolutely not an option for him. He simply dismissed the idea for about three years. His dream was to become a professional dancer and study acting so that he could obtain a lead role on a sitcom. He managed to obtain a few acting roles in commercials and on television shows but nothing else came along and the money stopped coming in.

Shawn quickly realized that he needed to take action. After he received a traffic ticket and couldn’t pay for it, reality quickly set in. He didn't escape the penalty of the ticket; instead he performed community service at the local YMCA in Hollywood. He took the assignment seriously and performed it well.

At the end of his community service, Shawn was offered an opportunity to stay on as a maintenance worker. It has always been my thinking that whatever you do always do your best because you never know where it can lead.

He graciously accepted the offer to remain at the YMCA. After working a year in the new position, He realized that he was meant to do more. The love of music and dance remained deeply rooted within him.

Shawn decided to obtain his certification for cycling and personal training then began teaching as a fitness instructor.

The word of Shawn's ability to motivate and inspire his students began to spread. Several month later students were arriving 45 minutes to an hour early just to get a space in his class. It made him realize that "maybe I should take this fitness thing seriously."

"Working off that traffic ticket was a blessing in disguise," he states. "You never know what your path is going to be. Learn from everything."

Just when Shawn thought he was on top of his game, the chips came crashing down. He was let go. With a new administration came new rules and he didn't fit in with the way they conducted business. Immediately Shawn began to question his destiny. What was he supposed to be doing? Was it fitness or something else?

As if that wasn't enough, soon after his brother died. His brother's death was the defining moment that lead him to focus on charities and health issues. From that point on, Shawn decided that whatever he did, it would be linked to a charity because tomorrow is not promised.

Living from week to week became a challenge. In the meantime while attempting to sort through his life, Shawn began creating mentally and on paper what is now known as the Hollywood Extreme Workout program.

"It doesn't matter how well you do your job or how many awards you've received. If you have someone over you who doesn't like you for whatever reason they can fire you."

Shawn left no stoned unturned in looking for a job. When he received an offer from a local gym, he accepted it and was soon instructing a packed room of about 65 to 90 people per hour.

Shawn's brush with being almost homeless with no food taught him a valuable lesson that he turned into a positive plan. He required his students to donate canned goods, clothing or a toy help the less fortunate within the community.

Shawn's experiences sent him in a whole new direction, which resulted in a new attitude and a new perspective on life. Through the highs and lows of his life he has learned several valuable lessons:

• Never take life for granted
• Never assume that because you're at the top of your game and good at what you do that you will always remain there
• Cherish those who are close to you because you never know when they will become absent from your life
• Be willing to help others

These are lessons to be learned by all of us.