Being Authentically Me: Shaun Ts Journey To Uplift The World

On a mission to transform the world, fitness expert and BODi Super Trainer Shaun T inspires those around him to be authentic and fearless. But where did this passion come from – to help others step into their own greatness? We take a retrospective look at the journey of a unique celebrity trainer.   

World-class fitness trainer Shaun T didn’t have the easiest upbringing by any means. The Camden, New Jersey native admits to being sexually abused as a youth, which prevented him at the time from understanding virtues such as ‘trust’ and ‘belief.’ Yet, the BODi Super Trainer now lives by the mantra ‘trust and believe’ and utilizes it as a means to achieving anything he puts his mind to. 

“I reflected back and equated this to my experiences as a child, and ability to get through that part of my life,” says the founder of Shaun T Inc. “I truly believe that kids are built with this internal ability to persevere—and, knowing that first-hand, that perseverance was a foundation of my ‘trust and believe’ journey.” 

The creator of renowned programs such as INSANITY, FOCUS T25, Hip Hop Abs, and Transform: 20 further cites the mantra as having gotten him through his diverse career, and even through marriage and fatherhood. “From my career as a fitness professional all the way to speaking on stage, to being a dad and a really great husband, there are times in your life when you’re questioning if what you’re doing is the right way, as much as you may love it. And that mantra has stood the test of time through all of that.” 

At times throughout his life, Shaun T (born Shaun Thompson, now Shaun Blokker) often wondered if he was doing things ‘the right way,’ but a chance encounter with a book called What the Road Said altered his perception when it came to self-doubt, putting him back in the right direction on his own journey. 

“The book has this impactful line—arguably the most impactful I’ve ever heard in my life,” he shares, “and basically it says ‘sometimes you have to go the wrong way to get to the right way,’ and I just thought ‘what an incredible line.’” That line moved him to realize that no way was right or wrong, but simply an instance in life, one where he could reflect back and say “I lived that, and here I am living in the present.” 

Having moved out of an abusive home at age 14 to live with his grandparents, Shaun T’s next challenge lay with his own sexuality. Realizing he was gay while living in ‘the hood’ he shelved plans to embark on his passion for dancing until the age of 21, coinciding with his coming out. 

“I’d wanted to dance since I was eight years old,” he shares. “I actually asked my mom if I could be a ballerina but as many young boys often hear, ‘little boys don’t dance.’ When I finally started in college, I quickly became a pro.”

And while the inner turmoil Shaun T lived through metastasized into suicidal thoughts at times, he was able to realize that living in the present was a catalyst for shaping the direction he sought after. “When the book The Power of Now came out I read voraciously and realized that being 100% present was really great for me. And that gets me back to what I mentioned earlier about going the wrong way to get to the right way. I’m proud of the mistakes I made, and the learning curve that was the result of those mistakes.”

With a desire to lose weight and have chiseled abs, Shaun T set off on the path to giving back through a plethora of fitness programs that guide others to transform every aspect of their life—the same way his life was transformed thanks to his yearning to get fit. “I eventually became a dancer for multiple celebrities, booking gigs and teaching classes all across L.A.,” he reflects. “Landing my own Saturday morning fitness class at Equinox in West Hollywood—where, at times, people would wait for an hour to get inside!”  

It was during one of these classes that a BODi (formerly known as Beachbody) representative encouraged Shaun T to audition for their brand, later offering him his own infomercial at the age of 25. “My third infomercial was a smash hit,” he beams. “INSANITY was a #1 infomercial for seven years!” 

Being a gay man in the world of macho men, Shaun T admits that he was surprised to have been initially accepted into the bodybuilding world, and once he got over his own judgment and limiting beliefs, was astounded by the reaction he received from fellow trainers and fitness goers alike. 

“People would come up to me and say ‘Wait a minute, you’re Shaun T. You helped me start my fitness career.’ They express gratitude for me being fearless and authentically me. But that’s just it, if you’re being authentically you, it gets you so far in life. And I made a promise to myself that I was going to live by that mantra, even if it f***** shit up.”

{Contd.} “I’d hate to look back on my life and say I sold myself out.” 

The father of twin boys and husband to Scott Blokker cites marriage as having taught him to be balanced as well as knowing that he needs to provide a degree of emotional support, much like he does with those who invest in his programs. 

In fact, he highlights the importance of mental fitness as a methodology.

“It’s about overall well-being and knowing that you’re as healthy as you can be. This means eating healthy, living healthy, and investing in a general fitness regimen,” he points out. “This is the key to feeling confident.” 

Reflecting on his 21-year fitness journey, Shaun T is not just proud of how far he’s come physically, but also mentally. “I started off hating life, now I live a life filled with happiness, love, purpose, health, and abundance.” 

Shaun T is one of many world-class fitness trainers that represent BODi, one of the best on-demand workout apps on the market. 

For more information, visit BODi’s website and follow Shaun T’s incredible transformation journey on his Instagram page. 

ncG1vNJzZmiblaGyo7nIsWWcp51kr6a1zaBkmq2knbKvwMicmKWkqWK6pnnSoZiupl2pwG62zq6pp52pYsGwedSpo6KepGLBqbGMsKarpJRk