Shape magazine hosts a yearly Summer Beach Tour that travels to beachside communities to promote a day of health and wellness. Stopping by our hometown of Hermosa Beach, Calif., Saturday, June 2, the tour seemed fitting for the residents of the fitness-crazed Los Angeles suburb. All day every day you’ll find bikers, runners, walkers, surfers, volleyball players and the alike out and about soaking up the Southern California sun.
I thought the event would be a great opportunity to get an amazing workout from celebrity trainers including Jeanette Jenkins, who has a successful line of workout DVDs and has trained celebrities such as Serena Williams and Alicia Keys, while also benefiting a good cause. (The $10 class fees benefited the Skin Cancer Foundation.) And it didn’t hurt to get a little networking in while I was at it. I briefly met the editor-at-large of Shape, Bahar Takhtehchian, who I tracked down as she was trekking through the sand in stilettos. Impressive!
Days before the event, I signed up online to take Jeanette’s Bikini Bootcamp Chisel and Bikini Bootcamp Cardio back-to-back. Now I like to think I’m in good shape. I average working out about five times a week, but the two 30-minute classes left me sore for days. The Chisel used light weights combined with a barre ballet style workout to target specific muscle groups, and the Cardio combined high-intensity routines like a jumping jack and kickboxing combo with fast-paced moves you’d find on the basketball and volleyball courts (my favorite!).
Jeanette was such a fun trainer to work with and kept the packed class entertained throughout the sweat-wrenching workouts. I can’t wait to try one of her workouts on the Nike Training Club app!
In addition to Jeanette’s classes, the fourth annual Shape Summer Beach Tour, which will make a stop in Chicago June 16, offered yoga, a full-body workout session, floor barre, “Bootylicious Buns,” various types of dance classes and surf lessons, which were $15 each that benefited The Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation. There was also a swimsuit fashion show and themed cabanas where you could test beauty products, sip on Crystal Light Mocktails and enter drawings for lots of cool fitness gear, not to mention the bookoodles of free swag for those taking fitness classes. I picked up a Shape tote, healthy snacks, a water bottle, coupons and gift cards (I got a $20 gift card to Jewelmint!) and of course, a free issue of the June Shape.
After the event wrapped, an after-party was hosted at Pier Ave newcomer American Junkie, a gastro pub that has an eccentric cocktail list with a menu including healthier fare such as fish tacos and turkey burgers. Anyone who took fitness classes received free entry into the party and two free cocktails.
The bartenders were serving up a new, low-cal vodka called Voli, partnered with Fergi and Pit Bull. I choose the Orange Vanilla Dream, a refreshing mix of Voli Orange Vanilla vodka and ginger ale garnished with an orange slice for just 100 calories. While we sipped our light cocktails, season six American Idol winner Jordin Sparks was on site signing autographs for fans.
Shape reader or not, the Beach Tour attracted locals and strand goers looking to shape up their bikini bodies for the sandy beaches of South Bay.
The Get Fit cabana
Shape cover looks
Bikini Boot Camp Cardio with Hollywood trainer Jeanette Jenkins
Posing with Jeanette Jenkins
The after party at American Junkie sponsored by Voli vodka
The Orange Vanilla Dream
Season six American Idol winner Jordin Sparks
