This post is part of a series of Queerty conversations with models, coaches, dancers, and, well, people who inspire us to stay fit or just sit on the couch watching them instead.
Last name: Caleb Marshall, 28
Occupation: YouTube Fitness Instructor
City: Los Angeles, CA
Favorite gym: My apartment
Do you have a favorite exercise playlist?
Workout by The Fitness Marshall on Spotify. All my favorite songs are there and I update them every week.
What’s the best food to eat before a workout?
I like to have a coffee before my workout to get started, then drink a protein shake right after. Everyone is different so there is definitely no “best”. It’s just what makes me feel good.
What is the best outfit for training?
I can’t stress enough how much I love working out in my Active Booty Mesh Tee. I’m a big sweater and I love how airy I feel in it. We created it as part of our inclusive sportswear line, Active Booty.
How do you combine staying in shape and having fun?
It’s a constant journey. It’s never one or the other all the time and that’s what makes it durable. If I miss the gym for a bit, I know it’s okay because I get right back to it. If I eat way too many sweets or drink way too much wine, that’s okay because I know I’ll be more careful next week. It is a constant balancing act. For me, banning food completely and imposing a certain number of days for training has never worked. I need permission to live as life comes my way.
Related: Celebrity Trainer Raneir Pollard On Maintaining Fitness Through Virtual Reality
What basic, useful training advice can you offer?
The “best” workout you can do is the one you enjoy enough to stick with it.
How to keep your customers motivated?
I treat my Booty Army like my friends and family. We’re all here to have a good time and I never want them to turn on any of my videos and think ‘ugh, I’m about to work out’. I want them to think “OMG I’m going to dance and pretend to be a pop star for the next hour.”
Your workouts are very dance-centric. Have you always been interested in dancing?
I have been drawn to dancing and music since I can remember. Britney Spears was my biggest inspiration and captivated me with the way she evolved into music. I realized that when I danced I felt confident and all my insecurities melted away. I wanted to harness that feeling and help others experience it with my dance workouts.
How are you going to develop a choreography that will maximize physical fitness?
I always think of pleasure first. I believe that the more someone has fun, the more they dance hard and the more they sweat. It’s never about the actual movements, but the passion you put behind them.
Most of your videos are simple song routines. What’s the best way to develop a workout playlist?
We love to give people a taste of The Fitness Marshall with our one song videos, but the REAL Fitness Marshall experience is our Booty Army Livestreams. This is where we take a handful of our dances and perform them live each week in an hour-long livestream. Everyone at home can follow along as usual. It’s more intimate, real and the most effective training we offer. The single song videos are more like “rehearsals” and the Booty Army live streams are the real show.
What do you keep on your bedside table?
Water, melatonin (I sleep very badly), MagSafe Dual Charger for my Apple Watch and my iPhone, Google Home.
Bonus photos:
