Fans of ’90s television may remember actor David Charvette for his role as rookie lifeguard Matt Brody. Baywatch or a dreamer look at Craig Feld Melrose. But her proudest role in life isn’t flaunting her six-pack abs in her red swimsuit or showing off her charming smile as Sydney Andrews’ girlfriend. In fact, it is far from it.
As a father to son Shaya Charvet, 18, and daughter Rayne Charvet, 24, David says that just being a dad is his favorite job he’s ever done. So when the opportunity arose to bring his son on board as a trainer and co-creator of his latest fitness concept, CONSTRUCTIONit was a questionable decision based on years of being active with her fitness-minded son.
“When I was at his graduation, I was looking at those stands because I was there every day after 3:30 after work, and I always watched him and cheered him on throughout his high school career,” David told the Muscles and fitness exceptionally. “I didn’t miss a day. So I walked out of graduation and I was like, ‘Wow, I’m never going to see this stand again.’
From there, David believes a moment of self-awareness sparked a passion for fitness that still allows him to spend time with his family and help others.
“And then something popped into my head and I realized, ‘Did I really create BUILD because I still wanted to be in the chair and I wanted my son to perform in front of other people?’ And did he become a trainer because we talked about it and he was in love with weight training? Did I automatically do this to still be close to him?
“And the answer is definitely yes,” adds David. “I couldn’t see myself being close to my son, and I guess I deliberately created something that he was passionate about and he was very passionate about, and I think we both created it together without us staying together.”
Fitness is created by the family bond
The new strength training concept was developed in conjunction with Maria Chase of BURN and has developed quite a following in Southern California. The 45-minute class is the first to combine progressive weight lifting with low-infrared heat and medical grade LED / NIR red light therapy which allows clients to have a gentler cardiovascular workout while working up a sweat more efficiently and safely.
David’s Construction Company designed and developed all of Chase’s studios, which have just 10 students per classroom. More personalized exercises allow for low repetitions using 10 to 95 pounds. weighs and shows the upper and lower body separately.
While Shaya may not have inherited her father’s love of acting or building fitness studios, she does have a passion for exercise and hard work.
“He’s been taking me to the gym since I was 8 years old,” says Shaya. “And he made me work at home, and when you instill that work ethic in your kid, it definitely rubs off. I think he always pushed me. He was really hard on me as a kid, especially sports, just to train me and kind of instill that discipline in myself, so that definitely had a big impact, and that was definitely the beginning of our work 100 percent.” we’ve been doing it since I was 14 (or) 15.”
Her father admits that when you walk into the studio to take her class, you wouldn’t know that Shaya just got her high school diploma.
“He’s kind of taken it upon himself in the last three years to learn more about the science behind it and everything else, to the point where he’s blowing me away now because he’s talking about things I had no idea about,” says David. “I see someone who’s totally engaged and has passion and creativity at the same time and really gives a quality lesson. And I sometimes sit back and go, ‘Holy shit: That’s my son.'”
She adds: “I can’t believe how good he’s gotten at this. And it’s just because he’s so passionate about it. He’s got the bug now that he sees that he’s helping people and changing people’s lives, and I think that’s become a real driving force. It’s become so much bigger than just him. It’s not about him, it’s really about other people.
Create the perfect business team
David still shows up for his son’s classes at Studio City “three to four times a week” and his criticism of his son’s education has now subsided.
“He was very sensitive (at first) and he’s my dad, so obviously he’s going to be tougher on me than everyone else,” says Shaya. “But now? Not anymore. I like feedback, but when it comes to lessons, that’s my experience and that’s what I do. He doesn’t contribute much, but everything else, he’s very present. He’s always been the father of a good singer.”
The father-son duo both acknowledge that Shaya is now a member of the family in top physical shape, and rightly so, they both want to be there as they look to expand BURN & BUILD across the country throughout the year.
“The biggest lesson I think (my dad taught me) is that anything is possible when you really believe in it,” adds Shaya. “I think my whole life, my dad really pushed me to do that. Both of my parents, really. If you really believe in something and give it 110%, it’s going to happen. And if you’re going to do something, you’re going to do it with anything, and it’s in sports, it’s in training, it’s in relationships, it’s in business, everything I’ve ever done. 100%, and if you’re not going to do it 100% why are you doing this?
With BUILD, the father and son fitness partners have built a relationship that truly blurs the lines between family and business.
“I don’t talk to him as my son,” says David. “I talk to him as my business partner and that’s how we do it now. I’ll always be his father and I’ll always stand by him and watch him, but I want him to be able to be his own man and experience the things he has to go through.”
