Kym Herjavec has a fantastic figure, but it doesn’t come easy—this Dancing With the Stars pro works at keeping her fabulous figure. Now, the Australian champ (née Johnson—she married her season 20 dance partner, businessman Robert Herjavec) is sharing those hardbodied secrets with others. While on DWTS, Kym choreographed all of the workout DVDs and launched her brand, 5678 Fitness, which consists of the 5678 Fitness workout DVD and her first book, The 5678 Diet. Now, she’s expanding her fitness empire by opening her own dance cardio studio, The BOD by Kym Herjavec, which opened at 9306 Civic Center Dr, Beverly Hills, in the former space of Richard Simmons’ Slimmons Studio. The Bod offers really fun fitness classes from top fitness professionals and dancers including a former Rockette, a Broadway fitness instructor and a professional dancer who danced with Lady Gaga at this year’s Superbowl.
We sat down with Herjavec to get her DWTS fitness tips plus learn more about the fun fitness studio that we know is going to give us, well, the bod.
What is the bod all about?
The BOD is a dance cardio studio where you dance, sculpt and tone your best BOD. I teach some of the classes along with other top dance instructors. You can consult with our nutritionist as well. We offer a variety classes throughout the work week and the schedule is accessible online.
Why did you decide to open?
I saw an article that Richard Simmons was closing the doors and I couldn’t let the iconic space turn into an office or a coffee shop. It’s such an iconic space where people were encouraged and comfortable to be themselves to get fit without judgement. It’s always been a dream of mine to open my own dance studio as I wanted to expand my passion for fitness and health. I loved the physical space and was immediately drawn to the great energy from the Richard Simmons days. I love him and want to continue the legacy. My favorite part about owning my studio is seeing my clients overall transformation including their physical and emotional health and well-being. I believe everyone should strive to be the best version of themselves. I want people to know it’s a place they can come and fit in and build towards confidence – have fun, get fit, sweat it out and be the best they can personally be!
What’s different about the studio?
We offer unique classes and packages that are welcome to all levels including; 80’s BOD (pays tribute to Simmons and Jane Fonda) which is where we welcome everyone to dress up in their best short shorts and leg warmers, Dance Fit BOD (which sculpts and tones your legs, abs and butt) and 567-Broadway BOD. All of the classes are set to great music and it’s hard to not have fun. If you can’t make it to the studio, we offer an online platform as well. unique package is our Bridal package which includes unlimited access to all our classes for three months, six private lessons for you and your partner to create your perfect dance, we also have a nutritionist who can create a 30 day Bridal BOD meal prep plan.
Why you should come?
The BOD studios is for everyone. I wanted to create a dance cardio space where people feel welcome and enjoy being in the space. I also feel we have a recipe for helping people achieve their workout goals in a way that is fun and very unique with amazing instructors who all care about the members. I feel we are creating a great community in Beverly Hills. One of the best compliments we hear often is “Kym’s studio and the classes have encouraged me to go again and again, not like my personal experience with a traditional gym where I start strong but never keep it up. I am so grateful to have a place to work out that is so loving, encouraging and absolutely fun!”
KIM HERJAVEC SHARES 7 FITNESS TIPS FOR A DWTS BODY
Tip #1: Find a mantra that motivates you.
Write it down and post it on the wall in front of where you work out – whatever it takes to refer back to those words of inspiration, keep pushing yourself to continue.
Tip #2: Be realistic. Love your body. Your body is unique to you so don’t compare it to anyone else’s body.
We all have problem areas and flabby bits that haunt us. It is important to be realistic with your goals. If you don’t love your body, you won’t be able to look into the mirror. Change your mindset-instead of saying, “Oh I can’t stand to look at my belly” say, “Look at me doing these lunges. I am getting stronger every day.” No matter what size or shape you’re in now, your body belongs to you. Embrace it. Love it. Be proud. Everyone has something they excel at and that’s why comparisons to others who have different talents and skill sets is not helpful. If you’re having trouble looking into the mirror try this: assess your physical strengths and weakness and focus on your strongest and best area. Be sure to wear workout gear that highlights your best qualities. Your confidence will build with constant repetition of working out and making the effort to improve your body (so that you are happy with it).
Tip #3: Develop a routine that fits into your lifestyle.
If you don’t have an hour everyday to workout, try initially setting aside at least 30 minutes. The bottom line is to make exercising a priority so it becomes part of your lifestyle. I recommend to do a combination of cardio and sculpting with light weights and multiple reps. The key is to make exercise part of your lifestyle. You will be amazed at how much energy you have have and you will start to see the results quickly.
Tip #4: Deep Kitchen Cleanse.
The first step to changing eating habits is to see how you eat right now. Open up your kitchen cabinets, your pantry, and your fridge. What kind of foods are you buying? Lots of processed food? Not enough food with healthy fats? Toss out all that junk food! If it’s not there, you won’t be tempted to binge eat. The goal is to keep the main staples and get rid of everything else. If you hate wasting food, try to donate your unwanted items to your local food bank or shelter.
Tip #5: Always stay hydrated!
It’s best to start your day by drinking hot water with lemon. Sometimes you think you are hungry but you’re really just thirsty. By drinking enough water; you will lose weight, squash sugar cravings, alleviate muscle cramping and relieve headaches. When your muscles are properly hydrated you can walk, run, strength train and do whatever form of exercise that works for you.
Tip #6: Eat All Day – healthy snacks
This might sound counterproductive, but really, eat more! Increase the amount of times you eat throughout the day. Instead of having three heavy meals, eat 5-6 smaller-portioned meals. Pack healthy snacks like almonds and grapes for work. This will make it less tempting to go the snack room at the office.
Tip #7: Moderation, moderation, moderation!
I love my treats. Don’t get me wrong – I love eating fruits and veggies too but once in a while, you have to treat yourself! The key is to balance your food lifestyle so you’re not eating junk food majority of the time. It’s all about portion control. My mantra which is featured in my book, The 5678 Diet consists of 5 servings of protein, 6 colors of the rainbow, 7 anti-inflammatory foods and 8 glasses of water a day.
