If you vowed to exercise more and make healthier choices this new year, then you may want to follow these six fitness gurus. Not only do their lean recipe posts and fit selfies get you motivated, but so does their professional passion. Each of them have turned fitness into business and used Instagram to promote their individual brands. Whether it’s producing fitness DVDs or offering one-on-one spirit, mind and body counseling, these fitness entrepreneurs are turning their passion into profit.
Massiel “Massy” Indhira Arias, also known as “Mankofit,” has openly shared her story of overcoming depression and physical limitations. @Massy.Arias’ 1.6 million Instagram followers get to see it all. She posts videos of workout excercises, and photos of everything from her healthy lunches to her toned figure. Mankofit also lends her expertise to celebrities and anyone else trying to step up their fitness game. Healthy hopefuls can pick from a variety of custom training programs and she even offers online packages.
DaShaun Johnson is a celebrity trainer, especially sought out for his abdominal strengthening and sculpting expertise. After an appearance on Love and Hip-Hop: Atlanta, Johnson’s popularity grew with over 80,000 Instagram followers to prove it. He is constantly promoting his fitness tours, training courses and health challenges. Adding to his resume as a celebrity and personal trainer, @guru_of_abs is now a Nike Training Club (NTC) Trainer, Finaflex athlete and 2T Water ambassador.
You probably remember this mom-daughter pair from our exclusive interview. Ellen and Lana Ector maximize social media to inspire their combined 180 thousand-plus followers. The Ectors also use their Instagram accounts to applaud their fans. On any day, you will spot reposted before and after photos of their followers with congratulatory captions. @VitaminEllen and @LanaGem tap into the health business through their Atlanta gym, Gymnetics Fitness; Black Girls Workout and Black Girls Workout, 2 exercise DVDs; and GemWear, a stylish line of active apparel.
George “Hit” Richards is the founder of Calisthenics Kingz, a team of professional performance-based trainers who promote fitness through natural body weight exercises known as calisthenics. At 77,000 followers, @calisthenicsking posts photos and videos of his workout results, often captioned with inspiring quotes. He has turned his experience into an education resource through his book Calisthenics: The New Age of Fitness, which is available in English and Spanish (also available to download as an e-book). Richards has expanded his brand to offer classes and workshops, live appearances and personal training.
Jeanette Jenkins is a fitness guru, especially known for her work as a celebrity trainer. You can find snapshots of her client Kelly
Rowland, quick fresh fruit smoothie recipes, and her favorite Nike workout gear on her Instagram. When she’s not posting photos, @msjeanettejenkins is promoting her fitness DVDs, some of which are in collaboration with Rowland; contributing healthy living articles to media spaces like Huffington Post; or simply operating her business, The Hollywood Trainer.After moving from Nigeria to New York City, Hino Ehikhamenor took to sports in high school and naturally excelled in them all. He had a special love for boxing, however, and now uses it as an integral part of his personal and celebrity training. @hollywoodhino has trained NBA baller Carmelo Anthony, fashion entrepreneur Angela Simmons and others. The super athlete gives his 35,000 followers a peek into social outings with celeb friends, hilarious prank videos, and of course, endless motivating fitness photos. Ehikhamenor also launched the Hollywood Hino Training Camp where those who want training can register and enroll in classes instructed by the guru.
On his death bed, AJ Johnson’s father told her, “You’re not able to save me, but take all of who you are and what you know and go save the world.†Already surviving a mother who died from cancer, @theajzone took her dad’s words to heart and dedicated her life to wellness. On Instagram, she lets her followers into her professional and personal life with pictures of island vacations and fit sessions with her clients. Johnson’s brand is holistic with a mind, body and spirit approach. She offers life consulting, nutritional counseling and hosts a variety of retreats. Her work is so sought out that even Oprah tapped her to coach Lindsay Lohan on the Lindsay docuseries. Johnson also provides inspirational chats for the #OWNSHOW.