Fans of ’90s television may remember actor David Charvet best for playing a rookie guard named Matt Brody Baywatch or Craig Feld looking dreamy This is Melrose’s place. But her proudest role in life is not flaunting her six-pack abs in her red swimming trunks or flaunting a charming smile like boyfriend Sydney Andrews. In fact, it is far from that.
As the father of son Shaya Charvet, 18, and daughter Raine Charvet, 24, David says acting as a father is his favorite job he’s ever done. So when the opportunity arose to bring his son as coach and producer together for his latest fitness concept, BUILD, it was a conscious decision based on years of full engagement with his fitness-minded son.
“When I was graduating, I was looking at those bleachers because I was there every 3:30 after work, and I was always watching him and just supporting him throughout his high school career,” David explained. Muscles and Fitness only. “I didn’t miss a day, so, I was coming out of graduation and I was like, ‘Wow, I’m never going to see these bleachers again.’
From there, David believes a moment of self-reflection sparked a fun fitness idea that would allow him to spend time with his family while helping others.
“And then something popped into my head and I realized, ‘Did I really create BUILD because I still want to be on the bench and I want my son to play in front of others still? And did he become a coach because we talked about it and he was in love with weight training? Did I do this subconsciously to be close to him?
“And the answer is yes,” added David. “I couldn’t see myself not being able to be close to my son, and I think I deliberately created something for him that he loved and loved very much, and I think we both created it without knowing that we would live together.”
Fitness Built Through Family Integration
The new strength training concept was co-developed with Maria Chase of BURN and has created a following in Southern California. The 45-minute class is the first to combine continuous heavy lifting with low infrared heat and medical grade LED/NIR red light therapy allowing clients to have a gentle cardiovascular workout while working up a sweat more efficiently and safely.
David’s construction company designed and developed all of Chase’s studios with only 10 students per class. Highly personalized workouts allow low repetitions using between 10 to 95 pounds. weight and direct the upper body and lower body separately.
While Shaya may not have inherited her father’s love of acting or building fitness studios, she does have a love for exercise and hard work.
“He has been taking me to the gym since I was about 8 years old,” said Shaya. “And he used me in the house, and if you instill that behavior in your child, it definitely has an impact. I think he’s the one who always pushed me. He worked hard for me as a kid in a good way, especially in sports, to make me train and instill this behavior in me, so it definitely had a big impact and it was the beginning of all of me when we worked together. That’s like our biggest bond since I was 14 [or] 15.”
His father admits that if you walked into the studio to take his class, you wouldn’t know that Shaya had just received his high school diploma.
David says: “He took it three years ago to learn more about science and everything else and now he’s ignoring me because he’s talking about things I didn’t know anything about,” says David. “I see a person who is completely involved and who has taken the enthusiasm and creativity at the same time and who is giving a great lesson. And sometimes I sit back and go, ‘Holy moly: This is my son.’
He adds: “I can’t believe how good he’s gotten at this. And it’s because he’s passionate about it. Now he’s found a bug where he sees that he’s helping people and changing people’s lives, and I think that’s become a real strength. It’s bigger than him. It’s not about him helping other people, but now he’s helping himself.”
BUILDING THE PERFECT BUSINESS TEAM
David still shows his son to classes in Studio City “three to four times a week” and his criticism of his son’s teaching has now subsided.
“He was very lucky [in the beginning] and he’s my dad, so obviously he’s going to be harder on me than anyone else,” Shaya said. Not anymore. I like the feedback, but when it comes to classes, that’s where my expertise is and that’s what I do. He doesn’t give a lot, but everything else, he’s very present. He’s always been a very well-spoken dad.”
Both father and son agree that Shaya is still the most physically fit member of the family, which is where they both want to be as they look to expand BURN and BUILD across the country throughout the year.
“It’s a big lesson I think [my dad has taught me is] that anything is possible if you really believe in it,” added Shaya. Both my parents, honestly. If you really believe in something and give everything 110%, it will happen. And if you’re going to do something, do it with everything, and that works in sports, what works in work, what works in relationships, business, everything I’ve done. They always use that if you’re going to do something, do it 100%, and if you’re not going to do it 100%, why do it?
Through BUILD, the husband and son fitness partners have created a relationship that truly blurs the lines between family and business.
“I don’t talk to him like my son,” said David. “I talk to him as a business partner, as an equal, and that’s the way we do things now. I’ll always be his dad and I’ll always stand by and watch him, but I want him to be his own man and feel the things he needs to feel.”
