‘Always Go Back to Your Why’: A Conversation with Kam Bassier

Iron House spoke with fitness and meditation coach Kam Bassier about fitness, gym equipment, and how you can stay motivated on your lifting journey. 

We’re proud to continue our Feature Friday series with this month’s interviewee Kam Bassier, 37-year-old Guyanese fitness coach and father of two specializing in Weight Loss and Meditation. Alongside his wife Kerolin (@kerolintv), Kam has developed a thriving social media presence that maximizes relatability and personal content to engage his followers. 

Read on to see what we asked him about what brought him to where he is now, and where he hopes to go from here.

Tell us a bit about your fitness journey.

I've been in fitness my entire life. I played basketball at a high level for many years before moving to Canada [and] I studied Psychology and Kinesiology at York University, [at which point] I became a personal trainer.

[Before that], I was a typical hard gainer. Super skinny and couldn't gain an ounce. Then one day I took off my shirt at school and a girl yelled out, "Some people should never take their shirt off in public." That stung. But I signed up to the local gym the very next day, and the first time I picked up a barbell, I knew I had found something special. 

You told us you’ve been lifting for 19 years, with no preference for a particular lifting style. What inspired you to start lifting and what inspires you to keep going? 

I fell in love with how the body responds to lifting. I love working towards a goal and there are few goals more motivating than building strength. Now, I keep it going because I want to be strong and able-bodied for my kids. Plus, I love how I look and feel when I'm lifting. The swag is different 😁.

If you had to pick one piece of gym equipment, which would you choose, and why? 

Barbell (and Rack). You can get a complete full-body workout with just [those two]. 

In need of a barbell or rack? Check out the OX Power Bar and the SD70 Squat Stand!

Would you say the quality of your gym equipment is an important factor? 

Absolutely. Good equipment is the same as having good tools. You do your best work with the right tools. 

You mentioned that you work out the most in your home gym. What made you set one up in the first place?

I think it's important to have time and space to completely block out all the noise of the outside world and immerse yourself in something challenging.

In your opinion, what makes a good workout space?

A space that is clear, clean and inspiring. Having enough space to move around but also having the right pieces in place to do your job. Also, a fire playlist!

Do you have any ongoing projects?

[I’m currently working on] a series called the Home Gym Experiment where I document my journey from building [a] home gym, then using that space to transform not only my body, but my clients' as well. 

Offering fitness advice is the cornerstone of your online presence. When it comes to staying motivated, what’s something you want our readers and fellow lifters to remember?

ALWAYS go back to your WHY. Why did you set this goal in the first place? Also, it's not always about being motivated, it's about honoring the commitments you made to yourself even when you don't feel like doing it. 

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