Meet Kami Blease | Personal Trainer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kami Blease and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kami, what do you attribute your success to?
I think the most important factor to my success is that I am flexible about the path but inflexible on the end goal. The end goal for me is to empower women through joyful movement and changing their relationship towards their bodies for the better. If I can do that I am open to the route I take to get there. We are always evolving as people and to assume that the path you picked 3 years ago has to stay the same doesn’t allow for the growth, lessons and evolutions you will make over time.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am a personal trainer who emphasizes joyful movement & body acceptance. I work with women to help them not only create healthier lives & habits but also healthier relationships with their bodies and food. I got into the fitness industry because I wanted to help women feel more confident in their bodies and over time that evolved into a more holistic approach, not just focusing on the external but the internal as well. Movement is a powerful way to show yourself you are a priority but it has been co-opted by the diet industry as a way to shrink your body as a way to “prove” you have more value in this world. I want to change that narrative.

This has not always been easy as I personally have struggled with disordered behavior and body image issues. To then be in a career where success has historically been based on your your physical appearance can be triggering. However, I care deeply about women moving for reasons beyond weight loss and as I’ve dealt with my own internal struggles I’ve been able to create a business and lifestyle that reflects that growth and empowerment.

One of the things I am most proud of is a workout card deck I created during the pandemic called the Worth More Workout Cards . These cards offer affirmation guided workouts to help women (and myself) move from a place of love, gratitude, kindness and strength rather than shame, judgment or guilt. Each affirmation corresponds to an exercise movement which shifts the focus away from a focus on how many calories you need to burn or how much you need to sweat and towards powerful intentions such as of ‘I Am Intelligent’, ‘I Am Brave’, ‘I Am Empowered’, and so on. Users of the cards still get in a great workout but the core motivation is more gentle and therefore helps women show up more consistently for themselves.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I absolutely love having people visit LA! It’s one of the most fun places to live as there is always something for everyone. I try to tailor activities to the specific person but there are a few things that are always go-tos for me! When people first arrive I try to get them as close to the water as possible, so popping into the Brentwood Farmer’s market or Vicente Farms for some snacks and then heading to the beach is a great way to kick off any trip! If you’re looking for a great spot for lunch I love Gjusta, Cafe Gratitude, The Great White, or Nic’s on Beverly. My favorite drink spot lately is the Palma at the Santa Monica Proper Hotel (literally my home decor goals!) From there dinner at places like Elephante, Malibu Farms, Bestia, Gracias Madre, or Sugarfish are always welcome. A drink at the Nobu Malibu patio can be a memorable experience as I can never pass up a chance to have some of their delicious apps. When it comes to activities, if it’s during the summer, I love going to Cinespia to catch an outdoor movie in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. I also love popping down to DTLA to show people spots like The Last Bookstore, Grand Central Market and Angel City Brewery. If people are down for hiking we usually take them to Los Liones, Hollywood Sign Hike or Runyon Canyon because they are all so iconic. Other highlights are Disneyland, Universal Studios, The Getty & Getty Villa and the Venice Canals. And no matter when, we always try to spend Sunday sunset at the beach reflecting on the week, regrouping and relaxing!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh, wow! To sum this up into one thing is challenging but I want to give a highlight to the book & movement Health at Every Size. We live in a wellness & fitness culture that has a very narrow view of what health is supposed to look like and that stifling message has warped women’s relationship with their bodies, movement and food. Health at Every Size (HAES) challenges a lot of that and really gives a voice to so much of what I had been struggling with; diets not working, disordered behavior and this undesired fixation on my body & its worth. This book was freeing because it helped me see through the smoke and mirrors of our diet culture and shifted my business towards a stronger focus on body acceptance and reprioritizing what health can look like.

Website: www.kamiblease.com

Instagram: @kamiblease & @worthmorewellness

Image Credits
Melanie Maroon- Moonbeams Photos