Be Kind. Every Hat Has a Story - Arizona

Beth Pargas, a multi-talented fitness instructor based in Phoenix, is inspiring her clients through a variety of high-intensity training classes and spreading a powerful message that we all could use right about now: Be Kind. Photo by @jasonmyersphoto

ARIZONA SINCE 2012

Beth’s journey to Scottsdale began back in 2001.  She left her hometown of Greeley, Colorado to pursue a degree from Prescott College.  “Originally, I went to college to be a dance studio owner,”  she says.  She decided to jump right in to the business world and for six years ran a dance studio called The Academy of Performing Arts in Prescott, AZ.  She would go on to work at multiple dance studios, but gradually the focus of her career began to shift towards the fitness world. 

In 2012, Beth moved to Scottsdale for good after a short stint back in Greeley.  “Just for a year…which was long enough to realize that I never wanted to scrape the ice & snow off my windshield again!”  She has worked as a trainer at multiple gyms, most recently at Life Time Fitness, teaching a variety of classes including Barre, Pound, Hip-Hop, MixxedFit®, and Yoga.  Her clientele include both kids and adults, and she’s been doing it long enough to have seen the maturation & transformation of her younger subjects. “The thing that’s been amazing is to see some of these kids I’ve taught in the past now grow up and come back to my classes…It’s been really cool.”

Support the movement and get the BETH PARGAS 'BE KIND' CAMO TRUCKER. 100% of proceeds will be donated to the Maricopa & Pinal County Girls on the Run Organization.

Before the Coronavirus pandemic, Beth was teaching up to 5 classes per day, with as many as 50 customers at a time.  The pressure to bring it each and every day and to be the source of inspiration for her clients is a driving force that keeps her motivated class after class. “It’s definitely an honor to have people look at you that way,” says Pargas.  “It’s a cool place to be.”  But as of last week, when her company was forced to furlough the majority of its employees, Beth has had to make another pivot in her professional life.  The AFAA-certified Group Fitness instructor is now conducting virtual live classes, as well as recording workouts that can be viewed anytime on Youtube.  She affectionately calls her followers the ‘Good Vibe Tribe’ and she encourages everyone to keep a healthy balance and not go overboard in their fitness quest.  According to Pargas, “There’s days when you’re going to want a donut for breakfast, and that’s fine!”

Beth’s former gym asked her recently what slogan she’d like to have appear under her picture at the gym.  Her simple answer: ‘Be Kind’.  “I really just appreciate people who are kind.  It’s a great message that some of us forget,” she said, “even though it’s such a short message.”  Beth has chosen the Maricopa & Pinal Counties GIRLS ON THE RUN organization as the beneficiary of her ‘Be Kind’ hat sales.  “I was so impressed with the work they’re doing with the girls…I’ve been to so many events and I really want to be able to get involved.” 

Beth and her new fiancé, Daniel, live in Scottsdale.   Connect & Train with Beth on her website, on Facebook(@BethPargasDanceFitness), and on Instagram (@BethPargas).

100% of proceeds will be donated to the Maricopa & Pinal County Girls on the Run Organization.