(This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights Body FX trainer Kari Beach.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in 1983 in Hattiesburg.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I went to East Marion High School.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: I am a NASM certified personal trainer at Body FX. I instruct classes that vary in types. Sometimes it’s more like a boot camp style, and sometimes it’s more like a CrossFit style. Sometimes it’s straight up weight lifting, but I also do one-on-one training.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: Personal experience. After my second daughter was born, I had a few medical problems I had to get a hold on, and I got into exercising. It kind of just grew from there and became a passion I wanted to share with others.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: My clients. Just getting to know them more than just as a person who is trying to get in better health, getting to know them on a personal level and being able to watch their journey evolve.
Q: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
A: The most challenging aspect is maybe dealing with those who don’t believe so much in health and fitness and don’t really have a great attitude towards it. I try to help them see the positives. But I love what I do so I don’t really deal with a whole lot of negatives.
Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned in your career?
A: In order to believe in anyone else, you have to believe in yourself first.
Q: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: A dental hygienist. I always liked teeth. One of the first things I noticed about people is their teeth, which seemed weird, but now it’s not because I have a completely different profession so now the first thing I usually notice is posture.
Q: What was your first job?
A: The first job I ever had was babysitting until I became legal working age. When I did hit legal working age, I worked at SMS Audio.
Q: Who is the person who has been most influential in your life?
A: Without a doubt, my mom, DeeDee Armstrong. She’s the strongest woman I know. I’ve seen her fall down and get up more times than I can count. It inspired me to do the same.
Q: What is your spouse’s name?
A: Bobby Beach, but most people know him better as “Skipper” Beach. He is a fishing tool hand and works in North Dakota.
Q: Do you have children?
A: I have two children and a stepdaughter. My stepdaughter, Jayde, is 20. My oldest son, Tavis, is 15. My baby girl, Kaci, is 11.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: I would say lemon crusted salmon, a baked sweet potato and a salad made with spinach.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Paris because ever since I was a little girl I’ve been fascinated with it. I’ve heard the culture is amazing, and I’ve always wanted to try it out.
Q: What hobbies do you like to do in your spare time?
A: Most of my spare time is spent with my kids, who are very active. My son plays baseball, and my most daughter is a dancer.
Q: What do you enjoy about Columbia and Marion County?
A: The relationships people have around here. Everybody knows everybody, and they’re all kind of intertwined. In Marion County when something bad happens, everyone is there to help each other get back up, like the tornado for instance. You watched people build back up pretty quickly because people learned to work together.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: Jesus. I would just be more thankful than to ask for anything. I’m at a different point in my life where I have a lot to be thankful for.
Q: If you didn’t have to worry about money, what would you do all day?
A: Exactly what I’m doing right now because it’s not about the money to me. My husband makes a pretty decent living so the money isn’t important. I just love this. I would add in a little more traveling than I do now and go a few more places that I’ve never been.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on who you are today?
A: Salvation. At that point, not to say that life doesn’t still throw you obstacles or it isn’t hard, but you kind of know that there’s a meaning and a purpose behind it. You know at that point that you’re here for a reason and from here on out it’s just to fulfill that purpose. Even though you’re going to make mistakes and still have struggles, you still have that to fall back on.
Q: What is one thing you want to do that you’ve never tried?
A: Parasailing because I feel like it would be an adrenaline rush.
Q: Using one word for each, what are your top three morals?
A: Christ and family always are my Top 2, but I struggle with the third. I want to say self because taking care of yourself is important, but I often times put others before me so friends. Christ, family and friends.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: As a good Christian woman who loved her family, loved what she done and spread a joy through what she done to others.
— Joshua Campbell
Pictured Above: Body FX trainer Kari Beach has developed such a passion for helping others get in shape and live a healthy lifestyle that she said would do it even if she didn’t have to worry about money. “(It) became a passion I wanted to share with others,” she said. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
