Welcome

A woman is stretching on the floor with another person.

I learned to love the journey, not the destination.I learned that this is not a dress rehearsal, and that today is the only guarantee you get.-Anna Quindlen
Credit: SQNSport

About Me

With over three decades of experience, I am passionate about guiding individuals towards improved strength, movement, and overall well-being. My mission is to help you become stronger for the activities you love while supporting your journey towards achieving your unique health and fitness goals. 

Having worked with top-tier athletes in the vibrant sports town of Sun Valley, Idaho, as well as with countless inspiring everyday people, I understand both the thrill of peak performance and the challenges of recovery. I excel at quickly identifying musculoskeletal imbalances that may causebor contribute to muscle and joint pain, so I can promptly implement targeted strategies to address issues and keep you moving forward. 

In 2004 I was struck with spondylolisthesis, a painful slipped disc in my lower back. I was living with chronic pain. After undergoing surgery to fix my back I continued to focus and expand my education on the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex, and how to manage and prevent back pain. Flash forward to the present, I am now a recognized Corrective Exercise Specialist in The BioMechanics Method ( TBMM-CES ).

Since 2000 I have also studied yoga with world-renowned yoga teachers, so if you train with me, you will surely do some yoga. Balance is huge for people over 40. So is the necessity of bringing together muscles and mind to move more efficiently, to relax when we need to relax, and to be powerful when power is needed. For example, have you ever noticed that a great skier’s upper body is always relaxed?

When you first begin working with me, you will undergo a comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment. Results from this assessment then guides us to understand what muscles and other soft tissue are contributing to your condition. Each program is designed specifically for your needs and goals. We’ll look at any musculoskeletal imbalances and design a corrective exercise program to help you move better, if that’s what you are more interested in. If your goal is weight loss, we incorporate full body moves with high metabolic cost, as I want your time working out to be maximized. Whether your goal is fat loss, feeling better, or returning to your favorite sport, I will bring abundant enthusiasm and the best programming to design your workout. ( Plus, when you train with me I can guarantee you that you will not be sore on the first day of ski season.)

As a former junior ski racer, my greatest passion skiing. I love to run, bike, practice yoga, and rock climb, taking me to the cliffs of the Greek Islands, Sardinia, Italy, Spain, Mexico and Thailand. Hiking with our Golden Retriever, Izzy, is also high on my list of things I love to do.

Here is a list of my credentials:

  • Corrective Exercise Specialist in The Biomechanics Method ( TBMM-CES ), the industry’s highest-rated CES credential.
  • American College of Sports Medicine ( ACSM ) Certified Exercise Physiologist 
  • American Council on Exercise (gold level)
  • Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research
  • Active Isolated Strengthening Therapist (a method of fascia release used to facilitate stretching)
  •  International Dance Exercise Association Elite Level Personal Trainer  ( the highest level of achievement in the personal fitness training industry)
  • TRX Suspension training coach.
  • Author of the Essential Core Poster ( click on link front page ! )
  • 30 year author of a popular monthly health and fitness column ” Fitness Guru ” for the Idaho Mountain Express
  • Yoga training with www.judithlasater.com, www.seanecorn.com, and www.erich schiffman.com
  • YMCA Group Exercise Leader

A woman is stretching on the floor with another person.

Featured Post

Target your glutes like a pro

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The gluteal muscles are large, powerful muscles that cross the hip joint and play a critical role in nearly all lower-body movement. The gluteus maximus is the largest of these muscles and is responsible for extending and laterally rotating the … Continue reading →

5 essential exercises you need

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Fitness Guru-How to find tight neck and shoulder relief

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If your neck and shoulders are chronically tight, not only does it feel bad, but neck and shoulder limitations affect the biomechanics of your body. Conversely, when you have balance and alignment in everyday life, you establish a great starting … Continue reading →

The power of problem solving

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Can you think of a time when your problems seemed insurmountable? In a world where our happiness is so crucial to our overall well-being, behavioral tools can be helpful. If you’re struggling with goals like eating better, sleeping or exercising … Continue reading →

4 stretches to stay ahead of aging

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We all want to enjoy a healthy work-life balance and have more energy throughout the day. Regardless of your age, the habits of daily living become more important, whether you are in your 40s or 60s. The body, however, has … Continue reading →

Break old habits to fix an achy back

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Healing a sore back requires breaking some old habits and forming some new ones, says Dr. Stuart McGill. If you’re living with an achy back, getting your swagger back, as McGill, the most recognized spine researcher in the world, states, … Continue reading →

Quick fixes for your squats

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All winter sports require strong leg muscles, good balance and core support—all benefits of doing regular squats. The squat is one of the most common and basic exercises performed in strength training and offers a tremendous bang for your buck. … Continue reading →

Five everyday movements you need

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Add single -leg squats to your training

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Ankle flexibility for better balance and sports

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The feet and ankles support and cushion the entire weight of the body and are crucial to keep your body balanced. Anyone that has to be on his or her feet all day knows that they bear a lot of … Continue reading →

To sleep better, add Yoga Nidre to your nighttime routine

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Healthy brain aging and exercise

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The human brain is a magnificent three-pound organ. It is the seat of our intelligence, initiates all our body movement and controls our behavior. As we all age, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases is expected to markedly increase. Our health … Continue reading →

Health and perspective: From stairs to red wine

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The Covid -19 pandemic has impacted everyone across the globe.  It has affected our lives on both a small and large scale, particularly having to let go, for a while, of a pre-Covid world. Remember, there is nothing wrong about allowing … Continue reading →

Build core power and stability with the Farmer’s Walk

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Core stability is imperative for all facets of movement and performance, whether you’re a skier or skater. As a new ski season kicks off, core strength can be a great asset to ski at a higher intensity, for a longer … Continue reading →

Work ( out ) from home

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Try this new six-move fitness routine to break your pandemic rut Did you ever imagine living through a pan- demic? More than ever, we’re all chal- lenged to be resilient. For many of us, our routines are shot and the new … Continue reading →

Can you really spot-reduce belly fat?

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Wouldn’t it be nice if you could simply get rid of your belly fat with a few crunches and ab work? After all, wouldn’t all that hard work melt the fat away if you really put your heart into it? … Continue reading →

Breath and awareness can help us cope

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Fear and uncertainty are real right now, as each week brings even more uncertainty fighting COVID-19. Many of us are scared and lonely. But please don’t be so hard on yourself right now, because you already are doing something very … Continue reading →

Strong legs : learning the basic squat

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Nothing beats a great pair of legs. We need the strength of them to walk us through our lives. If you’re a skier, you can appreciate how hard your legs have to work on a powder day, as your hips … Continue reading →

Recent Posts

Perfect your squat

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If squats are part of your regular workout, you’re building strength that carries over into everyday life. The squat is one of the most effective strength exercises because it develops the muscles you rely on every day. Strong legs aren’t just for the gym—they help you enjoy longer hikes, stronger rides, steadier footing on the trail and the active lifestyle that defines our community.

Better yet, stronger gluteal muscles can help reduce the risk of knee injuries and lessen stress on the hips over time. But there’s one catch—you have to perform the movement correctly. Some of the most common squat mistakes include leaning too far forward, rounding or over-arching the lower back, or shifting weight from one hip to the other. One simple concept can correct many of these problems: learning the hip hinge.

A hip hinge means bending from the hips while keeping your spine in a neutral position. Picture yourself closing a car door with your backside. Your hips move backward, your chest inclines forward, and your back stays straight. The motion comes from the hips—not the back.

Why does this matter? A proper hip hinge shifts the workload to the glutes and hamstrings, the powerful muscles along the back of your hips and thighs, while reducing unnecessary strain on the lower back. Research has shown that maintaining a neutral spine while loading the glutes and hamstrings creates a mechanical advantage, allowing these muscles to produce more force safely and efficiently.

Your gluteal muscles do much more than power your workouts. They help stabilize your pelvis, improve balance and generate the force needed for walking, climbing stairs, hiking uneven trails or getting up from a chair. Think of using your glutes and legs, rather than your back, next time you pick something up. Healthy glutes support better movement mechanics throughout daily life.

Regular squats strengthen both the glutes and hamstrings, helping maintain healthy pelvic alignment. Working together with your abdominal muscles, they provide the stability your body needs for efficient, pain-free movement.

The next time you squat, don’t just think about going lower. Think about sending your hips back first. Master the hip hinge, and you’ll build a stronger squat, a healthier back and a body that’s better prepared for whatever your day brings.

The hip hinge allowing glutes to touch chair or wall.

Hip hinge prep: Dowel lightly touching back of head, thoracic spine and tailbone.

Hip hinge with dowel

Rounded spine: the low back’s facets, discs and ligaments are compromised.

Published in The Idaho Mountain Express August 7, 2026.

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