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

Connie Aronson 

I have been coaching and helping people improve their fitness for over three decades. My passion is to help you become stronger for activities you love, and to guide you towards your specific goals. If you have recurring muscle and joint pain, I can help you identify musculoskeletal imbalances that are either causing or contributing to your pain, so you can enjoy life to the fullest.

I work with top-level athletes in the sports-oriented town of Sun Valley, and regular amazing folks. I also know from experience the challenges we face when rebounding from injuries, surgeries or chronic conditions.

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. ( If 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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Daily habits can be powerful. Routine anchors us and builds resilience and health. Adding a routine or mini-structure to your day so that fewer decisions need to be made is one way to succeed. When it comes to your health, … Continue reading →

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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Good habits contribute to optimum health. When it comes to your health, preventing injuries in any sport or activity you enjoy is crucial. No one likes being injured. With a New Year fast approaching, here are five injury-preventing moves to … Continue reading →

Add single -leg squats to your training

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Early fall, ski-teamers are working on quad strength for their upcoming competitive season. You should be, too, if you are planning to ski this winter. Even if you’re not doing any type of physical activity, you should at least train … Continue reading →

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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We need sleep and it’s best in moderation, like most things in life. According to studies recently published in the journal Brain, there is a middle range to keep the brain sharp over time, and most adults need at least … Continue reading →

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

Ski Strong This Season: Don’t Let the Holidays Slow You Down

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During the holidays, the priority should be to maintance training.

For alpine and nordic skiers, the holiday season arrives just as winter routines are taking shape—when consistency begins to matter more than ambition. With travel, packed schedules, and parties, structured training is often the first thing to disappear. It’s tempting to pause workouts and rely on skiing alone. Sports science suggests that approach comes at a cost.

Consistency, even at reduced volume, is one of the strongest predictors of in-season performance. Strength, power, and aerobic capacity begin to decline sooner than many athletes expect. Research shows minor dips in neuromuscular performance can occur within two weeks of reduced training. For alpine skiers, this can mean decreased force production, earlier fatigue, and increased injury risk. For nordic skiers, reductions in strength and aerobic efficiency can compromise technique and late-race performance. The solution isn’t training harder—it’s not skipping your routine.

During the holidays, the priority should be maintenance training. Studies consistently show that maintaining intensity while reducing volume—often to 30–40 percent of normal load—is sufficient to preserve strength and power. Two short strength sessions per week, focused on the lower body, trunk, and upper-body pulling, can support both disciplines. These sessions don’t need to be long or elaborate; they just need to happen.

Skiing provides an important sport-specific stimulus, but it doesn’t fully replace structured training. Alpine skiing places repeated eccentric stress on the quadriceps, which builds endurance but doesn’t fully preserve maximal strength.  Nordic skiing, while highly aerobic, often lacks the strength stimulus needed to preserve upper-body power and hip stability. Skipping off-snow training can leave athletes feeling strong early in the season but struggling as fatigue accumulates.

Consistency also supports movement quality. Staying  strong improves coordination, balance, and force transfer—key elements for edge control in alpine skiing and technique durability in nordic skiing. These qualities fade quickly when training becomes sporadic.

Recovery also matters. Active recovery exercises, like stretching, foam rolling, and easy spinning  help you recover with less soreness. Sleep and fueling play a role as well; poor sleep and under-fueling increase perceived effort and make workouts easier to skip. Regular meals, adequate carbohydrates, and hydration—especially in cold environments—support energy and training quality.

The holiday season is also a time for gratitude. Being able to train and ski through winter reflects robust bodies worth taking care of. You don’t need long workouts—just consistency. Aim for two short strength sessions each week. Keep intensity up and volume manageable. Fuel regularly, hydrate, and protect your sleep when you can. Do the basics well. Small, steady efforts now preserve performance and help you move through the rest of the season feeling strong and resilient on snow.

Connie Aronson is an Exercise Physiologist and Corrective Exercise Specialist ( TMMB-CES ) Visit her at the Y, www.conniearonson.com , and Instagram @Josie_the golden 

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