Your Team
-
Thor Knutson
ACE Certified Personal Trainer
-
Amanda Wagner
President/CEO | Health Coach | Personal Trainer | Group Class Instructor
NASM
StrongFirst SFG1 -
Karla Salas
Front Desk Staff | Personal Trainer | Performance Coach
-
Emily White
Personal Trainer | Group Instructor | Performance Coach
- National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), CPT
- Hatha Yoga Instructor, 200 hour
- Functional Movement Systems (FMS), Levels 1 & 2 Certification
-
Kate Lokken
Performance Center Co-Director & Coach
ISSA Certified Personal Trainer
FMS Level 1
StrongFirst SFG1 -
Carly Kramer
Personal Trainer | BirthFit Coach | Prenatal Training & Postpartum Recovery
-
Lauren Hinson
NASM CPT | CES
-
Connie Rice
Group Fitness Instructor | Personal Trainer
-
Jennifer Mendez
Lead Personal Fitness Trainer | Performance Center Co-Director
- Personal Trainer/Instructor
- CHEK BioMechanics Certified
- TPI Certified – Level 2 Golf Fitness Professional
- Functional Movement Screen Certified
- NASM – Sports Fitness Specialist
- NSCA-CSCS Certified
- Golf BioMechanics (at the renowned CHEK Institute)
- TPI Golf Fitness Professional – Level 1 & 2 (Titleist Performance Institute)
- Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
- National Academy Sports Medicine (NASM) – CPT & Sports Fitness Specialist
- Integrated Flexibility Training (through NASM)
- Scientific Back & Scientific Core (CHEK Institute)
- Advanced Metabolic Typing Advisor (finding yours and what foods work best for you)
- Nutrition Lifestyle Coach (CHEK Institute)
-
Amy Honey
Personal Trainer/Group Fitness Instructor & Merchandiser
-
Justin Gross
Personal Trainer | Performance Coach |NASM | Training for Warriors (TFW) level 1
Thor Knutson
ACE Certified Personal Trainer
I have been a fitness instructor and personal trainer for five years now, dating back to my days in college at the University of Minnesota. I was first ignited with a passion for movement and the body after an injury in high school, in which I ended up working with athletic trainers and physical therapists to get me back into sport. Since then, I have shadowed athletic trainers, aided physical therapists, studied kinesiology in college, and worked as a personal trainer and fitness instructor.
I moved to the Roaring Fork Valley in 2017 and haven’t looked back. The Valley is both very active and very outdoorsy, which are two things I enjoy the most about living here. Being able to combine the fitness world with an outdoor community i truly a dream come true. When I’m not at the gym, you can find me instructing on the ski hill, mountain biking up and down trails, hiking a 14er, or even going on a backpacking trip in the mountains.
I have trained with the Aspen Club, the Aspen Recreation Center, and the Snowmass Recreation Center before coming to TAC Fitness. With these experiences, I hope to expand your knowledge on movement and training. I am looking forward to continuing my fitness journey here and helping you continue yours!
Amanda Wagner
President/CEO | Health Coach | Personal Trainer | Group Class Instructor
NASM
StrongFirst SFG1
Born and raised in Glenwood Springs. Loves everything outdoors – mountain biking, hunting, camping, hiking…literally everything!
Amanda is Colorado Mountain Girl through and through. Born and raised in Glenwood Springs and a graduate from the University of Colorado with degrees in Psychology and Communication.
She learned quickly out of college that she can’t do what she loves if she did not spend time consistently focusing on her personal health and wellness. So after 10 years in the hospitality industry, she quit her job, got her Personal Training and Health Coaching Certifications and helped start TAC. That was 7 years ago. Today, Amanda is still committed to inspiring, cultivating and celebrating health and vitality throughout Colorado. Her aim with TAC is to assist individuals and organizations in total health and encourage awareness of health related issues to empower individuals to lead a healthier and fuller life.
Her life motto is: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. EXPLORE. DREAM. DISCOVER.”
Favorite Quote: “Chance favors the prepared mind.”
Karla Salas
Front Desk Staff | Personal Trainer | Performance Coach
I grew up in the valley and graduated from Aspen high School in 2012. I spent four years in Oregon at Pacific University where I received my BA in Business Management. I grew up playing sports but fell in love with lacrosse and ended up playing two years in college. In my last year of college, I tragically lost a family member which brought me back to live in the valley. That’s where my true health and fitness journey began.
I avoided the grief I was experiencing and abused my relationship with food. My emotional and physical health suffered because of it. Before I even knew it I had gained all this weight and lost all and any motivation to do to the activities that I loved. After spending almost a year and half letting self pity take over I finally found the strength to overcome my embarrassment and join a gym.
After spending 3 years at TAC not only was I 40+ pounds down but I was creating a normal routine, a healthy relationship with food, and found a positive headspace again. Once I began working for TAC I knew that I wanted to inspire other people in their life no matter what they might be experiencing. General fitness has become my new passion, because it’s brought new challenges and milestones in my life that I never thought I’d see myself achieving. Getting to where I am today got me to pursue my personal training certification as I want to be that person to push you one second longer when just when you think you can’t do it anymore.
When I am not at the front desk or coaching a Performance Center class, you’ll now find me all in black discovering new trails to hike or run.
Emily White
Personal Trainer | Group Instructor | Performance Coach
Accreditations:
I love helping athletes of all ages move better. In my younger years, I played many sports and felt most alive when I was challenging my body to perform. I ran to stay in shape for other sports and then found myself dropping into a space of joy and ease as I attuned to my breath and connected to my own rhythm. This led to a desire to challenge my body more and more as I prepared for my first marathon. Since then, I’ve loved training for athletic pursuits and allowing myself to relax into my true strength.
Along the way, I had to work through injuries from compensation patterns I had developed overtime. I half-heartedly did my PT exercises and I thought my young and resilient body would heal itself. It didn’t. Back in Vermont, I had the good fortune to work with an adept fitness trainer that helped me become strong, nimble and fit, which fueled my desire to do the work.
I landed in Colorado in 2011 and became part of the the team at Independence Run & Hike in Carbondale. This was a perfect transition from my previous job managing a run center in Vermont, where I had developed a keen eye for analyzing and detecting imbalances in runners gait patterns. This work lead me to immerse myself in 5 Gems Yoga Teacher Training, which opened the door for me to cultivate a more intimate relationship with my body as well as a refined method for strengthening my body from the inside out. Soon after, I joined S.P.O.R.T. PT in Carbondale as a PT Aide and spent the next four years learning how to help folks rehab from injury and surgery. I became a N.A.S.M. personal trainer in 2016 and have been helping folks get back to doing the activities they love ever since.
My goal is to help you feel better in your body and teach you why, how and what you need to engage or lengthen to move with less effort and more ease. My approach is collaborative, exploratory and thoughtful. It is important to me that you are using proper postural alignment when you load any pattern. I am dedicated to helping you coordinate your movements through life, in a healthy and sustainable way.
Kate Lokken
Performance Center Co-Director & Coach
ISSA Certified Personal Trainer
FMS Level 1
StrongFirst SFG1
Originally from Iowa, I moved to the Roaring Fork Valley 12 years ago. A collegiate athlete in both volleyball and basketball, I have been active my whole life, with a passion for fitness, sport, and nutrition since a young age. I worked with the Aspen Club for several years, developing and executing programs focused around whole health, including the Younger Next Year Total Immersion retreats, a lifestyle change program on how to move better, feel better, and connect into your 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. I have been fortunate to work under and with some of the best physical therapists, trainers, instructors, and professionals in the industry.
My training philosophy is to improve performance in everyone, no matter the fitness level. Mobility, stability, and proper movement patterns allow individuals to do what they love at all ages. To achieve longevity in health and fitness, it’s critical to emphasize safe and effective foundation training and programming that will enhance the lives of any client. Increases in strength and endurance in the gym transfer into our everyday activities. I work with a variety of individuals, including young athletes, those who strive to manage weight, and those who simply want to feel better by training in the right way to manage or eliminate pain. I believe that by addressing all components of our health (mental, emotional, physical), it gives us the best chance at attaining goals and creating sustainable, lasting change, with exercise being the catalyst.
In addition to being Co-Director of the Performance Center, I serve as the Director of Development for TAC and as a board member of TACcess to Health, a non-profit providing assistance to our community by empowering access to health and wellness, resources and education.
In my free time, you’ll often find me on the volleyball or basketball court, trying out a new sport or activity, or paddle boarding in the summer on the water. I love spending time with my family, my friends, and my dog and taking advantage of the many things this community has to offer.
Carly Kramer
Personal Trainer | BirthFit Coach | Prenatal Training & Postpartum Recovery
Carly Kraemer
NASM-CPT, BIRTHFIT Coach
Having always been interested in fitness and nutrition, I am enthusiastic about constantly learning and expanding my knowledge of whole body health. Passionate about empowering individuals through intentional movement, a positive growth mindset, ongoing education and cultivating a deeper connection to their body, I am thrilled to be working with clients at TAC, where the approach to wellness encompasses all aspects of health.
I love experiencing the different ways in which my body can move and experiencing the result of consistent training and discipline. I also fully embrace the concept that life consists of different seasons in which our abilities and goals change and evolve- whether that be year-to-year or day-to-day. A successful and sustainable training program honors that ebb and flow to maximize benefit for the individual in the long term.
As a BIRTHFIT Coach, I am especially passionate about helping women during the parenthood transition by providing prenatal training and postpartum recovery in a supportive, safe, and encouraging environment.
One of the aspects of training I find most rewarding is seeing a client progress towards their goals, realize their potential, and become more at home in their body.
Lauren Hinson
NASM CPT | CES
Lauren Hinson Personal Trainer NASM CPT, CES
Originally from North Carolina, I moved to Glenwood Springs in 2010 with my husband, and we completely fell in love with the Colorado lifestyle. I developed a passion for hiking that led me to a greater appreciation for my body’s capabilities. I had been out of shape for so long, it felt great to be stronger. I was able to hike longer distances, steeper mountains, and I began challenging myself with a couple of the 14’ers and the magnificent Mount Sopris.
I grew up playing sports like softball, tennis, and swimming, but in college I really started to feel out of control around food and exercise. As a long time yo-yo dieter, and someone who has had weight loss on the brain since age 12, I’ve lost and gained the equivalent of several people over the years. I have lost 50lbs two separate times, with 2 years of self-loathing in between. In 2014 I decided to stop giving up on myself and change my focus from weight loss, to making exercise a part of my life to feel great. I stopped using exercise as a weapon to punish myself and started to enjoy movement. I used my hikes for mental health instead of fat burn. I became so passionate about the power of exercise that I made it my career. In 2017 I became a Certified Personal Trainer through NASM, and 2 years later I got a specialization in Corrective Exercise through NASM as well. My biggest passion is group fitness, because I love the energy and community. I am a certified Les Mills Bodypump and Grit instructor, and I love challenging people to be their best. My goal as a trainer is to help people feel stronger, move better, and believe in themselves.
Connie Rice
Group Fitness Instructor | Personal Trainer
Unlike many trainers, I did not grow up participating in sports and had no experience whatsoever in an active lifestyle—until I moved to Aspen in my early 20s. The lifestyle of the Roaring Fork Valley prompted me to join in and become active myself. This led me to sharing what I learned with others. The desire to help people achieve a healthy lifestyle and meet their fitness goals motivated me to obtain my personal trainer certification. In addition, I have worked in the sports medicine field for many years. This has given me a unique perspective and knowledge which I integrate into my personal training.
As your personal trainer I will assess where you are currently, set goals with you, create a program/plan for you, and coach and motivate you to stick with it so those goals can be achieved. Consistency over time is the cornerstone that I emphasize, and the nutritional component is not overlooked. Although hard work, I think most workouts should be fun and empowering.
I am a certified American Council on Exercise personal trainer, a certified TRX instructor, and am trained to teach SpinPower indoor cycling. Other skills include small group and one-on-one training—from teens to seniors. I love learning and keeping current about health and fitness and currently am working towards a certificate as an Orthopedic Exercise Specialist.
My hobbies include running, hiking, skiing and biking, spending time with my husband and also giving back to our community.
Jennifer Mendez
Lead Personal Fitness Trainer | Performance Center Co-Director
Accreditations:
I use a wide variety of fitness tools to bring out the Best in You. My workouts are fun and challenging and will push you in a direction based on your specific goals and needs.
When I left the accounting field in 1998 to pursue my interest in fitness, it immediately became a passion. I have extensive training and certifications which all complement my belief that anyone can have improved posture, flexibility & strength at any age. I specialize in the biomechanics of the body to help each client excel in their sport including golf, tennis, running, skiing, endurance training as well as general fitness. I have a talent for helping my clients overcome back pain and balance issues as well as improving posture, fitness endurance and injury prevention.
I also believe that the body is a system of systems that all work together and feed off each other. I want to help you to discover more about how your body moves and how you can train to feel better, become more energized and stay moving pain free for the many years to come!
Jen has over 30 certifications in the fitness/health field including:
I am a Dallas native and graduated from University of North Texas with an Accounting degree. I have been doing various races since 1992 — road & trail runs, adventure races, triathlons, marathons, ultra-marathons, winter up-hill races, etc. I also enjoy golfing, biking, hiking and eating! I moved to the valley in 2009 and absolutely love the energy and activity of the Roaring Fork Valley.
Amy Honey
Personal Trainer/Group Fitness Instructor & Merchandiser
I have been in the fitness world as a personal trainer and group exercise instructor for almost 20 years. What started as a ‘day job’ during my starving actor days in Los Angeles has now become a true passion. I believe that fitness and health are two of the greatest gifts, and I find great satisfaction in helping people find the workouts that work for them. I want clients to get results and to enjoy the process, discovering classes and activities that energize them and bring gains in cardio fitness, strength, stability and flexibility.
As a somewhat recent transplant to the Roaring Fork Valley, I am thrilled to be in an area that embraces such a healthy lifestyle and so many athletic endeavors. I am excited to be in a position to help gym-goers get stronger and better able to do the things they love outdoors.
I am an ACE certified personal trainer, certified Barre Intensity instructor, spin instructor, and also bring many years of dance and yoga experience to my work in the gym. As a mother of three I also have lots of experience with pre- and post- natal fitness and getting back into shape after taking long breaks!
