There’s Always Time for Fitness

As the longtime Fitness Director of The Hill at Whitemarsh, Andrew Siebert is always looking for new ways to help residents of The Hill break out of their comfort zone when it comes to their
exercise routine.

“I strive to reduce barriers to exercise,” said Andrew. “Which often means encouraging people to try new activities and workouts while also limiting the intimidation-factor.”

Over the years, some of these new activities have included a virtual golf experience, aqua bike classes in the outdoor pool, and indoor pickleball. For 2025, Andrew and his team have introduced an Express Group Fitness Experience for those who want to keep their workouts short and sweet, but highly effective.

“We can accommodate up to 12 participants exercising simultaneously as part of this program,” said Andrew. “The group alternates between short bursts of cardio workouts and strength training exercises on machinery, with built-in rest periods in between sprints.”

Andrew has found that people are more likely to test out new machines and equipment if they’re in a group setting.

“It helps them become more comfortable on the machines, and we have a lot of laughs together along the way,” he said. “And as they learn to get more comfortable, they also become more confident and willing to add new things to their exercise routine.”

Andrew has observed that mainstream portrayals of fitness often amplify feelings of intimidation that people feel in the gym. New equipment and weight machines can appear intense to those who aren’t yet familiar with how to use them, and as a result, the concept of adding them to your exercise routine falls out of bounds for what is realistic for many exercisers.

But Andrew and his team are on a mission to dissolve any of those misconceptions through their fitness program.

“Fitness has been an integral component of life here at The Hill since its inception,” said Andrew. “We are constantly figuring out how to improve the experience for residents, including removing high-tech experiences that might be trendy, but aren’t as user-friendly.”

In order to provide residents with the right fitness experience, Andrew has prioritized continued education and certifications for the fitness staff to remain at the forefront of senior fitness, and always employ best practices.

“Over the years, we have literally knocked down walls in the gym in order to expand the space and bring more opportunities for wellness to our residents. It’s my job to continue to knock down any metaphorical walls that still stand in the way of someone falling in love with their fitness routine here.”

– Andrew Siebert