Her Story
About Heidi
Heidi Gillis is a health, wellness, and fitness professional specializing in active aging, older adult fitness, and senior wellness. After spending 21 years in television administration, she earned a degree in supervisory management before pursuing a career in healthcare and fitness. She became a certified personal fitness trainer in 2011 and later completed her Physical Therapist Assistant degree, beginning her career as a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant in 2017. This combination of administrative leadership, rehabilitation experience, and fitness expertise has shaped her holistic approach to helping individuals improve their health and quality of life.
Today, Gillis works as a full-time contracted fitness professional, delivering both virtual and in-person classes designed to help clients maintain mobility, strength, balance, and independence as they age. Her areas of expertise include Tai Chi, Qigong, arthritis fitness, fall prevention, senior fitness, and lifestyle coaching. She holds certifications as a Senior Fitness Specialist and Arthritis Fitness Specialist through MedFit, along with multiple Tai Chi and Qigong credentials, SilverSneakers certifications, and additional training in wellness and active aging. Her work focuses on meeting clients where they are and creating practical, sustainable approaches to movement and healthy living.
Gillis attributes her professional success to her ability to listen carefully to clients and tailor her approach to their individual needs, abilities, and lifestyles. She believes that effective wellness coaching requires genuine connection, openness, and a willingness to understand the whole person. Her professional values are grounded in genuineness, transparency, and the importance of socialization as a vital component of overall well-being. As a member of organizations including the American Physical Therapy Association, MedFit Network, American Tai Chi Qigong Association, and Tai Chi for Health Institute, Gillis remains committed to advancing accessible, inclusive, and evidence-informed approaches to lifelong health and active aging.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Heidi
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my ability to listen carefully and understand what people truly need, then tailor my approach to accommodate their individual lifestyles and circumstances. By prioritizing empathy, open communication, and a personalized approach, I am able to build trust and deliver solutions that are both meaningful and effective.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received came from NFL player Donald Driver: always keep in touch with your contacts. That advice has stayed with me because building and maintaining meaningful professional relationships can create opportunities, strengthen collaboration, and provide lasting support throughout your career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to remain consistent and passionate about their work while taking a holistic approach to both their careers and the people they serve. Listen carefully to clients and patients, seek to understand their individual needs, and focus on creating solutions that support the whole person. Consistency, empathy, and genuine passion can build trust, foster long-term success, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is ensuring that patients with limited mobility have access to the care and preventive services they need. Navigating Medicare coverage for preventive measures can also create barriers, particularly when patients require additional support or services to maintain their health and quality of life. At the same time, these challenges present opportunities to advocate for more accessible, patient-centered care, improve education around available resources, and develop solutions that better address the diverse needs of the populations we serve.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are genuineness, openness, and meaningful social connection. I believe in being authentic and transparent in my interactions while recognizing the importance of building relationships and engaging with others. These values help me foster trust, communicate effectively, and create meaningful connections with the people around me.
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