Fitness, Joy, and Everything in Between: Wellness at Coterie

Walk into a group fitness class at Coterie Hudson Yards or Coterie Cathedral Hill, and you’ll find a room teeming with laughter, connection, and camaraderie.

Coterie takes a personalized approach to senior wellness, working with experienced instructors who build their classes around each residents’ goals and abilities. Whether that means building strength, improving balance, or simply finding more moments of joy in the day, the focus is always on helping residents feel more confident and capable.

Two standout instructors—Robyn Tirendi of Elevation Health and independent dance instructor Rory Davis—exemplify Coterie’s philosophy toward senior wellness, bringing their own distinctive styles to Coterie Hudson Yards and Coterie Cathedral Hill.

Strength and Confidence: Robyn Tirendi at Coterie Hudson Yards

With more than two decades working with older adults, Robyn Tirendi approaches fitness with precision and empathy. Every resident begins with a comprehensive assessment evaluating strength, balance, and medical history before Robyn designs their personalized fitness plan.

“I think it’s important to understand that each resident comes in with different goals and different levels of ability,” she says. “I meet them where they are and then try to challenge them a little in a way that still feels safe. And step by step, we work on making progress based on their goals and other factors, like what their doctor recommends or what the average fitness level should be for their age group.”

Residents’ goals range from safely getting up from the floor, improving posture, or building the strength to stand comfortably for a granddaughter’s wedding ceremony. Progress is tracked, measured, and celebrated, and Robyn takes care to keep them informed on how they’re progressing.

“They often start out feeling like they can’t do a lot of the things that I’m showing them,” she says. “And when they realize they can, it’s so empowering. The smile that I see on their faces when they’re able to do something that they didn’t think they could do is just amazing, and it makes them want to come back and do it again the next day or the next week.”

Robyn’s group classes—including seated yoga, Pilates, balance and posture exercises, and strength and cardio workouts—are structured to accommodate every level of ability. In a single class, residents using walkers may exercise alongside those performing advanced balance work, all guided by Robyn’s advice and encouragement.

“Robyn manages to work with so many varying levels of fitness and abilities,” says resident Martina. “She makes everyone feel happy they have participated.”

Equally important are the social bonds that form in these classes. Residents arrive together, often after breakfast, forming routines that become anchors in their daily lives.

Joy in Motion: Rory Davis at Coterie Cathedral Hill

At Coterie Cathedral Hill, residents come together several times a week to take part in “Roryography,” a popular chair dance class taught by Rory Davis. Rory specializes in teaching dance classes that require no prior training, and his approach is intentionally inclusive: no experience necessary, no pressure, and no judgment.

“I always emphasize that there’s zero pressure on anyone to be a ‘good’ dancer,” Rory says. “No one’s here to audition for anything, no one’s paying money to watch us dance. So we can all just relax and have fun together.”

Rory’s dance courses blend movement, music, and humor into a shared experience that feels more like a party than an exercise class. Residents stretch, kick, and sway to a mix of tunes ranging from disco classics to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” and requests from residents.

“At first, I said, ‘Chair aerobics – are you kidding me?’” resident Tana says. “But you really do feel like you’ve exercised when you leave. I just feel so upbeat and happy after his classes.”

Beyond the physical benefits, Rory’s classes foster something equally vital: connection. Residents form friendships, gather early to secure their spots, and even bring family members to join in the fun. The classes inspire what Rory calls “joyous camaraderie.”

“I think just being around good energy and laughter can be as healing as anything else,” Rory says. “So even on days when a resident might not feel up to their usual workout, I encourage them to just come down and be in the room with us. Just come and watch me be a goof. I’m happy with that.”

A Holistic Vision of Wellness

Coterie believes that there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all senior wellness plan. What Robyn and Rory have in common is their shared commitment to providing residents with holistic wellness plans tailored to their own goals and abilities. Together with Coterie, they help provide residents with innovative workout experiences, social connection – and a lot of fun.