Where are you from? What do you do? How did you find Peloton?
Shortly after moving to San Diego, I saw an ad for Peloton on my Facebook news feed. I had done spinning years ago and I enjoyed it immensely. However, in the past, I found it very frustrating having to battle traffic to get to the gym, having to leave early enough to make sure I was able to get into the class with my favorite instructor, and then trying to get a bike that was in the best position to hear the instructor. I decided to check out the Peloton store in Santa Monica and immediately knew Peloton was the right choice for me! I did my first ride on 04/26/17 and it was hands down one of the best decisions I have made!
When I became part of the Peloton community, I tried to carefully choose my leaderboard name and I chose #SanDiegoGirl for many reasons. My husband and I came to San Diego in March 2016 to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We both fell in love with the area and longed to live close to the beach as we have both lived close to a beach in the past. When we returned home, we were both bordering on being depressed as we both longed for the lifestyle in San Diego. After six months of looking for jobs in that area, I had found one that seemed to be the perfect fit. I got the job, my husband got the job he applied for, our house sold quickly, and we both started our jobs on the same day! For me, #SanDiegoGirl represents a dream I didn't think I would be able to achieve.
How would you describe how you feel after class?
I feel a great sense of accomplishment. I have a set routine I do during the week; I do the 5:00 AM PT class on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and I also do a class on Saturday and Sunday. I am finding that I have to force myself to not do a class on Monday and Friday to give my body a rest. I have found that doing a class in the morning before work is essential for me. It gives me energy, it sets a positive tone for my entire day, it helps me think clearer, and it relieves stress. I see a difference in my mindset on the days I ride my Peloton versus the two days I don't ride.
When you get on your bike, what makes you want to "give it all" during class?
When I think of Peloton, I think of so many positive things. I think Peloton has surpassed all other companies and made something that has been unattainable, attainable when it comes to home fitness. Peloton and the community it has created exudes positivity and it pushes me to be the best I can be. I am a firm believer that positivity breeds positivity and I choose to only feed the positivity!
I am also a competitive person by nature. Before each ride, I make a conscious decision to completely dedicate myself to the ride and to leave everything on the bike. Peloton is my therapy and it is my favorite tool to use for stress management. I find the leaderboard helpful for me to make sure I am doing my best and use it to track how I am doing against my own PR.
I have found when you are in a set routine with others, you notice who is regularly on the ride. I have used this to also have a friendly competition with others. Approximately two months ago, a pivotal thing happened that has enriched my Peloton journey. Someone reached out to me on Facebook Messenger and thanked me for pushing them on a ride. Little did they know at the time, I was truly inspired by how much they were pushing me! I was deeply touched by this person's message and I realized we were about the same pace with our riding style. I have formed a good friendship with this person and we have pushed each other on rides and cheered each other on our milestones. I have no doubt I will be meeting this person in the future!
How has Peloton changed your lifestyle?
Peloton has changed every facet of my life. I view Peloton as a forward thinking company and I love the fact I can be a part of something bigger than myself. I feel Peloton is constantly finding ways to push me as a rider and to keep things challenging and interesting. Whether it is being part of a fundraiser ride for communities in need that have been stricken by natural disasters or the Turkey Burn Ride when we set a Guinness World Records title! Since I have been part of Peloton, I feel like I am changing how my body and mind interact with the environment. I have immersed myself with other individuals in the Peloton community who are living in the fashion that I want to live. I had no idea when I bought the bike, I would be immersed in a culture of positivity, supportiveness, and connectedness. Peloton has also changed the way I view food and it has made me enjoy it as more of a fuel to nourish my body.
In my personal life, I am setting more of a positive example for my husband and stepson with exercise and making healthier food choices and I have more of a positive outlook with the choices I am making for myself. I want to share Peloton with everyone I know. I even got a personalized license plate that states, "PELOTN1" to promote my love for the company, the culture, and so others may ask what Peloton means and in hopes I can try to inspire them.
I am the narrator and author of my story. I have blank pages and I can control what I write, what I let influence my story, and what I do not allow to be part of it. We all face challenges or "plot twists" in life. What is different is how we navigate and how we write the next chapter. I have learned how powerful positive inner self-talk is!
Has Peloton helped you through any challenges in your life?
I chose to get a Peloton as a solution to some problems I was facing in life. I have been up and down with my weight since my 20's. I was at a fairly low weight in 2015 and I have subsequently regained a good amount of weight I had lost. I was unhappy with my work life, was not making the best food choices, and I lost the motivation to exercise. This negativity began impacting my life, my self-esteem plummeted, and I didn't even recognize the person in the mirror anymore. I felt I was losing who I was. I knew I wanted to get back to where I felt good internally. I did some deep self-reflection and I knew that when I feel good internally, my outward appearance would shift to reflect that. I am a firm believer that our motions create our emotion and how we feel. As I thought about some things I loved in the past, I knew I had a passion for cycling and I was able to really throw myself into that to make changes.
Is there something you couldn’t do before Peloton that you can now tackle?
I feel empowered now! As a result, everyday life is easier since I've been riding. I don't feel nearly as overwhelmed with the day-to-day tasks of life. I am able to walk easier, handle more stress, and multi-task easier.
How is Peloton different than any other workout?
Peloton is different for so many reasons. For instance, to be able to choose from many instructors, to choose a class type such as; Tabata, climb, metrics, etc., and to choose whether the class is on demand or live are all unique to Peloton. Furthermore, there are such a wide variety of instructors and teaching styles that seem to be able to accommodate the wide variety of preferences for the individuals in the Peloton community. Sure I have my favorite instructors and I am a member of several tribes and groups. However, I am so thankful we are able to choose from such a seasoned, professional, and passionate group of people that I can look up to. The instructors, as well as the community, are truly inspiring.
The work out itself is unique and created for all fitness levels, the interaction with others on the live leaderboard and through social media, and the culture that has been created, all contribute to making Peloton a completely unique experience. I have formed friendships with people I have not physically met yet and I feel a deep connection with them. Of course, our friendship starts from the commonality of the bike but it goes beyond that as well. There are so many talented and driven individuals within this community!
If you could describe your Peloton experience in 3 words, what would they be and why?
Unexpected - When I started on my Peloton journey, I did not expect the caliber of instructors, how much the instructors are able to motivate and push me, the variety of classes, the friendships I have formed, the ability of other members to push me, inspire me, and drive me, and the person I have become. I did not expect Peloton to be a life-changing experience. I truly feel like I am a better person for being part of this community.
Empowering - My Peloton journey has pushed me both physically and mentally. Peloton has helped shape my perspective and I view life events and potential stressors in a different manner. As a result, I feel like I have more power and control over my life.
Community - Peloton has created a wonderful community, sense of connectedness, and a positive culture. Being involved in the Peloton community, I know I am amongst other people that have the same passion as me and I am talking with people I would have never met otherwise.