By Kathryn Peck
During my earlier pregnancies, I did prenatal yoga at a neighborhood studio. In between pregnancies, I’d pop in my ear buds and go for a run while my husband watched the kids. We lived in the city, and I loved running through the parks and along the waterfront, which offered some of the best city views from across the harbor.
But then we moved to a more rural area where yoga studios and stunning panoramic city views were hard to come by, and my husband suggested we get a Peloton bike for exercise. For those who don’t know, a Peloton bike is an exercise bike with a digital touch screen that connects to Wi-Fi and essentially brings a spin cycle studio right into your home. I immediately thought, that’s not going to work. I never even enjoyed spin classes when I took them before, why would I do them now?
I immediately thought, that’s not going to work. I never even enjoyed spin classes when I took them before, why would I do them now?
It isn’t cheap, but I had no better ideas for exercising, so we ordered one. It arrived soon after, and my husband was immediately hooked. For newbies like me, I was thrilled to learn that Peloton sends a team to deliver, install, and teach you how to use the bike. They even get you set up with cycling shoes, which I’d never worn before.
Early on, I would raise an eyebrow when my husband would disappear for an hour on the spin bike and I would reluctantly do a class every now and then. They were short classes to start with, but this all began to change.
I stumbled on music and instructors that I liked, and perhaps it was due in part to the nationwide lockdown from the COVID-19 pandemic or my newness at being a mom of 4, but I also began to appreciate the encouragement and optimism of the instructors. "Remind yourself what you're working towards, why you're here in the first place, and that reason has to be worth more than the discomfort of a heavy climb," instructor Emma Lovewell said, as if directly to me.
I slowly and steadily increased my time spent on the bike, and I began to explore the other classes offered. A routine that was once a short 20-minute spin class is now a 30- or 45-minute spin plus a cool down ride followed by a short yoga class or core strength class. Now, I look forward to my next opportunity for a class.
I stumbled on music and instructors that I liked ... but I also began to appreciate the encouragement and optimism of the instructors.
Peloton offers live classes as well as on-demand classes, both of which present just enough friendly competition to push you to do your best or beat your personal record (which, my husband and I now brag to each other about if we do).
I’m clearly not alone in my enthusiasm over the Peloton bike and its offerings (the Official Peloton Mom Group has over 75K members). But ironically, for this Peloton mom, time spent on the bike gives me time away from being a mom. It’s a chance to refocus and recharge, and it makes me a better mom when I step off the bike and return to motherhood.
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About the author: Kathryn is the owner of Bicycle Pie and mom of 4 little ones. Also a writer, editor, and former owner of one of Boston's premiere baby boutiques, she continues to write about motherhood, children's products, family life, and all other things that test our skills and patience as parents.
Photo credit: Peloton
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