I do not consider myself a very woo-woo person, someone who’s in touch with their spirituality, or even someone particularly sentimental. The concept of meditating, like so many other things I regard “too mystical,” has never appealed to me, but I’ll tell you what does: Working out, being physically healthy, and staying on top of my goals. That’s why Peloton’s approach to meditation sessions lured me in more than others have before.
I’m always browsing the Peloton app for new workout options and recently stumbled across the guided meditation classes it offers alongside cycling, walking, yoga, strength training, and more. At first, I didn’t see the appeal. I use the app and its classes to get sweaty, burn calories, and enhance my body’s performance, after all. But as it turns out, these are really cool and can put you in a better mental space, which clears the way for you to do all that other stuff. Since discovering them, I’ve been streaming them quite a bit. Here’s why you should, too.
What are Peloton’s meditation classes all about?
Using Peloton’s app—which is included on the touchscreens of its at-home workout equipment, can be downloaded to your phone, or even streamed on devices like a Roku—you can access a variety of class types that far exceed what you’d expect from a company known primarily for at-home spin classes. Tap Meditation from the home screen and you’ll be shown hundreds of meditation options that range in length from five minutes to 30. As with any Peloton offering, they’re led by a number of different instructors; if you take enough of them, you’ll find a favorite or two, but what really stands out is that there are different categories available, such as:
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sleep
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mindfulness
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anxiety
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focus
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recovery
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gratitude
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happiness
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relaxing
Each class is designed for a specific purpose, so you can choose if you want to “flow and let go,” embrace a bright morning, or even take one designed for use on your evening commute. You can filter by class type, which lets you break down the classes by categories like “Daily Meditation,” “Meditation Basics,” “Emotions,” “Theme,” or “Walking Meditation.” There are even some for pre- and post-natal meditation. I’ve found the walking meditations most helpful for my own needs, as I have to do a lot of walking and commuting every day and it helps keep me focused and relaxed as I wander around. I’m a practical person, so one stone killing two birds—in this case, getting where I’m going and doing something good for myself—is ideal.
You don’t need any special equipment; the instructors usually lead off simply by suggesting how you should position your body. Meditations can be added to class Stacks, which are Peloton’s version of playlists that cycle through pre-selected classes, allowing you to customize your entire workout before it begins. If you have your Apple Watch linked up to your Peloton account (and you should!) the app will track your heart rate and input the meditation into your Apple Health tracker, listing it as “Mind & Body” under your sessions.
Why I like Peloton’s meditations
As I said, I’m not all that spiritual or soulful person and, frankly, I don’t do a whole lot of introspection, so I appreciate that the meditation classes I’ve taken through the app aren’t overly mushy. Rather, they’re pretty straightforward: The instructors speak clearly and plainly, don’t rely too much on frivolous imagery, and instead, draw your attention to your breathing and body in a way that actually helps you feel more connected to both. For as much energy as I put into working out and strengthening my body, I do struggle with things like the “mind-muscle connection” or just identifying how different parts of my body are feeling, so these sessions, where I’m asked to focus intently on certain areas and connect to how I’m feeling in a given moment, are actually pretty beneficial to my quest to become stronger and healthier overall.
I first tried the Peloton meditations a few weeks ago while waiting for the bus. I was having a busy day and had had absolutely no time to work out, not even on my beloved Peloton bike, which was adding to my stress while I waited for the bus to pull up and take me to more busy activities. I didn’t want to lose my Peloton streak, so I opened the app to see if there was a quick walking workout I could get in, maybe by strolling to the next-farthest bus stop, and saw the meditations option. I picked a five-minute meditation and listened to it while I stood on the sidewalk—and it did chill me out, help me focus, and reinvigorate me a little, almost the same as a traditional workout would have, but without taking up as much time or making me a sweaty mess. I tried a few others over the next few days and found them useful, especially during long hours in the car on my Memorial Day road trip or earlier this week and when my team was losing a baseball game and I was not enjoying the experience of watching.
Obviously, these classes are a lot different from Peloton’s usual offerings. I’m not sweating, straining myself, or enhancing my cardiovascular or respiratory function. Instead, I’m strengthening my mind, training myself to focus on my breathing and feelings. Those abilities translate well to being able to continue my fitness journey as well as just handle whatever is going on in an average day. I think these are especially useful as a pick-me-up, a kickstart for the day, or a post-workout wind-down.
I also appreciate how accessible the classes are. You can toggle on closed captions, for instance, and the audio and video components are high-quality, making the instructors easy to understand. The background music never muffles the instructors’ voices, there is a diverse selection of instructors and class types, and there really does seem to be something for everyone, whether you want to walk and listen or only have five minutes to devote to grounding yourself.
It’s worth pointing out that I was recently made aware of a Peloton class offering that is sort of a hybrid of meditation and cardio: Called “Reflection Rides,” they’re self-paced cycling workouts that incorporate the deeper thought and self-reflection of the standard meditation classes, helping you connect better to your body while you move it. I do enjoy the meditation option overall, but if you’re like me and still want some kind of sweat session while you meditate, reflection rides are the way to go.
