Peloton Strength Classes Review

Let’s chat about one of my favorite topics today: Peloton Strength Classes!! Whenever people tell me that they have no interest in the Peloton app because they don’t like cycling, I want to shout about all of their other offerings. Yoga! Meditation! Running! Cardio! But they really excel in the strength category. There are SO MANY great classes in there. It’s wild.

We discovered the Peloton App when the pandemic first hit. All of our local gyms and workout studios were closing for safety reasons, with no real idea of what they would be able to open back up. We joked about getting a Peloton but quickly dismissed that since it’s pricey and we weren’t 100% sure we’d want to cycle all the time. So instead, we found a bike for a fraction of the price that we could use while following along with Peloton classes. Sounded like a reasonable idea. Fast forward and I love it so much I’ve upgraded to the real thing! I truly had no idea how much I was going to fall in love with their classes and teachers back then. Now, I feel like they’re all my friends and I look forward to seeing them everyday ?

Peloton Strength Classes Review

While the app’s cycling category is the most well known and pretty straight-forward, their strength category has a LOT of options. Of course, you can choose the length of your class (ranges from 5-45 minutes) and the level (beginner, intermediate, and advanced). But you can also choose from all of these different types too! Want to get your booty kicked? Go full body with weights! Craving something low impact? Try barre or pilates!

Personally, it’s been hard for me to maintain my weight this past year for a variety of reasons, but taking these strength classes always make me feel really powerful and remind me that health is about so much more than what you weigh or what size jeans you wear. I have SO much gratitude for that!

Full Body

I consider their Full Body classes the main pilar of the strength category. These classes target – you guessed it – the whole body using a range of movements and weights. If you aren’t used to working out with weights, I would just recommend starting with Beginner level classes and make sure you have a few different sets to choose from in case you need to scale down. Each teacher is different, so while they usually cover a lot of basic movements, you might be asked to do things you’ve never done before – so don’t be afraid to modify to make it work for YOU.

I also like that you can choose a quick 15 minute class if you’re in a rush, or you could take a full 45 minutes if you really want to sweat! Jess Sims is my personal favorite because she is really tough but she also makes the classes go by really fast. I also like Selena Samuela, Adrian Wililams, Robin Arzon, Matty Maggiacomo, and Rebecca Kennedy.

Upper Body/Lower Body

Alright, so these categories are basically the exact same thing as full body – except targeted for one specific area! Upper Body classes usually focus on arms & shoulders or chest & back, while Lower Body usually focuses on glutes & leg strength. These classes range from 10-30 minutes, and you’ll need a mat and one or two sets of weights. All of the teachers I mentioned above teach these, too – so I’d recommend the same list!

Core

Want to work on your core? Grab your mat and take a quick 5 minute burner or a full 30 minute core class! As for teachers, I don’t think anyone compares to Olivia Amato and Emma Lovewell. They are both super tough, but also somehow really fun, too. I pretty much only take their core classes now because I love both of them so much! Plus, just take one look at their abs and you’ll say “I’ll have what she’s having.” ?

Bodyweight 

I know that weights have been hard to find for a lot of this pandemic, so if you haven’t been able to purchase any, or if you’re just not interested in working out with weights, don’t worry! They have bodyweight classes! These classes range from 10-30 minutes, and you don’t need any equipment besides you and your mat. My favorite teachers in this category are unsurprisingly Jess Sims and Olivia Amato, but Selena Samuela, Ben Alldis, and Rebecca Kennedy are also great! (Let’s be real, they’re all great – but I have to narrow it down somehow!)

Arms & Light Weights

Let’s say you’ve just taken a cycling class and you want to tack a quick arm class on afterwards with the 3lb weights you keep on your bike. That’s when you’ll want to filter to the Arms & Light Weights category. These are quick 10 minute classes that the instructors teach right from their bikes. They don’t give cycling cues during these classes though, so if you don’t have a bike or would rather not sit, you can definitely take these classes from a standing position. That being said, if you DO have a bike, pretty much all of your favorite cycling teachers also teach these classes. I always love taking these with Tunde Oyeneyin, Ally Love, Alex Toussaint, Emma Lovewell, and Cody Rigsby.

Barre

Barre classes don’t get released as frequently as their other strength classes, but it’s still really nice that they offer them. All you need is a mat and light weights (around 3 lb) to get started. If you’ve never taken barre, they have an Intro To Barre class that goes over the basics, but even the rest of the classes are really easy to follow. Ally Love and Hannah Corbin are the teachers in this category, and their classes range from 10-45 minutes. I recommend taking the 30 or 45 minute classes though, since barre takes a second to really start burning/they aren’t as hard as some other barre classes I’ve taken. 

Pilates

Peloton’s pilates classes have been a little hit or miss for me – but this is also a brand new category. Pilates is so precise and nuanced that I find online classes almost always make me wish I was in person at a studio with props and a reformer anyway. That being said, I’ve enjoyed classes by Kristin McGee, Emma Lovewell, and Hannah Corbin, so I’m going to keep trying them out, especially because all you need is a mat! Just be sure to listen to your body if you give these a go. One moment, pilates can seem super easy, and the next they ask you to do something that you cannot figure out ? This is normal! Just go with what feels good in your body, take modifications, and don’t be too hard on yourself.

Prenatal

Robin Arzon was the most inspiring pregnant woman ever, so obviously she taught a series of prenatal classes, too! I obviously haven’t taken these, but I know a few Mamas who have and loved them! They’re quick, just 5-20 minutes, and there are a few with weights and a few without.

Strength for Runners

I strongly dislike running, so I also haven’t tried this category – but if you’re a runner, these classes are specifically designed for YOU! Becs Gentry and Matt Wilpers teach these classes ranging 10-30 minutes. After glancing at the options, it looks most of them require weights, but there are a few bodyweight only options, too!

Resistance Bands

I have always skipped past these classes because I don’t have the same type of resistance bands that they use – but honestly, these classes look really fun! Maybe I should get some!! Classes range from 5-20 minutes, and are taught by Hannah Corbin, Andy Speer, and Chase Tucker.

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Have you taken any of Peloton’s strength classes? What is your favorite kind?

PS. You might also like Is Buying A Peloton Worth it, My Peloton App Review, and The Best Peloton Theme Rides!