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- The 14 Best Peloton Instructors, According to POPSUGAR Editors
The 14 Best Peloton Instructors, According to POPSUGAR Editors
Courtesy of Peloton
The Peloton app has become the go-to home workout for a lot of people who can’t make it to the gym or just prefer to sweat without leaving the house (see: naked Christopher Meloni). Personally, Peloton has given me the means to work out my stress and get stronger at home, while offering a sense of comfort from its warrior trainers. Peloton’s instructors are some of the best in the industry, with inspiring personal stories, top-notch credentials, incredible workout playlists, and energy that’s absolutely contagious through the screen. Whether you’re taking classes with legends such as Robin Arzón, Jess Sims, and Cody Rigsby or newcomers such as Camila Ramón and Logan Aldridge, the magic of every single Peloton instructor is that they’ll fill you with pride and motivation while making you sweat, helping you grow stronger from the inside out.
That said, each Peloton instructor has their own vibe. Some are better for tough love or nonstop motivation, while others are gentler when you’re having a tough day. Some are serious about the workout they’re throwing down, whereas others turn every sweat sesh into a party. So depending on what you need from your workout, you might be wondering which Peloton instructor is best for you.
To help, I asked some of my fellow Peloton-lovers from POPSUGAR about their favorite trainers on the app. Together, we’re giving you a short list of the best Peloton instructors – because we could have gone on and on. Hopefully, you’ll find this list of the best Peloton instructors handy if you’re new to the streaming service or just looking for more instructors to try. As avid members, we’re eager to share our advice and personal faves, so here are our picks for the best Peloton instructors, and when you should turn to each one.
– Additional reporting by Lauren Mazzo
Related: Your Favorite Peloton Instructors on Confidence, Britney Spears, and Dancehall Beats
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Courtesy of Peloton
Best Peloton Instructor For Building Strength: Adrian Williams
In my eyes, Adrian Williams is one of the best Peloton instructors thanks to his intense strength workouts and sense of humor. He isn’t afraid to admit during a session, for example, that he totally regrets programming the workout the way he did because he’s having a hard time getting through it – he reminds us that it’s OK to scream it out if we have to! – but nonetheless, he perseveres along with us. I also like the closing he often uses in his classes: “You are kind, you are powerful, you are strong.”
Peloton classes Williams teaches: tread, cardio, outdoor running, walking, strength, tread bootcamp, and stretching
Follow Williams on Instagram: @adrianwilliamsnyc
Courtesy of Peloton
Best Peloton Instructor For Mood-Boosting Workouts: Jess Sims
To Senior Fashion Editor Sarah Wasilak, Jess Sims is one of the best Peloton instructors – especially when she needs a pick-me-up. “Jess Sims’s mood and mindset brighten my day the moment I see her face on my screen, and I love that she’s so humble even though she’s incredibly strong,” she says. Sims’s 60-minute bootcamps got Wasilak through 2020, and the editor is also a fan of Sims’s bike bootcamps. “She’ll crack you up with her ‘visits to the shoe store’ in between cycling and floor when she switches from cycling shoes to sneakers,” Wasilak notes.
Peloton classes Sims teaches: tread, cardio, outdoor running, walking, stretching, strength, tread bootcamp, and bike bootcamp
Follow Sims on Instagram: @jsimsfit
Peloton
Best Peloton Instructor For Challenging Yourself: Tunde Oyeneyin
Former Fitness Deputy Editor Jennifer Fields said Tunde Oyeneyin is her go-to Peloton instructor, especially when she wants “a really challenging ride. Her workouts are no joke, but I can always count on her for a perfectly timed pep talk that helps me push through whatever high-intensity madness she’s programmed. I’m also so inspired by her very relatable journey as a Black woman finding her way in mostly white spaces. And she will always have a special place in my heart for using her platform to speak out about Black Lives Matter. Her words, music choices, and smile have been a light in a painful time.”
Peloton classes Oyeneyin teaches: cycling, strength, bike bootcamp
Follow Oyeneyin on Instagram: @tune2tunde
Related: How Peloton's Tunde Oyeneyin Manifested Her Bestselling Book in 3rd Grade
Courtesy of Peloton
Best Peloton Instructor For Getting Centered: Aditi Shah
“I spent years telling myself yoga just wasn’t for me and swearing it off whenever someone suggested I try a class for my anxiety,” Wasilak says of Aditi Shah. “Aditi’s calming presence is what inspired me to change my relationship with my body. She’s taught me through her classes that moving slowly can still make you feel strong.”
Peloton classes Shah teaches: yoga, meditation, and Pilates
Follow Shah on Instagram: @diti22
Courtesy of Peloton
Best Peloton Instructor For Running Inspiration: Becs Gentry
“She is so inspiring and definitely one of the Peloton instructors who has challenged me to become a better runner,” Wasilak says of Becs Gentry. “Through her classes, Becs has helped me improve my overstride.” Wasilak notes that Gentry’s accomplishments, especially the trainer’s sub-three-hour marathons, fuel her own running goals.
Peloton classes Gentry teaches: tread, outdoor running, walking, stretching, strength, and tread bootcamp
Follow Gentry on Instagram: @becsgentry
Related: I Had a Terrible Overstride When I Ran – Until I Talked to These Peloton Instructors
Courtesy of Peloton
Best Peloton Instructor For Building a Tougher Mindset: Selena Samuela
Some of my favorite lower-body and upper-body strength classes have come from Selena Samuela. She utilizes a lot of compound movements, and she has a tagline at the end of her sessions that resonates with me: “Stay humble; work hard; always be true to your heart; and never, ever give up.” I also enjoy her HIIT cardio sessions because she’s a former boxer and incorporates punches frequently. During her pregnancy in 2022, she recorded tons of walking workouts perfect for any level.
Peloton classes Samuela teaches: tread, cardio, outdoor running, walking, stretching, strength, tread bootcamp
Follow Samuela on Instagram: @selenasamuela
Peloton / JAMES FARRELL
Best Peloton Instructor For Chilling Out: Chelsea Jackson Roberts
“I love Chelsea Jackson Roberts’s chill vibe and the joy that just seems to radiate from her (look at that smile!),” said Fields. “She always has fun music and creative and accessible sequences. But it’s her warm and welcoming personality that brings me back to the mat. No matter what is going on in my life, she helps me connect with my breath and center myself, and I’m always emotionally better off for the time I spend in her space.” During her pregnancy in 2022, she also recorded prenatal yoga classes that are ideal for expecting parents.
Peloton classes Roberts teaches: yoga, meditation, prenatal
Follow Roberts on Instagram: @chelsealovesyoga
Courtesy of Peloton
Best Peloton Instructor For Scoring a Laugh: Cody Rigsby
There’s a reason Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby has gone on to have his own Peloton “variety shows” including “LOL Cody” and “XOXO Cody” – as Wasilak puts it, his classes are “pure entertainment.” Whether you want to be hyped up or you need a good laugh, Rigsby will say all the right things to keep you feeling fierce and entertained through the last second of your sweat sesh.
Peloton classes Rigsby teaches: cycling, bike bootcamp, meditation, stretching, and strength
Follow Rigsby on Instagram: @codyrigsby
Courtesy of Peloton
Best Peloton Instructor For Feeling Empowered: Robin Arzón
Robin Arzón is Peloton’s vice president of fitness programming and one of the best Peloton instructors, according to many – including me. Arzón’s laugh moves through me and lifts my spirits when I’m working out. She also calls her Peloton class attendees “hustlers,” which I absolutely love because it makes me feel like I’m part of a community. Training with an instructor who encourages you to embrace your strength makes your workouts much more beneficial because you learn to harbor empowerment on your own.
Peloton classes Arzón teaches: cycling, outdoor running, walking, stretching, tread, strength, bike bootcamp, and prenatal
Follow Arzón on Instagram: @robinnyc
Related: Peloton's Robin Arzón Shares Her "Superhero ToolKit" For Times of Stress
Courtesy of Peloton
Best Peloton Instructor For Party Workouts: Camila Ramón
Born in Argentina and raised in Miami, Camila Ramón brings the perrea party to both Spanish and English classes. “I turn to her whenever I need a blast of positivity in my day or I want to take a class in Spanish,” says Senior Fitness Editor Lauren Mazzo. “I appreciate her real talk about body image – no Tía Tóxica here! – as well as her fantastic reggaeton playlists. There’s a genuineness to her that I really appreciate. She’s not just putting on a show: she’s right there with you, getting her sweat on . . . and making it really fun at the same time.”
Peloton classes Ramón teaches: cycling, tread, walking, stretching
Follow Ramón on Instagram: @milamariana
Courtesy of Peloton
Best Peloton Instructor For Bodyweight Workouts: Rebecca Kennedy
As a fellow former gymnast, I appreciate Rebecca Kennedy’s advanced style of training (though she does teach classes for all levels!). She has taught me, too, that bodyweight work – moving with intention and really engaging my muscles – can keep me humble all while pinpointing my strengths. Plus, her signature “Ba Bow” catchphrase is downright amazing.
Peloton classes Kennedy teaches: tread, outdoor running, cardio, stretching, strength, and tread bootcamp
Follow Kennedy on Instagram: @rebeccakennedynyc
Courtesy of Peloton
Best Peloton Instructor For Adaptive Workouts: Logan Aldridge
All-around athlete Logan Aldridge, Peloton’s resident adaptive training consultant, has a commanding-yet-welcoming energy that’s guaranteed to give you a good workout. “His strength classes are smartly designed and perfectly tough. Plus, his focus on accessibility and inclusivity means you can show up as you are and he’ll coach you through making the workout right for you,” Mazzo says. “Not to mention, his personal story and what led him to Peloton is nothing short of inspiring.” Confident, clear, and just really darn likable, Aldridge should be part of your Peloton workout rotation.
Peloton classes Aldridge teaches: tread, cardio, strength, stretching
Follow Aldridge on Instagram: @aldridgelogan
Courtesy of Peloton
Best Peloton Instructor For Workouts That Fly By: Matty Maggiacomo
Wasilak is particularly excited about Matty Maggiacomo’s classes because he refers to working out as a “body party.” She says, “He’s the instructor I choose if I want to feel like I’m flying through a workout with a huge, giddy smile on my face.” You’ll learn, too, about music history and his dog named Luther when taking his classes.
Peloton classes Maggiacomo teaches: tread, outdoor running, walking, cardio, stretching, strength, and tread bootcamp
Follow Maggiacomo on Instagram: @mattymaggiacomo