What These Four Peloton Instructors Learned From Their Moms

Peloton instructors aren’t shy about sharing inspiration with our Members, speaking words of wisdom that carry us through each and every workout. And there’s a reason why so many #PelotonMoms and #WorkingMomsofPeloton show up on the Leaderboard for a moment of self-care while trying to juggle it all. It’s no easy feat.

This Mother’s Day, we turn to some of our Peloton instructors who are moms—Christine D’Ercole, Jenn Sherman, Kristin McGee and Robin Arzón—to learn how their own mothers have inspired, motivated and supported them their whole lives.

Family Is #1

“Together we can get through anything” is one of the valuable lessons Jenn’s mom has taught her over the years. Her mom is constantly reminding her to count her blessings and focus on the good things in life, like her beautiful, healthy family and a career she loves.

“When going through hard days, she is the first to always remind me of the positives, not the negatives … and that there is always a solution,” Jenn says. “I have passed that wisdom on to my kids when they come to me upset or dealing with something difficult.”

And above all else, family is everything, she adds. “Those bonds can’t be broken.”

Strive for Resilience and Tenacity

Robin Arzón may be a new mom, but she has gained so much strength from her own mother. Her forever cheerleader, her mom, “a Cuban refugee, a doctor and a warrior,” has been there for over 30 marathons and ultramarathons, showing support in a bright-colored hat so she’s easy to spot in a crowd.

Robin has learned so many lessons from her mom that are ingrained in everything she does. “Peel away the layers of my story and a central truth remains: I am my mother’s daughter,” she says. “My spine is stronger because of her.”

Perhaps the biggest lessons? Resilience and tenacity.

“My mother taught me to stand in my space, immovable by other people’s ignorance yet swayed by compassion and acceptance,” Robin says.

And, of course, to stay weird, she adds. “Nobody remembers ‘normal.’”

Be True to Yourself

,Kristin McGee’s mom, who's in her 70s, plays competitive tennis four times a week, can still do handstands and is a regular in Kristin’s yoga classes. It’s clear she passed that love of exercise onto her daughter.

“She had me in dance class at the age of 3, and I was hooked on movement ever since,” Kristin says.

Her mom instilled many other lessons in Kristin over the years. “She encouraged me to always “go for it” and not be afraid of what others thought of me,” Kristin says. “My mom has a ton of confidence and she’s always inspired me to be true to myself and act confidently even when I was insecure or afraid.”

Now a mom herself to three adorable young boys, Kristin has realized a new love and appreciation for her mom.

“It’s hard to be a mom but also the most rewarding thing ever,” she says. “The days are long, but the years are short, and I’ll miss the day when there’s no toys to put away.”

You Can Create Anything

You may have heard Christine say, “Don’t let your confidence come from compliments,” a lesson she learned at a young age from her mom, who taught her humility.

Life lessons came in many forms, one particularly poignant with a needle and thread. “By teaching me to sew,” Christine says, “she taught me patience in the process, exquisite attention to fine detail and that by understanding the basic principles of a thing, you can create anything you want.”

Christine found the love of fitness and sport early on, but it wasn’t something her mom could do until recently.

“My mother had pneumatic fever as a child and was told that exercise was too strenuous for her heart,” Christine says. “She told me she wanted, more than anything, to ride a bike but wasn’t allowed … this upset me.”

But with advancements in health, her mom is now able to ride and hit her century ride on a Peloton Bike Christine drove 500 miles to deliver to her.

In her own motherhood journey, Christine has learned that some of the lessons from her mother may not register until years later.

“I think one of the most important things to remember about mothering is not to get attached to making sure they hear their lessons from us,” she says, “but to say what we need to say and know that we are preparing them to hear it elsewhere.”

Honor Your Mother Story

Of course, for some people, Mother’s Day can be a difficult day to get through.

“It is very important to me on this day to put hands on the backs of those for whom today is a challenge,” Christine says. “To those whose mothers are not present, to those for whom becoming a mother is elusive, to those who mother angel children … to all the mothers, every way, everywhere, honor your mother story.”

Read on about Allyson Felix, a global track superstar, Peloton Member and mom.