Member Story: Tonya Thomas

Tell us about yourself! How did you find Peloton?

I am a dedicated teacher, wife, and proud mother to three amazing girls. I live in the Chicagoland area in the Southwest Suburb of Plainfield. I found Peloton during a shopping trip to The Oakbrook Mall where I came across The Oakbrook Peloton Showroom. The salesman shared the bike and gave me a lot of great information and I went on my way thinking "wow, that’s awesome but a real investment". In the days that followed, I couldn’t stop thinking about the bike. I had been considering purchasing exercise equipment for my home, so, I scheduled a “test ride” in the showroom. I returned to take a 45-minute class and was blown away by the experience. It was not like anything I had encountered before. I left the showroom again only to return to finally purchase a bike of my very own. I was excited for the opportunity to return to daily fitness after nearly a four year lull and for the first time in my life felt I was taking control of my fitness journey. I knew that becoming a Peloton bike owner would leave me out of excuses for not getting a great workout in every day going forward! In that realization, my leaderboard name was born and I have been #OutOfExcuses ever since!

How would you describe how you feel after class?

Following class, I’m on an endorphin high. I feel like I can accomplish anything and I’m proud of what I’ve done on the bike. I feel strong, accomplished and ready to take on anything life throws at me. There is a mental clarity that comes over me and I feel the weight of the day dissipate.

How does Peloton make you better on and off the bike?

I’m healthier, happier and more energetic because of my workouts with Peloton. I’m able to give more in all other parts of my day because I know I’ve made some time for myself. Self-care is not selfish. It’s necessary! As a wife, mother of three, and teacher to nearly 60 Kindergarteners, I spend my time day in and day out taking care of the needs of everyone around me. It’s important to take the time to take care of myself so that I can be there for all of those that depend on me.

How has Peloton changed your lifestyle?

Prior to owning my Peloton bike, my workouts were spotty at best. I seemed to only find the time to workout when it was completely convenient. For me, since I’m a teacher, that meant summertime. When school was out! That’s less than 3 months out of the year. Now, I exercise 6-7 days per week and am healthier and more fit than I have ever been. I prioritize my workouts and actually look forward to them. Shortly after I bought my Peloton bike, I began making other huge health and wellness lifestyle changes because I wanted to complement all the work I had been doing on the bike.

Has Peloton helped you through any challenges in your life?

About 5 years ago, I had returned to teaching after a 12-year hiatus while staying home to raise my girls full-time. During the time I was a stay at home mom, I became a member of a very popular boutique fitness club where I found a daily routine in working out after getting my kids off to school. It was a small piece of the day that I could carve out for myself. I had made huge gains in my health, wellness, and fitness level and all that came to a screeching halt when I made the decision to return to work outside of the home. As much as I’d loved returning to teaching, l was having a hard time finding the time and motivation to work out as consistently as I had come to know. I knew I couldn’t make and maintain any real change until I could meet it with consistency.

Is there something you couldn't do before Peloton that you can now tackle?

Peloton has afforded me convenience in being able to get in a complete, intense, and enjoyable workout experience every single day at any time! It could be the final hour of my day and I can still make it happen, no excuses! I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to workout, had quite as much fun doing so, or have been as consistent with it since Peloton. As a result, I’ve lost 30 pounds, found an inner athleticism that I didn’t know existed, and gained the daily motivation needed to maintain it within this awesome community known as Peloton.

How is Peloton different than any other workout?

On the bike, I am able to do more, riding with Peloton. I take on more physical challenges and intensities when riding with Peloton that I simply wouldn’t push myself to do on my own. The guidance of the Peloton instructors really helps to push you to redefine your limits and dig deeper than you ever thought you could before. The metrics displayed on the bike provide me with an extremely clear snapshot of my daily progress and growth over time. The leaderboard has become a great tool for me to get more out of my ride. I can see my placement on it improving over time and for me, it’s another way to push myself to do more and notice the gains in my athleticism. The leaderboard has also given me the ability to compete with hundreds or oftentimes thousands of athletes. Without Peloton, I would have none of these markers to challenge and push myself against and my workouts wouldn’t be nearly as much fun, exciting, or efficient.

If you could describe your Peloton experience in 3 words, what would they be and why?

So many words come to mind when I think about my Peloton experience. However, the three words that stand out the most are adaptive, inspirational, and motivating!

Adaptive - Whether you’re a beginner, functioning at a high level of fitness performance, or finding yourself anywhere in between, there’s something for everyone on this platform. It is truly an experience that can grow and change right along with your fitness journey. I love that when I clip in to ride, I am met with such a variety of classes and instructors. Depending on what I need out of my ride on any given day, I know I can find the right fit. Whether it’s choosing the perfect music theme, ride theme, ride intensity, class duration, or any of the functional training classes offered within Beyond The Ride, there are so many options. I can truly appreciate that Peloton is constantly looking for and implementing ways to improve The Peloton Bike experience and I look forward to all of the change and innovation still to come. I’ve already reserved The Peloton Tread and I’m excited to add even more variety and adaptivity to my Peloton fitness experience upon its arrival.

Inspirational - The Peloton Community is second to none. I am inspired daily by all the stories of challenges and triumphs shared within The Official Peloton Rider Page. I am encouraged by the memberships ability to lift each other up, challenge each other, and rally around each other in a show of support during our times of need. I love all the “sub-tribe” communities that have been established to highlight so many of our special interest. I feel it truly illustrates the beauty of our diversity as a greater "one Peloton" community.

Motivating - The Peloton instructors are truly amazing! I have come to adore and appreciate them all for what they each bring to the Peloton experience. I can honestly say that I ride with and enjoy every single one of them. I feel that I am a more well-rounded cyclist because of it. Variety is the spice of life and they each bring something different to the table! With their uniquely individual and inspirational mantras, engaging class plans, and perfectly curated playlists, the Peloton instructors are a group of the most motivating group fitness trainers I have ever experienced. I personally feel so lucky to be trained by some of the industries best! They are absolutely at the core of what makes Peloton so great. They’re incredibly positive and seem to know exactly what to say at the right time to guide you in taking your ride to the next level. Their words are always perfectly placed and they have a real gift for teaching. I’ve learned so much from them and am constantly motivated by each of them to keep pushing forward to achieve even more along my Peloton journey.

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