College Students: These 4 Peloton Instructors Have Some Advice for You

During a tough circuit in a strength class, Peloton instructor Olivia Amato sometimes mentions how she pushed herself through challenging moments as a college field hockey and lacrosse player. Fast forward to today, and she still taps the same forms of motivation that helped her succeed as a student athlete.

You needn’t be a star on a scholarship to stay fit while you study. Sure, plenty of people equate college with late nights hanging with friends, going back for seconds in the dining hall or spending Saturday afternoons tailgating. But maintaining a sensible fitness routine all the while will benefit both your body and your brain.

To learn how, we asked four Peloton instructors who were competitive student athletes before they became pro trainers. Here are four key lessons they shared about staying fit while studying for a degree.

1. Find an Activity You Enjoy

“There are many ways to be active and maintain your fitness,” says instructor Andy Speer, who competed in track and field at University of Miami. But this doesn’t have to mean running the oval every morning before class with a stopwatch in hand. It just means finding something athletic to do that you enjoy, he says, whether that’s going to the gym, playing an intramural sport with your friends or just running with a friend a few times each week. Do what you love.

2. Buddy Up

What makes college athletes strong isn’t necessarily the training, but the encouragement of their teammates. Andy believes that “accountability and support are powerful tools to maintain consistency,” and Olivia, who was a cheerleader at Fordham University, agrees 100 percent. “My best friend and I used to hold each other accountable and go to the gym together,” she says. Just as you might do with a study group, buddy up and your fitness journey is shared, not a solo endeavor.

3. Be Consistent

Dance wasn’t just an after-class activity for Peloton instructor Ally Love; it was her major at Fordham. The mindset is the same as if she were playing basketball, meaning she’d have to train daily. “Do a little each day,” she says, “because that consistency equals discipline, which results in great success.” In other words, it doesn’t matter how much or how little you do every day—even if it’s quickly getting your heart rate up during a short study break. Just do something, not nothing.

4. Find Your People

Peloton instructor Kristin McGee didn’t extend her competitive tennis career from the high school courts to her time at UC Irvine or NYU Tisch, but she still found ways to keep active. It turned out that the sense of belonging to something greater was great motivation. “Find a community that inspires you to be active and fit,” Kristin says. In other words, teamwork makes the dream work, whether you’re running, doing yoga, swimming, you name it. It’s not just about accountability, it’s about a shared sense of progression together, just like—dare we say—a peloton.

With the right mindset and support systems, anyone can excel at both academics and athletics. After all, holding a long plank will serve you better after graduation than holding a keg stand.

Now you’re ready to take your training to the next level. Count yourself in for a class on the Peloton App today!