Excellent post! I especially appreciated how Robinson brought up the intersection with erasure of race and identity when people used to say “I see everyone the same!” It’s important to highlight these intersectionalities because we can help one another as marginalized groups. I wanted to add to the bit about disability—I use primarily Apple Fitness +, and there is also an amputee on that platform. To be honest, while it does address inclusion of disabled representation to an extent, I still think fitness companies could improve. There could be a lot more on modifications for people with chronic pain, or perhaps less of a emphasis on devaluing easy routines or calling them ‘beginner routines’. Some of us who are disabled aren’t beginners, we just need something chill. Anyway, I love this very much.
I loved this. As a fat person who loves exercise, it can be exhausting navigating spaces where the narrative for why I’m there working out is fixed in other peoples’ minds and difficult for me to alter.
I’ve been thinking about the idea here that Peloton needs instructors who are fat and more body diverse, but how those instructors will need a “thick skin,” and…the thought of this made me sad and exhausted. I’m so tired of fat people having to make a choice between invisibility and abuse in order to be included and made visible in the world. Just so tired.
This is great, thank you Wendy! I love the parallel between "not seeing fat" and "not seeing colour." I'm definitely fat, and if thin people aren't seeing it, they're missing a fundamental part of my being, particularly in the way I dress and the way I exercise. I'm strong and fit, and my body is not the same as a thin person's body. Hello, figure-fours! I can't do them as described - not because I'm not flexible enough, but because there is not enough space between my thighs to put my arm through, and my thighs are too wide for me to clasp my hands behind them. (On the other hand, I can do squats and deadlifts for days, so take THAT, diet culture!)
"Not being excluded" is not the same as "being included," and in the exercise space I do often have to settle for people who "don't see fat," because that's often all that's available. It's a good start, but I would love to see Peloton and others take it even further!
THIS!! Thank you Wendy for the wonderful words that absolutely mirror how I feel. I really appreciate the way that the instructors talk, you feel not shamed by anyone. However, they have a long long way to go.
Like you I got my bike during the pandemic, and while riding a stationary bike isnt my favorite thing, I do it. But I LOVE doing the yoga and the strength training, plus the meditation has been a big help letting me fall asleep at night. I so felt your comments about not offering modifications esp. in the yoga. My body just doesnt work the way theirs does. I have quite a bit of flexibility, but my tummy def gets in the way of some of the folded moves. there has to be modifications for that, right?
I have an addition to your statements- the shoes. I feel a very basic element for a bike, like bike shoes, should be assessable to everyone. the fact that they do NOT make wide shoes is so subtlety fat phobic. My feet are somewhat wide but mostly I have a high instep and I still struggle to get them to click in. Surely there are at least as many people who have wide feet as narrow?? Of all the things you think they would have a wide selection of should be shoes.
I quit all of the Facebook peloton groups, including the over 50 and over 60 groups because of their rampant fat phobia. I have learned to divest myself of anything and anyone who triggers my former dieting mind.
Again, I appreciate your thoughts about peloton. It really put a voice to things I have been feeling as well. thank you!
The modifications definitely need to be addressed in a more inclusive way. "If you need to use a block, that's OK." Fine, but tell us how using a block or a strap or something allows us to get into the pose and WHY a person might use a prop.
Emily Ho recently talked about how Peloton recently updated its terms and conditions saying that people over the weight limit shouldn’t use their product. I wish this essay would have touched upon this.
A great piece, thank you. I don't have a Peloton, but if anyone else is subscribed Yoga with Adriene, you may have seen a new video called "Tips and Tricks for Curvy Folks" by an instructor named Alia. It's a wonderful addition to the site, hopefully one of many, and it seems to fit the description of what you're looking for, Wendy!
Such a great and important piece! My kids were out of school for a couple of months this winter because my husband is high risk. During that time we did a lot of peloton workouts together - family fitness, yoga and Barre mostly. At one point while cuddling after a workout my shirt slid up a little and my six year old said "wow Mommy you're fat." That's when I could tell that the sports bras and abs were really getting their unfortunate message across to my daughter. I'm 5'11 and 135 ish pounds mostly because the IBS, so it was frustrating to see that watching these videos had so skewed her idea of skinny and clearly made a strong impression on her. I've never been on a diet, and we've read a lot of body positive children's books. I tried to make it clear that the bodies of the instructors were not some ideal we were reaching for but I'm not sure how much I got across. If we do yoga together now it's mostly with Chelsea Jackson Roberts.
I am a digital app user and purchased a recumbent bike instead of their bike because I have a lot of lower back issues and the straight back seat prevents pain. I know part of their business model is pushing the equipment, so I’ve learned to modify along the way, assigning cadence benchmarks and Increasing resistance since I cannot rise up on my bike.
I do wish there were plus size yoga instructors or Pilates/barre instructors. I love these classes and sometimes I just have to tap out for a minute and say “nope, I can’t physically do that” because no modification is provided.
I am also so sick of hearing about peloton guide! The first time an instructor said “if you modify you may not get credit for the exercise” I fumed. You are just asking for injuries to happen if someone pushes through when they should not.
I still love Peloton classes, but there’s work to be done.
I don’t Peloton, but I do yoga, and I’m super sad the instructors do not offer modifications for larger bodies. Or at least acknowledge that different body proportions mean different results in yoga.
Eagle arm will never ever happen for me due to boobs and arm circumference, but many yoga instructors I’ve had over the years have acknowledged and directed me to put my hands on my shoulders instead. Similar results, similar posture, not a big deal at all to explain.
YES. I think yoga loses the most in translation to the Peloton platform. dream of Jessamyn Stanley being a Peloton instructor--I know she rides too. Also as a devoted power zoner I keep wishing that the power zone instructors were more diverse. Let’s keep pushing--I know Peloton is listening! (#SarahintheSun)
"Peloton’s vibe seems to be “we don’t see size!” in the same way that some allegedly well meaning white people are happy to report that “they don’t see color!”"
WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER! Great post.
"While I know that many riders would welcome an instructor with a larger body, I also know that there would likely be pushback and mocking from other riders, especially in the often brutal and body-shaming threads on the official Peloton members page on Facebook."
Yeah, well, many many slips twixt cup and get even managing to get to the lip. I think this is one of those things you'd just have to do (and should do!), and then lots of people who are there to get 'hot' will bitch that that isn't motivating.
I love this piece so much! I was a group fitness instructor for Les Mills for over 15 years, teaching BodyPump, BodyStep, BodyCombat and RPM. During the last few years I was teaching I gained about 75lbs as I went into peri-menopause. I was super fit, but my body was changing. (I have lost the majority of that after menopause with medical support, good nutrition and continued exercise) Even as I gained weight, my classes remained packed because I was a thoughtful, encouraging instructor, and my classes were challenging for everyone in the room. We're also trained to always demo lower-impact options to help everyone work at their best level. There were a lot of people who took their first class from me, who would come up and say, 'I really thought this would be easy, but you kicked my butt!'
I used to teach about 7–10 classes a week at three different gyms because members wanted me and asked for me to teach more. I don't say this to brag, I say this to make it clear that participants will follow and take classes from any instructor who makes them feel stronger, fitter, challenged and respected for their effort. And, they like seeing someone who looks like them because it makes them feel more able to participate and be successful.
I've never done a Peloton class, but I did try Apple Fitness for a short while and it was frankly awful. I hated every instructor. I currently have a subscription to Les Mills on-Demand and I'm pleased to say that for certain programs they have definitely started using some instructors who have larger bodies. It's so refreshing!
This is a huge change for LMI; when I first trained, for BodyStep my trainer told me I would never be a "sharp" instructor because my boobs were too big. I think a lot of the fitness brands are starting to realize that promoting "aspirational" bodies is a dead end. With so many people being obese now, and with little possibility that the majority will ever reduce to a "normal" weight, there has to be more focus on promoting fitness as an excellent way to support and encourage healthy bodies for everyone at every age, and that losing weight shouldn't be the goal. Unfortunately, group fitness instruction is rife with disordered eating, fat shaming and massive egos, and fitness brands are loathe to encourage fat bodies to be more visible in their clothes or videos or advertisements, so while I'm hopeful, I think it will be a while before things change dramatically.
I do Apple Fitness and they do have more diversity in their instructors, including a yoga instructor of a larger size, but they don’t mention props. They do have someone in every class showing modifications, but these aren’t size specific mods.
Excellent post! I especially appreciated how Robinson brought up the intersection with erasure of race and identity when people used to say “I see everyone the same!” It’s important to highlight these intersectionalities because we can help one another as marginalized groups. I wanted to add to the bit about disability—I use primarily Apple Fitness +, and there is also an amputee on that platform. To be honest, while it does address inclusion of disabled representation to an extent, I still think fitness companies could improve. There could be a lot more on modifications for people with chronic pain, or perhaps less of a emphasis on devaluing easy routines or calling them ‘beginner routines’. Some of us who are disabled aren’t beginners, we just need something chill. Anyway, I love this very much.
I loved this. As a fat person who loves exercise, it can be exhausting navigating spaces where the narrative for why I’m there working out is fixed in other peoples’ minds and difficult for me to alter.
I’ve been thinking about the idea here that Peloton needs instructors who are fat and more body diverse, but how those instructors will need a “thick skin,” and…the thought of this made me sad and exhausted. I’m so tired of fat people having to make a choice between invisibility and abuse in order to be included and made visible in the world. Just so tired.
Thank you for a wonderful piece, Wendy. And thank you AHP for giving it a home.
This is great, thank you Wendy! I love the parallel between "not seeing fat" and "not seeing colour." I'm definitely fat, and if thin people aren't seeing it, they're missing a fundamental part of my being, particularly in the way I dress and the way I exercise. I'm strong and fit, and my body is not the same as a thin person's body. Hello, figure-fours! I can't do them as described - not because I'm not flexible enough, but because there is not enough space between my thighs to put my arm through, and my thighs are too wide for me to clasp my hands behind them. (On the other hand, I can do squats and deadlifts for days, so take THAT, diet culture!)
"Not being excluded" is not the same as "being included," and in the exercise space I do often have to settle for people who "don't see fat," because that's often all that's available. It's a good start, but I would love to see Peloton and others take it even further!
THIS!! Thank you Wendy for the wonderful words that absolutely mirror how I feel. I really appreciate the way that the instructors talk, you feel not shamed by anyone. However, they have a long long way to go.
Like you I got my bike during the pandemic, and while riding a stationary bike isnt my favorite thing, I do it. But I LOVE doing the yoga and the strength training, plus the meditation has been a big help letting me fall asleep at night. I so felt your comments about not offering modifications esp. in the yoga. My body just doesnt work the way theirs does. I have quite a bit of flexibility, but my tummy def gets in the way of some of the folded moves. there has to be modifications for that, right?
I have an addition to your statements- the shoes. I feel a very basic element for a bike, like bike shoes, should be assessable to everyone. the fact that they do NOT make wide shoes is so subtlety fat phobic. My feet are somewhat wide but mostly I have a high instep and I still struggle to get them to click in. Surely there are at least as many people who have wide feet as narrow?? Of all the things you think they would have a wide selection of should be shoes.
I quit all of the Facebook peloton groups, including the over 50 and over 60 groups because of their rampant fat phobia. I have learned to divest myself of anything and anyone who triggers my former dieting mind.
Again, I appreciate your thoughts about peloton. It really put a voice to things I have been feeling as well. thank you!
The modifications definitely need to be addressed in a more inclusive way. "If you need to use a block, that's OK." Fine, but tell us how using a block or a strap or something allows us to get into the pose and WHY a person might use a prop.
Emily Ho recently talked about how Peloton recently updated its terms and conditions saying that people over the weight limit shouldn’t use their product. I wish this essay would have touched upon this.
A great piece, thank you. I don't have a Peloton, but if anyone else is subscribed Yoga with Adriene, you may have seen a new video called "Tips and Tricks for Curvy Folks" by an instructor named Alia. It's a wonderful addition to the site, hopefully one of many, and it seems to fit the description of what you're looking for, Wendy!
Such a great and important piece! My kids were out of school for a couple of months this winter because my husband is high risk. During that time we did a lot of peloton workouts together - family fitness, yoga and Barre mostly. At one point while cuddling after a workout my shirt slid up a little and my six year old said "wow Mommy you're fat." That's when I could tell that the sports bras and abs were really getting their unfortunate message across to my daughter. I'm 5'11 and 135 ish pounds mostly because the IBS, so it was frustrating to see that watching these videos had so skewed her idea of skinny and clearly made a strong impression on her. I've never been on a diet, and we've read a lot of body positive children's books. I tried to make it clear that the bodies of the instructors were not some ideal we were reaching for but I'm not sure how much I got across. If we do yoga together now it's mostly with Chelsea Jackson Roberts.
I am a digital app user and purchased a recumbent bike instead of their bike because I have a lot of lower back issues and the straight back seat prevents pain. I know part of their business model is pushing the equipment, so I’ve learned to modify along the way, assigning cadence benchmarks and Increasing resistance since I cannot rise up on my bike.
I do wish there were plus size yoga instructors or Pilates/barre instructors. I love these classes and sometimes I just have to tap out for a minute and say “nope, I can’t physically do that” because no modification is provided.
I am also so sick of hearing about peloton guide! The first time an instructor said “if you modify you may not get credit for the exercise” I fumed. You are just asking for injuries to happen if someone pushes through when they should not.
I still love Peloton classes, but there’s work to be done.
I don’t Peloton, but I do yoga, and I’m super sad the instructors do not offer modifications for larger bodies. Or at least acknowledge that different body proportions mean different results in yoga.
Eagle arm will never ever happen for me due to boobs and arm circumference, but many yoga instructors I’ve had over the years have acknowledged and directed me to put my hands on my shoulders instead. Similar results, similar posture, not a big deal at all to explain.
YES. I think yoga loses the most in translation to the Peloton platform. dream of Jessamyn Stanley being a Peloton instructor--I know she rides too. Also as a devoted power zoner I keep wishing that the power zone instructors were more diverse. Let’s keep pushing--I know Peloton is listening! (#SarahintheSun)
I love this Peloton series and thank you Wendy for a great piece.
"Peloton’s vibe seems to be “we don’t see size!” in the same way that some allegedly well meaning white people are happy to report that “they don’t see color!”"
WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER! Great post.
"While I know that many riders would welcome an instructor with a larger body, I also know that there would likely be pushback and mocking from other riders, especially in the often brutal and body-shaming threads on the official Peloton members page on Facebook."
Yeah, well, many many slips twixt cup and get even managing to get to the lip. I think this is one of those things you'd just have to do (and should do!), and then lots of people who are there to get 'hot' will bitch that that isn't motivating.
elm
the response to *that* is obvious and justified
I love this piece so much! I was a group fitness instructor for Les Mills for over 15 years, teaching BodyPump, BodyStep, BodyCombat and RPM. During the last few years I was teaching I gained about 75lbs as I went into peri-menopause. I was super fit, but my body was changing. (I have lost the majority of that after menopause with medical support, good nutrition and continued exercise) Even as I gained weight, my classes remained packed because I was a thoughtful, encouraging instructor, and my classes were challenging for everyone in the room. We're also trained to always demo lower-impact options to help everyone work at their best level. There were a lot of people who took their first class from me, who would come up and say, 'I really thought this would be easy, but you kicked my butt!'
I used to teach about 7–10 classes a week at three different gyms because members wanted me and asked for me to teach more. I don't say this to brag, I say this to make it clear that participants will follow and take classes from any instructor who makes them feel stronger, fitter, challenged and respected for their effort. And, they like seeing someone who looks like them because it makes them feel more able to participate and be successful.
I've never done a Peloton class, but I did try Apple Fitness for a short while and it was frankly awful. I hated every instructor. I currently have a subscription to Les Mills on-Demand and I'm pleased to say that for certain programs they have definitely started using some instructors who have larger bodies. It's so refreshing!
This is a huge change for LMI; when I first trained, for BodyStep my trainer told me I would never be a "sharp" instructor because my boobs were too big. I think a lot of the fitness brands are starting to realize that promoting "aspirational" bodies is a dead end. With so many people being obese now, and with little possibility that the majority will ever reduce to a "normal" weight, there has to be more focus on promoting fitness as an excellent way to support and encourage healthy bodies for everyone at every age, and that losing weight shouldn't be the goal. Unfortunately, group fitness instruction is rife with disordered eating, fat shaming and massive egos, and fitness brands are loathe to encourage fat bodies to be more visible in their clothes or videos or advertisements, so while I'm hopeful, I think it will be a while before things change dramatically.
I do Apple Fitness and they do have more diversity in their instructors, including a yoga instructor of a larger size, but they don’t mention props. They do have someone in every class showing modifications, but these aren’t size specific mods.