The Peloton Slump

How We Create Consistency and Healthy Bodies in the Comfort of Your Own Home: Part Two

By Elizabeth Pongo

It’s well known that preventative medicine such as cardiovascular activity reduces the risk of heart disease. So why are companies like Peloton feeling the burn as stock shares recently slumped 35.4%?

Participation in Peloton group fitness fell by 36% in online classes during the quarter ending on September 30th, 2021. The company has slashed their predicted revenue by $1 billion dollars. (And that’s not even to mention the precipitous drop in Peloton stock prices following Mr. Big’s untimely demise.)

This decrease in Peloton class participation and revenue occurred even as purchases in at-home exercise equipment are up 100% over 2019, and 20% over 2020. What gives?

Several variables are in play when it comes to what people choose to do in order to get exercise.

1. The benefits of group fitness instruction versus individual coaching 

Fundamentally, we must ask ourselves what type of movement makes us feel better, more limber, more vital? What exercise modalities help us gain a sense of health and wellness, as opposed to the sense that a large truck has rolled over us and we never want to move our bodies again for fear of making our predicament worse and risking injury?

Some people are motivated by a sense of community and fellowship. They enjoy seeing other human beings in real life, and that enjoyment is one of the reasons they go to a class. They find group fitness invigorating; the instructor inspiring. Comparing themselves to their classmates, along with physical playtime and a bit of friendly competition, provides a sense of satisfaction.

For others, group fitness is a nightmare. They find comparison to their peers- performance, ability, appearance, etc- to be demoralizing as opposed to motivational. All too commonly, comparing our bodies to other people’s bodies can trigger dysmorphia and low self-esteem. To these people, private, one-on-one fitness instruction is the perfect solution.

Of course, there is the possibility that someone enjoys both group fitness and individualized attention. The two different modalities can complement each other! The benefit of having a personal trainer is that we can apply what we’re learning about how our bodies move to our group fitness settings, and enjoy having the body-knowledge that we need to thrive.

2. Being outside of one’s home (and comfort zone)

Some people prefer to leave their homes in order to get exercise. Perhaps this is why Peloton stock is falling so dramatically and sales are falling off? Certainly, that is going to be partially true. 

I’d imagine that many people initially purchased their Pelotons happy that they could get their exercise in the comfort of their own homes, and save time on the commute to the gym. What could be better? In terms of consistency over time, it might not always be possible to go to the gym or to Soul Cycle. But for many stationary bike owners, the spell seems to be wearing off. And when you are beholden to one piece of equipment that no longer motivates you to achieve your fitness goals, your consistency may suffer, and that piece of equipment may become an expensive place to hang your laundry.

Like Peloton, virtual personal training on Zoom can decrease the risk of giving up due to the constraints of time. But uniquely, being able to rely on a trusted coach and forge that powerful individual partnership can be an absolute game-changer.

We know that most of us need to counteract the impact of being seated at work all day. We know that as human beings we should be working out at least one to three days a week, in perpetuity, to maintain our health and fitness levels. We also want to have personal down-time. The simple fact is that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and we’re all tasked with discovering our own path as we learn how to move our bodies and feel healthy and confident. So, knowing that consistency is key, the question boils down to: what keeps you motivated? What makes you want to keep showing up?

3. What truly occurs in the human body as effective exercise? 

Here’s a hard truth: Most people in our society have tight hip flexors and a weak core (including the glutes that we sit on all day, which are a part of our core). As a result, those tight muscles are overactive and only get more and more tight being used while seated on a bike. If the individual is not activating their opposing muscle groups, they are simply not being trained properly. 

In a group fitness class, whether on a Peloton or in a gym, the individual is not receiving any of the personalized attention- and more specifically, the corrections- to their form and technique that are necessary in order to improve their well-being.

At no point is the group fitness instructor able to say, “Hey, Bike-Rider-in-Brooklyn, aka ‘SaucyKitty’ on 4th Street, I see that you’re overcompensating for the pain in your right hip by applying undue pressure to your left pedal. Let’s get off that bike and correct that compensation pattern before you start to feel worse instead of better!” 

In-person or virtually, an individual coach provides real-time corrections on form and technique. When it comes to movement and strenuous exercise, this is absolutely paramount to success. Left uncorrected, these compensation patterns actually get worse instead of better when engaging in repetitive motions such as riding a bike. 

While Peloton might like to think that screen fatigue (or a Sex and the City reboot) is the cause of their slumping sales, the reality is that it might just not be working for everyone who invested in their equipment and approach. Humans in our modern sedentary society need individualized exercise program design and proper coaching. That is to say, we can truly thrive with expert supervision and attention to movement science.

Pongo Power invites YOU to your FREE movement analysis and goal-setting session. We’ll provide the education and guidance you need to achieve your goals.

This month, every regular personal training package purchase includes a complimentary virtual training session. Or give virtual training a try with three sessions for $375.