The Peloton app is a gift to anyone who can’t always make it to the gym (or those who prefer to sweat without leaving the house). The platform prides itself on motivating you to feel your best, largely thanks to the comforting presence of its always-there-for-you trainers. Peloton instructors are some of the best in the industry, with inspiring personal stories, solid workout playlists, and the kind of motivational energy that radiates through the screen. Whether you’re taking classes with legends like Robin Arzón, Cody Rigsby, and Ally Love, or newcomers such as Camila Ramón and Logan Aldridge, you’re bound to grow stronger from the inside out.
Another perk of the Peloton app is that each of the instructors — and there are 55 to choose from, split across cycling, rowing, running, yoga, strength, and more — has their own unique energy and vibe. If you’re in the mood to get sweaty and want some serious workout motivation, you’ll be able to find a Peloton instructor that delivers. But if, on the other hand, you’ve had a tough day and you need a gentler lead with meditation or stretching, or someone who can turn your workout into a party, you can find that too.
If you’re newer to the app, however, you may find the idea of sifting through all the instructors to find the best fit for you overwhelming. That’s where we come in. To help point you in the right direction, we asked PS editors about their favorite Peloton trainers. Read on for our curated list of the 17 best Peloton instructors (although truthfully, we could have gone on and on). Since many of these instructors have multiple talents and teach different fitness modalities, we organized the list by mood — who to pick depending on how you feel or what you need that day. Whether you’re new to the streaming service or just looking for more instructors to try, keep this list handy to see which Peloton trainer might be your next favorite.
Peloton classes you can take with Rigsby: cycling, bike bootcamp, dance cardio, meditation, and strength
Why we love this Peloton instructor: Cody Rigsby is the Cycling Director for Peloton, and still continues to shine with his fun-filled Peloton classes. With a background as a professional dancer, Cody exudes energy with every class. There’s a reason Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby has gone on to have his own Peloton “variety shows” including “LOL Cody” and “XOXO Cody” — the latter of which is now the name of his book. As Sarah Wasilak, associate director of shopping at PS, puts it, his classes are “pure entertainment.” Whether you want to be hyped up or you need a good laugh, Rigsby will say all the right things to keep you feeling fierce and entertained through the last second of your sweat sesh. Don’t have time for a session quite yet? His customized Spotify playlist is guaranteed to get you through the rest of the day.
Follow Rigsby on Instagram: @codyrigsby
Peloton classes you can take with Love: cycling, barre, dance cardio
Why we love this Peloton instructor: “It feels cheesy to say, but I think Ally Love is really amazing at cultivating self-love during her workouts,” says Lauren Mazzo, former PS senior fitness editor. “She’s supremely talented (she has like 10 jobs!) and oozes gentle ‘I’ve got this’ energy that’s absolutely contagious during her classes. Not to mention, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her, and she’s just as wonderful IRL.” Join her “Love Squad,” and you’ll feel yourself pushing through the toughest part of a ride without thinking twice.
Follow Love on Instagram: @allymisslove
Peloton classes you can take with King: cycling, running, walking, outdoor walking
Why we love this Peloton instructor: “I always liked Jess King’s cycling classes, but after talking with her about her fertility journey, my admiration reached a whole other level,” Mazzo says. “And it feels like she always knows exactly what to say during the toughest moment of a workout and which song I’ll need her to put on next.” King just started DJing in addition to teaching at Peloton, so you know her workout playlists have got to be good. (Pro tip: Her 2021 “Jess King Experience” series pulls out all the stops — lights, costumes, a live DJ — for workouts that are truly unique.)
Follow King on Instagram: @jesskingnyc
Peloton classes you can take with Oyeneyin: cycling, strength, bike bootcamp
Why we love this Peloton instructor: Former fitness deputy editor Jennifer Fields says Tunde Oyeneyin is her go-to Peloton instructor, especially when she wants a really challenging ride. “Her workouts are no joke, but I can always count on her for a perfectly timed pep talk that helps me push through whatever high-intensity madness she’s programmed,” Fields said. “I’m also so inspired by her very relatable journey as a Black woman finding her way in mostly white spaces. And she will always have a special place in my heart for using her platform to speak out about Black Lives Matter. Her words, music choices, and smile have been a light in a painful time.”
Follow Oyeneyin on Instagram: @tune2tunde
Peloton classes you can take with Arzón: cycling, running, strength, bike bootcamp, outdoor running, walking, stretching, prenatal
Why we love this Peloton instructor: Robin Arzón is Peloton’s Vice President of Fitness Programming and one of the best Peloton instructors, according to many — including me and PS health and fitness director Mirel Zaman. Arzón is an ultramarathoner whose laugh moves through me and lifts my spirits when I’m working out. She also calls her Peloton class attendees “hustlers,” which I absolutely love because it makes me feel like I’m part of a community. Zaman is drawn to her dedication to making her classes as accessible as possible, something important to Arzón as someone with type 1 diabetes. Training with an instructor who encourages you to embrace your strength — whatever that looks like for you — makes your workouts much more beneficial because you learn to harbor empowerment on your own. The mission of Robin’s classes is to redefine possibilities with movement.
Follow Arzón on Instagram: @robinnyc
Peloton classes you can take with Ramón: cycling, running, walking, stretching
Why we love this Peloton instructor: Born in Argentina and raised in Miami, Camila Ramón brings the perrea party to both Spanish and English classes. “I turn to her whenever I need a blast of positivity in my day or I want to take a class in Spanish,” Mazzo says. “I appreciate her real talk about body image — no Tía Tóxica here! — as well as her fantastic reggaeton playlists. There’s also a genuineness to her that I really appreciate. She’s not just putting on a show: she’s right there with you, getting her sweat on, and making it really fun at the same time.”
Follow Ramón on Instagram: @camilaramonnn
Peloton classes you can take with Sims: running, cardio, outdoor running, walking, stretching, strength, tread bootcamp, and bike bootcamp
Why we love this Peloton instructor: To Wasilak, Jess Sims is one of the best Peloton instructors — especially when she needs a pick-me-up. “Jess Sims’s mood and mindset brighten my day the moment I see her face on my screen, and I love that she’s so humble even though she’s incredibly strong,” she says. Sims’s 60-minute bootcamps got Wasilak through 2020, and the editor is also a fan of her bike bootcamps. “She’ll crack you up with her ‘visits to the shoe store’ in between cycling and floor when she switches from cycling shoes to sneakers,” Wasilak adds.
Follow Sims on Instagram: @jesssims
Peloton classes you can take with Gentry: running, outdoor running, walking, stretching, strength, and tread bootcamp
Why we love this Peloton instructor: “She is so inspiring and definitely one of the Peloton instructors who has challenged me to become a better runner,” Wasilak says of Becs Gentry. “Through her classes, Becs has helped me improve my overstride.” Wasilak notes that Gentry’s accomplishments, especially the trainer’s sub-three-hour marathons, fuel her own running goals. Becs loves encouraging others to find joy in running, and to keep smiling!
Follow Gentry on Instagram: @becsgentry
Peloton classes you can take with Kennedy: Strength, bootcamp, running, full-body training
Why we love this Peloton instructor: As a former bootcamp instructor, Rebecca Kennedy does not come to play. Still, this Peloton trainer makes sure to infuse even the toughest workouts with a healthy dose of positivity, reminding you to be kind to yourself and teaching you how to build confidence. Follow along for motivation and uplifting fitness inspo you can take with you even after you finish your workout.
Follow Kennedy on Instagram: @rebeccakennedynyc
Peloton classes you can take with Williams: running, cardio, outdoor running, walking, strength, tread bootcamp, and stretching
Why we love this Peloton instructor: In my eyes, Adrian Williams is one of the best Peloton instructors thanks to his intense strength workouts and sense of humor. He isn’t afraid to admit during a session, for example, that he totally regrets programming the workout the way he did because he’s having a hard time getting through it — and he reminds us that it’s OK to scream it out if we have to. I also like the closing he often uses in his classes: “You are kind, you are powerful, you are strong.” His Spotify playlist is bound to energize future sessions.
Follow Williams on Instagram: @adrianwilliamsnyc
Peloton classes you can take with Samuela: running, cardio, outdoor running, walking, stretching, strength, tread bootcamp
Why we love this Peloton instructor: Some of my favorite lower-body and upper-body strength classes have come from Selena Samuela. She utilizes a lot of compound movements, and she has a tagline at the end of her sessions that resonates with me: “Stay humble; work hard; always be true to your heart; and never, ever give up.” I also enjoy her HIIT cardio sessions because she’s a former boxer and incorporates punches frequently. During her pregnancy in 2022, she also recorded tons of walking workouts perfect for any level. Class participants are encouraged to strive to a new standard for themselves.
Follow Samuela on Instagram: @selenasamuela
Peloton classes you can take with Maggiacomo: running, outdoor running, walking, cardio, stretching, strength, and tread bootcamp
Why we love this Peloton instructor: Wasilak is particularly excited about Matty Maggiacomo’s classes because the Peloton trainer refers to working out as a “body party.” If Wasilak is looking for a workout that flies by and will put a huge, giddy smile on her face, she takes a class with Matty. You’ll also learn about music history and his dog named Luther when sweating together.
Follow Maggiacomo on Instagram: @mattymaggiacomo
Peloton classes you can take with Aldridge: running, cardio, strength, stretching
Why we love this Peloton instructor: All-around athlete Logan Aldridge, Peloton’s resident adaptive training consultant, has a commanding-yet-welcoming energy that’s guaranteed to give you a good workout. “His strength classes are smartly designed and perfectly tough. Plus, his focus on accessibility and inclusivity means you can show up as you are and he’ll coach you through making the workout right for you,” Mazzo says. “Not to mention, his personal story and what led him to Peloton is nothing short of inspiring.” Confident, clear, and just really darn likable, Aldridge should be part of your Peloton workout rotation.
Follow Aldridge on Instagram: @loganaldridge
Peloton classes you can take with Shah: yoga, meditation, Pilates
Why we love this Peloton instructor: “I spent years telling myself yoga just wasn’t for me and swearing it off whenever someone suggested I try a class for my anxiety,” Wasilak says. But Peloton trainer, Aditi Shah, changed her mind. “Aditi’s calming presence is what inspired me to change my relationship with my body. She’s taught me through her classes that moving slowly can still make you feel strong.” Aditi’s classes remind us to take a moment to focus on the mental aspect of yoga, just as much as the physical.
Follow Shah on Instagram: @diti22
Peloton classes you can take with Michel: yoga, meditation
Why we love this Peloton instructor: Cue up Aussie yoga instructor Kirra Michel for a flow experience “that feels completely different every time you put on a class,” Wasilak says. Her style is perfect for intermediate yogis who already feel comfortable with the basics and want to get deeper into the mind-body practice. “Not only does she have the most calming voice of reassurance, but her transitions are also incredibly unique — which is what she’s become known for as a yoga instructor at Peloton,” Wasilak adds.
And if you find yourself relaxed by her voice, try out her meditations next. Wasilak’s ultimate recommendation? “A 30-minute yoga class followed by a meditation on your back, going straight from Shavasana into a mind-settling exercise with your Stack.”
Follow Michel on Instagram: @kirramichel
Peloton classes you can take with Fernández: yoga
Why we love this Peloton instructor: Originally from Tampico, Mexico, Fernández is the first bilingual Spanish instructor for Peloton, and she teaches class options in both English and Spanish. In the past, she’s spoken to PS about navigating her personal fertility journey with resilience, and she brings that openness into her classes, creating a warm and empowering space perfect for those interested in deepening their practice. But Zaman notes that if you aren’t looking for something deep, Fernández’s classes are still a fit; devotees rave about her motivating and upbeat playlists.
Follow Fernández on Instagram: @la_tiamariana
Peloton classes you can take with Roberts: yoga, meditation, prenatal
Why we love this Peloton instructor: “I love Chelsea Jackson Roberts’s chill vibe and the joy that just seems to radiate from her (look at that smile!),” Fields says. “She always has fun music and creative and accessible sequences. But it’s her warm and welcoming personality that brings me back to the mat. No matter what is going on in my life, she helps me connect with my breath and center myself, and I’m always emotionally better off for the time I spend in her space.” During her pregnancy in 2022, she also recorded prenatal yoga classes that are ideal for expecting parents.
Follow Roberts on Instagram: @chelsealovesyoga
— Additional reporting by Lauren Mazzo, Chandler Plante, and Jade Esmeralda
Samantha Brodsky is a former assistant editor at PS. She uses her gymnast background to inform her sports and fitness coverage, powering through Peloton videos in her free time.
Lauren Mazzo was the senior fitness editor at PS. She is a certified personal trainer and fitness nutrition specialist through the American Council on Exercise. Prior to joining PS, she worked for six years as a writer and editor for Shape Magazine covering health, fitness, nutrition, mental health, sex and relationships, beauty, and astrology.
Chandler Plante (she/her) is an assistant health and fitness editor for PS. She has over four years of professional journalism experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributing to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group.
Jade Esmeralda (she/her), MS, CSCS, is a health and fitness staff writer and a strength and conditioning specialist. A lifelong martial artist and dancer, Jade has a strong passion for strength and conditioning, sports science, and human performance. She graduated with a Master of Science degree in exercise science and strength and conditioning from George Washington University.
