When You Think of “the Hardest Peloton Instructors” What Comes to Mind?

Is it the…

• length of the class? 
• heaviness of the weights? 
• peak of the output graphs? 

Or is it something more subtle, like the vibe… 

• do love feeling the hype up of watching someone do something you aspire to? 
• maybe you crave the camaraderie of the instructor vocalizing that the work is hard for them too? 
• or perhaps hearing stories of their off-Peloton fitness adventures and races is extra motivating?

It sure is subjective, so let’s talk about it!

Ways to Measure What’s Tough

Before we get to the member-suggested list of “Peloton’s hardest instructors” it’s important to clarify that what’s hard for one member is not the same as for another. Just as personalities and instructor styles differ, there is truly something for everyone on the Peloton platform and measuring what’s “hard” is no different. 

Within Peloton, having so many disciplines and subcategories of classes to choose from, it can be enough that just trying something brand new to you is “hard.” Here are a few ways that can be demonstrated.

Physically Challenging

For example, from a physical perspective, let’s say you have been using your Tread to walk or hike. Then, you get a Row! Since  you’ve never rowed before, it’s probably going to be hard at first, right? Or, if maybe you are a true beginner to Strength and have only used the light weights that come with the bike. One day you try out a HIIT Cardio class or an Advanced Glutes and Legs class. These classes will definitely tax your body pretty heavily. Moving your body in some way that it’s not used to is definitely hard, but that’s why we’re all here, right? 

Emotionally Exhausting

Hard can also mean so much more, however, because it can be measured more than physically. Emotionally, there are a lot of ways that Peloton classes can be hard. There are some classes where the instructors’ guidance can open your heart to some deep self introspection. This can happen not only in yoga and meditation but also with the Intention Setting Walks or Reflection Rides, for example. Similarly, the narration on a theme ride, like Mother’s Day or 9/11, can be difficult for some people. 

Fitness-Focused Fusion

Blending both physical and the mental hurdles can offer another kind of challenge. If you are the type of person who is really tuned into your fitness, it’s a different kind of hard to scale back your efforts some days because it’s part of a healthy training plan. You may want to go, go, go but using the knowledge you have about your body and allowing yourself to really be coached is another facet to consider when talking about hard instructors. Class formats like Power Zone, Pace Targets, Sprint Interval Training, and Strength Splits teach you how to tap into this well.

The Hardest Peloton Instructors

I was curious what fellow members thought about this, so I asked around my corner of the Pelo-verse and and here’s what I discovered: I’m not the only one who has a refined definition of “hard” these days. Most of the feedback I received was focused on the kind of coaching where you get a complete mind-muscle connection stimulus extravaganza.

 

Superhumans: Olivia Amato, Adrian Williams, Jess Sims, Alex Toussaint 

Perennial favorites in this category anecdotally, Olivia and Adrian are well known for their high energy classes. Olivia, aka the “glitter assassin,” has a reputation for calling nearly impossible cadences on the Bike and Tread, while she executes them coolly and calmly. Members love trying to match her incredible levels of speed and intensity. Similarly, AT, who added running to his repertoire not long ago, brings his celebrated intensity to more members now, and they are here for it. 

Adrian also performs eye popping acts of daring – especially on the Strength platform. His ability to execute airborne burpees is the stuff of Peloton legend (check out the 45- Minute Full Body “Feast” class from Thanksgiving 2024 to see this in action)! He is also well known for his heartrate-raising classes full of Plyometric work.

And don’t sleep on Jess Sims… her popular “Sims 60” boot camp classes are so hard that members developed their own hashtag in response – the #curseoutcrew! But Jess is also the source of many of the best instructor mantras, including the multipurpose “we don’t have to, we get to” and if that doesn’t fuel you through a tough interval on the Tread or another Devil’s Press, and really help you appreciate what your body can do, I don’t know what would.

 

Killing You Softly With their Smiles: Alex Karowski  and Rad Lopez

Alex K and Rad are two of Peloton’s relatively newer instructors and they exude that easygoing vibe. But don’t let those “nice guy” personas fool you! They both bring all the heat to their disciplines, with members noting they are often surprised how challenging their classes ended up being. As top tier athletes in their sports outside of Peloton, you can just imagine the level of focus they bring to your workouts!

 

From Ba Bow to Ow – Rebecca Kennedy 

RK has really been an unstoppable force in recent months, embracing a laser-like approach to her Strength classes (and Tread boot camps) that members love (or some love to hate, but in a good way). Using heavier weights, and creating popular Split training programs, her renewed energy is a hallmark of her evolution as a Peloton instructor. In fact, one of her 45-Minute Legs and Core classes was a Top 5 Unstackable Class from 2024! (Check out the whole Unstackable list here!) 

 

Run, Run, Runaway Baby: Mariana Fernandez, Becs Gentry, and Logan Aldridge

Members who run with Peloton cannot stop singing the praises of the new Pace Targets. This feature brings a Power Zone style of self-assessment to the Tread/+ and members absolutely love it. I found it interesting to learn that some of the hardest instructors on the Tread, according to those who provided feedback, were ones that I would not have pegged: Mariana, Becs, and Logan. Like Alex K and Rad, these folks are a bit humbler in their everyday lives, doing amazing, hard things. Yet, they accomplish their goals with a quiet kind of power. This internal drive seems to crossover to their Peloton’ coaching. Members report being really pushed hard on their runs, especially Intervals. They really love the challenge these coaches offer! That must be why they also appeared in The Clip Out’s summary of the Top 5 Unstackable classes from 2024!

 

The Anecdotal Winner: Matt Wipers

Ah, Professor Wilpers, aka the “babyface assassin” and one of my personal favorites through many years of Power Zone. While he may not have the ability to embrace rhythm in his rides, he can do just about everything else when it comes to top-notch coaching (and on all the main Peloton disciplines, no less, even appearing in the occasional 2-for-1 specialty yoga class)! 

Matt was at the top of the response list on this (admittedly unscientific) poll not only because he does it all, but because of his magic ability to pull all of your potential power from depths you didn’t know you could access. He helps you understand the work and then he models how to get through it by working wisely. When you are done with his classes, you feel like you’ve really accomplished something that you should be proud of. As one member noted, “he makes you work hard within your fitness, and that’s actually a hard discipline.” That sentiment sums up why I’m giving him G.O.A.T status here. My own workouts would not be the same without him!

What do you think? What does “the hardest instructor” mean to you and who is on your list? Tell us! 

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