But that doesn’t mean you’ll have the same Cody Rigsby every day. Because, as many of his fans know through deep investment in his relationships and cultural hot shots, has a life beyond cycling. How does this manifest in Peloton? Well it depends.
“Either I separate all the crap and put it aside, and turn on and really enjoy what I’m doing on that stage/bike, or I just take it with me and use it to fuel my training or my performance,” he says Rigsby.
Both options apply to Rigsby. The most important thing is to make sure that he makes the ride either way.
To make sure the things that are important to him get done, Rigsby is big on planning and planning ahead. And using partitioning for retention ZOE with a capital L from undermining plans—like a great ride you put on your schedule because it’s important to you—can be a great tool.
“Your time is like a financial savings account. If you don’t put money in your savings account before spending it on fun things, it’s gone.”
“Your time is a lot like a financial savings account,” says Rigsby. “If you don’t put the money in your savings account before spending it on fun things, it’s gone. That’s how I think about strategizing and taking care of myself.”
On the other hand, on days when Life enters the chat, Rigsby’s students might just have an idea, even if it’s unintentional.
“I guess I’ve never really thought about it, but I’m sure if I was going through a breakup, I’d really try to let it out at intervals and a Kelly Clarkson song,” says Rigsby. “I’m sure it’s true.”
Rigsby also believes there is power in bringing real rawness into the classroom, for both teachers and students.
“What I’ve learned from being in Peloton for 10 years, and especially because a lot of people have come to myself and my colleagues through a global pandemic, is that this vulnerability allows people to feel that they’re being seen or that someone else is looking into the issues. them,” says Rigsby. “It really creates an amazing sense of community. And so, whether I’m having a bad day or a great day, that vulnerability and sharing that just infuses my work with purpose.”
“Vulnerability allows people to feel seen or that someone else is dealing with their problems.”
Cody Rigsby’s Advice for Moving Even When You Feel ‘Meh’
Vulnerability on the bike (or in any training) can look like a few things: recognizing what you bring to your training may not be your all-time best. that you don’t feel one hundred percent. or that it was a struggle just to move. Rigsby says this is completely normal—and something you can actually harness to fuel your rides.
“Something I preach in my classes all the time is just do the best you can today, not the best you did 10 years ago,” says Rigsby. “Sometimes it’s best to fight and process the emotional and mental BS going on in your life.”
That might mean doing a lower-intensity workout, or it might mean sticking it to Kelly Clarkson like Rigsby. Either way, because exercise will usually make you feel better thanks to a host of mental health benefits, Rigsby sees a routine you can return to as an investment in serving the future you who may not have as much. training mood. .
“I feel it a lot, and I feel it sometimes for a week at a time, and I think that’s normal,” says Rigsby. “I think the most important part is when you’re in the mood, really build it into your habits, really make it part of your day so that when the kind of feeling comes in the days and weeks that you haven’t felt it, you still know that it’s part of your habit.”
Within this consistency, a little flexibility and self-compassion can also help unlock your ability to move. Rigsby suggests adding some variety to your workouts on days that feel a little more difficult, especially clicking on things that feel different and fun, like dancing or walking with a friend.
“Those things that are a little more playful or fun and bring us into a more childlike state, [that] It’s gotten me out of funks sometimes for me in the past,” says Rigsby.
Remembering and affirming your “why” can also help you deal with this funk. When Rigsby isn’t feeling so hot, he knows that people have literally traveled from all over the world to come ride with him in the studio. He feels he owes it to everyone who showed up to bring their best that day.
Who do you ride, run or lift for? Remember this, and you’ll be crushing those intervals in no time.
