The Gift

Back in December of 2019 the internet had some really strong feelings about the Peloton commercial where a woman shares a year long video diary of herself riding the Peloton her husband had given her as a Christmas gift. "What is this husband trying to say?" and "She's so thin - she doesn't need a Peloton" were among the loudest criticisms. While everyone was dumping generations of feelings about bodies, marriage, masculinity, femininity, capitalism...you name it, I had some thoughts of my own I shared on Facebook. Here they are:

"I was just thinking of a few other reasons besides weight loss that a 30-something year old woman (or a woman of any age, shape or size) might like to receive a stationary bike as a gift:

1. Because she asked for one for Christmas.

2. Because she used to live in a place where she could take spin classes which she loves but now she doesn’t so virtual rides seemed like a great plan B.

3. Because she’s celebrating that her body can move when she wants it to.

4. Because it’s meditative.

5. Because it’s part of her recovery.

6. Because she has a physical restriction that makes cycling her best option for exercise.

7. Because serotonin feels good.

8. Because she’s training for something.

9. Because she needs time away from her child.

10. Because she has all her best ideas while she’s riding a bike.

I’m also wondering if having a national conversation about how much the woman in the commercial weighs, the shape of her body and how her “husband” feels about her is actually in defense of the worthiness of women of any shape and size or if instead it’s just another opportunity for us all to talk about another woman’s body parts and make decisions about what that says about who she is, what she deserves and what she wanted to receive as a Christmas gift."

When I wrote that I didn't have a Peloton, but I did have two daughters (and two sons), women I love and respect in my life, anxiety to manage, emotions to regulate, work to do and ideas to discover. The collective clap back around worthiness, bodies, marriage, roles, and parenthood felt disingenuous and harmful to me. I didn't have a Peloton back then but I knew from years of iPad streaming workouts in my garage, guest room yoga, app-lead training for 5Ks pushing a fluffy baby (or two) around hot Florida pavement wasn't only about what a scale said, it was about meditation, recovery, anxiety, feeling better emotionally, feeling stronger physically, energy and ideation.

I have a Peloton now. I will not be winning any fitness competitions in my lifetime. I won't be first in my age group at any half-marathons any time soon, but I can tell you from my short experience riding that bike that it's absolutely about meditation, recovery, and anxiety. It is absolutely about emotional and physical strength. It is absolutely about ideation, networking, mentorship, life and business. I have never ridden that bike and not walked away with a new idea, a new strategy, a new perspective and new energy.

And we're not riding alone - we're riding with our friends, our mentors, our colleagues and our clients. In a time where we're spending less time together and more time apart, looking for new ways to connect when we can't be close. I've seen invitations for network rides on LinkedIn. I've seen business and career focused tags bringing talent and experience together on a bike in the basement across the country. I've joined friends near and far to get up, show up and click in together first thing in the morning, after my kids go to bed and every time in between. We're not together but we're not alone, either.

This morning I joined a friend on her 100th ride at 7:30 am, and while we were riding our instructor Cody Rigsby gave us the daily business and life coaching so many of us clip in to get each day: "Catch your breath. Fix your wig. Live your life." This is the energy we're bringing to this day and to the remaining 50-something days of 2020. This is why we ride: to heal, to pivot, to focus and to hustle. This (not some tired body shame, weight loss narrative) is the gift and it keeps on giving through the energy we bring to our families, our friends, our colleagues and our clients.

I still stream workouts on my iPad, do yoga in my guest room, and stretch my legs on a hand-me-down treadmill in my basement. This isn't about the bike - it's about the rider - and the gift of figuratively (and sometimes literally) clipping in, fixing your wig and bringing your best self to life and work. Let's ride!