Peloton Postpartum Classes

I’ve just updated this article on Peloton postpartum classes.

Why?

Because this month Peloton introduced a new collection. It’s called Strong as a Mother: Pre/Postnatal Collection.

Three instructors teach these classes. They are:

• Robin Arzon, who originated the prenatal and postpartum classes
• Anna Greenberg, who announced her own pregnancy in early 2022
• Emma Lovewell

Also, something is in the water at Peloton.

In 2022, five instructors announced they were pregnant and eventually had babies.

They are:

• Anna Greenberg
• Becs Gentry
• Chelsea Jackson Roberts
• Jess King
• Selena Samuela

Then, Robin Arzon announced she was pregnant with her second child.

Baby Athena, her first child, was born in 2021.

Why I started taking Peloton postpartum core classes

You may think I’m crazy to take Peloton postpartum classes at my age.

What do I mean by that?

Well, I haven’t been legit postpartum for years.

However, that doesn’t mean that my body can’t benefit from taking postpartum classes.

In fact, many women go for years if not decades dealing with the after effects of having babies.

This includes weakened core muscles and pelvic floor muscles, too.

It’s one of the reasons I did pelvic floor PT and wrote my review of the Kegelbell pelvic floor exercise device.

As you know, if you’ve read my blog post about Hardcore on the Floor (HCOTF), I’ve been focusing on strength training for the past year.

Within the HCOTF Facebook group, someone brought up Robin Arzon’s postnatal core classes.

Robin actually recorded classes while pregnant (prenatal) and then after she gave birth to her daughter (postnatal or postpartum).

Like me, this fellow HCOTF member was years past giving birth.

However, she found that the postpartum core classes were giving her benefits that “regular” core classes didn’t.

So, she suggested that other women of a certain age try them out.

And I did.

Postpartum vs postnatal

By the way, throughout this blog post I will be using the words postpartum and postnatal interchangeably.

While they both mean the time after you’ve given birth, most people use them as synonyms.

However, technically they mean different things.

Postpartum refers to the mother; postnatal refers to the baby.

But for our purposes, all of the postpartum and postnatal exercises I’ll be discussing are for mom only.

What are Peloton postpartum core classes

I’ve taken nearly all of Robin’s postpartum core classes.

They’re definitely slower and more gentle than other core classes.

As she said in one of them, these are plank-free classes.

They’re also crunch free.

But that doesn’t mean you don’t work.

Robin takes you through breathing exercises.

In addition, she teaches you about bracing.

Boy, do you feel your core muscles engage.

In fact, Robin talks about the importance of these kinds of core classes.

Her goal is to help you rebuild from the inside out.

She wants you to tap into those deep core muscles that likely were affected during your pregnancy.

Diastasis Recti safe core classes

In addition, Robin explains that her core exercises are all Diastasis Recti safe.

So if you’re wondering if Peloton has Diastasis Recti classes, the answer is yes.

What is Diastasis Recti?

It’s when your abdominal muscles have separated due to your belly expanding during pregnancy.

Don’t worry–most of these abdominal muscles go back together over time.

Mine did.

However, if you have any concerns, please speak with your doctor, physician’s assistant, certified nurse midwife, nurse practitioner or whomever you see for your postpartum care.

When can you start Peloton postpartum workouts

I am not a doctor.

I don’t play one on TV.

Neither is Robin Arzon.

Which is why at the beginning of each of her postnatal classes, there is an extensive warning about speaking with your medical team before starting to exercise.

Robin reiterates this in the intro of the classes, too.

In fact, these prenatal and postnatal classes are the only ones I’ve encountered where you can’t skip the intro.

I’m sure it’s for your well being and to protect Peloton from any liability.

So, that’s a long way of saying that this review of Peloton postpartum classes is for informational purposes only.

It is not meant as medical advice.

Please speak with your medical team before starting on this or any other exercise program.

What kinds of postpartum classes does Peloton offer

There are prenatal classes aka maternity workouts and postnatal classes in the following areas:

• Cycling
• Strength
• Yoga

If you go into each of these sections on the Peloton website or app, you’ll need to use the filter to find them.

Where can I find Peloton postpartum classes

There are multiple ways to find the Peloton postpartum classes.

You can find them under Collections on the bike, Tread, Peloton website or app.

And you can find them under their specific disciplines.

So, for yoga classes, you would go to “Class Type” and then look for “Family & Pre/Post Natal.”

Despite the class type starting with family, there is actually only one Family Fit class in this filter.

Everything else is maternity or postpartum.

The same is true under strength classes.

By using the filter for “Class Type,” you can find Pre/Postnatal classes.

However, this way of finding these classes does not work under cycling.

You’ll have to go to the Collections section of the app or website, or on your bike.

And that’s where you’ll find the prenatal and postnatal cycling classes.

Be sure to use Postnatal and not Postpartum when searching.

Only the former term works.

Finding Collections for cycling

Note to Peloton: make it easier to find these classes in cycling.

Considering Robin’s collection of prenatal and postnatal classes is way at the bottom of collections, they’re not easy to find.

In fact, make it so app users and others can search on the Collections page so there isn’t endless scrolling.

Unfortunately, this collection is also towards the end on the bike screen, too.

Also, here’s what you need to know to find Collections on the bike tablet.

You cannot get to them from the home screen.

This is so confusing. I imagine it’s the same with the Tread tablet.

Instead, this is what you need to do.

One, tap on Classes.

Two, on the next screen look for Collections.

Tap on Collections.

Then move the screen until you find the Collection you want.

You have one more option for finding these classes on the bike.

Use the search spyglass under classes.

Type in the word “Postnatal” and all of the classes come up–yoga, strength and cycling.

Who teaches Peloton postpartum workouts?

As I mentioned earlier there are three Peloton instructors offering postpartum classes across yoga, strength and cycling. They are:

• Robin Arzon
• Anna Greenberg
• Kristin McGee
• Emma Lovewell

Collections of Peloton prenatal and postnatal classes

Right now there are only two collections of classes that focus on a prenatal (or pregnant) and postnatal (or postpartum) audience.

They are yoga, under pre and postnatal yoga.

And then there is Robin’s Prenatal and Postnatal Class series

Collection pre and postnatal Peloton yoga classes

Right now there are 67 classes in this collection of prenatal and postnatal yoga.

The two Peloton yoga instructors who teach them are Kristin McGee and Anna Greenberg.

These classes are all available On Demand.

As far as the prenatal classes go, some are specific to whatever trimester you’re in.

In fact, they offer modifications based on how far along you are.

Talk to your doc before doing prenatal yoga

I’ll admit that I was surprised to see some moves that have you lying on your back.

When I was pregnant and taking yoga, my certified nurse midwives told me not to spend a lot of time on my back.

This was especially true later in the second and third trimesters.

That’s because lying down this way can put pressure on the vena cava.

This can affect blood flow to your heart.

However, I was pregnant in the 1990s.

So, it’s possible that thinking about that has changed.

Therefore, if you’re interested in the Peloton prenatal yoga classes, I would definitely speak to your healthcare provider.

You may even want to bring your phone or tablet with you to an appointment so you can play a portion of a class.

Then they can give you the thumbs up or thumbs down for a class.

Or, maybe offer modifications to keep you and your baby safe.

Collection of Robin’s Prenatal and Postnatal Class Series

Unfortunately, you have to scroll way the hell down in Collections to find Robin’s Prenatal and Postnatal Class Series.

But when you get there, here’s what you’ll discover.

There are 26 classes in this collection.

It is listed under cross training, because there are strength classes and cycling classes.

Postnatal Peloton Core strength

Like I said I’ve taken most of the postnatal core strength classes at this point.

This, even though I’m no longer postpartum–and haven’t been for years.

But they are really good.

Right now there are eight postnatal core strength classes.

They are all 10 minutes long.

Prenatal Peloton cycling classes

Of the cycling classes in Robin’s Prenatal and Postnatal Class Series, all of them are prenatal cycling classes.

They are all 20 minutes long.

And don’t think you’re getting off easy, just because they’re labeled prenatal.

Some of the classes are HIIT–high intensity interval training.

I love taking a 20-minute HIIT or Tabata class on the days I do strength training.

You get great bang for your buck in these shorter classes.

Prenatal Peloton strength classes

There are eight Prenatal peloton strength classes.

Of them, three are prenatal core classes.

The other five are different strength classes.

This includes glutes and legs and upper body.

How long are the prenatal Peloton strength classes

The prenatal Peloton strength classes run the gamut.

So far they are:

• 5 minutes
• 10 minutes
• 15 minutes
• 20 minutes

The prenatal strength and prenatal rides were all she filmed while Robin was pregnant with daughter Athena.

The postnatal core strength classes were filmed while Robin was postpartum.

Honestly, it was refreshing to see her looking like a normal woman whose body just gave birth.

Of course, by the end of the postnatal series, Robin’s body looks a lot fitter.

While she doesn’t talk about losing weight, she clearly firmed up and got stronger.

Finally, Robin uses some yoga props during her classes.

That’s why I’m sharing some shopping suggestions here.

Other Peloton classes that are good for postpartum issues

As I’ve explained throughout this article, many of the postpartum classes that Peloton offers focus on strengthening your core.

So, another discipline within strength you can try to firm up your core is Pilates.

In fact, when taking Pilates classes through Peloton, you’ll hear instructors talking about the pelvic floor.

To me anything involving the pelvic floor makes me think about when I was pregnant or recovering from giving birth–even some two decades later.

Here is my review of the Peloton Pilates classes.

Nike Maternity

If you’re looking for maternity workout clothes, Nike can help.

There is a complete Nike maternity line that includes leggings, tops, bike shorts and more.

In addition, Nike Maternity has launched its own series of prenatal and postpartum classes on its app.

You can learn more about that on the Nike Maternity page.

Final thoughts on Peloton postpartum classes

I realize that this article on Peloton postpartum classes also gave information on the prenatal series of classes.

That seemed to make the most sense since I’m guessing anyone looking for postnatal was, at some time, also prenatal.

Again, even though my daughters are adults, I’ve enjoyed Robin’s postpartum core classes.

If you’re new to strength training and intimidated by core classes that do tuck ups or planks, these Peloton postpartum core classes may be exactly what you’re looking for.