Peloton Programs: Where to Find and How They Work

During Summer 2022, when there was one of the newest Peloton programs called “Get Hooked: Peloton Boxing,” I gave it a whirl. Then last year, when we received our Peloton Row, I went through two Peloton programs about learning to Row.

Since getting our Peloton bike in 2016, I’ve always followed the programs when learning something new to do, such as Power Zone Training. At that time, though, programs were very different than they are today.

Anyway, all of this made me realize that I’d never written a post about the Peloton programs. I mean I did nod to them in my post for Peloton beginners.

However, I haven’t done a deep dive on them, and I think lots of Peloton users just don’t understand how these programs work. Thus, this blog post.

What are Peloton programs

Peloton programs are organized sets of classes designed to introduce you to different elements of Peloton training. For example, there is a Peloton program called Beginner Strength, which is all about strength training, and another called Beginner Yoga.

In addition, it is under programs where you’ll find the Build Your Power Zones program. This is a great introduction to Power Zone training on the Peloton bike.

Here is a link to my blog post about Power Zone training.

Since launching programs, Peloton continues to update them. For example, the aforementioned Beginner Strength training program. It’s still there, with Olivia Amato on the cover. However, now there are three strength programs with Andy Speer, called Total Strength, as well as a Total Strength with Erik Jager in German.

In addition, there are a bunch of split programs. These are also strength training. Originally designed for The Peloton Guide, these are designed to target certain muscle groups, use heavier weights and repeat moves for better results.

Currently, there are 17 split strength training programs. These are the Peloton instructors that lead them.

Note: many have multiple programs because they are for different levels, such as beginner, intermediate and advanced. This describes the intensity you can expect as well.

• Matty Maggiacomo
• Assal Arian (German)
• Cliff Dwenger (German)
• Andy Speer
• Rebecca Kennedy
• Ben Alldis
• Jermaine Johnson
• Erik Jager (German)
• Marcel Mauer (German)
• Robin Arzon
• Adrian Williams
• Callie Gullickson

So, though there are 17 programs, there are fewer than 17 instructors listed as leading them. These are programs that target the upper body as well as the lower body. Some are full-body workouts.

Finally, as far as the duration of these split programs, here’s what you can expect:

• 3-day split
• 5 day split

That doesn’t leave a lot of time for a rest day when you’re doing these timed strength workouts.

Peloton programs and how to find them

Where do you find Programs? On the bike tablet, it will be either across the top or the bottom of the screen. (Peloton keeps changing their placement.) On the Peloton app, you’ll see it across the top of the screen.

And on the Peloton website, honestly, Peloton keeps changing where you find programs. It used to be that, after you’d logged in, then looked under “My Membership” and then “Take Classes,” you would see Programs listed across the top.

Now, it’s a bit different. You’ll still log in, go to My Membership and then Take Classes. However, on the next screen there is no mention of Programs. However, when you spot the word Workouts, click the down arrow to open it up and that’s where you’ll find Programs and Peloton Collections.

How many Peloton programs are there

Right now there are dozens of Peloton programs you can do. As I mentioned earlier, just in strength training split programs, there are 17.

They go across all disciplines. However, Peloton is adding and tweaking these plans all the time. So this information is current based on when I’m writing this article. I’ve broken them out, below, based on the category or hardware needed to do each one. You will notice some overlap in each. That’s on purpose to make sure I’ve covered all of the bases and basics.

With all of these programs, you earn achievement badges as you go through. Depending on the length of the program, you may earn a bronze achievement badge for the first few classes, then silver and finally gold. It’s kind of like how you earn medals for the monthly challenges.

Programs for Peloton bike

Here are the programming you’ll find specifically for use with a Peloton bike

• Build Your Power Zones
• Discover Your Power Zones
• Mastering the Basics Cycling
• You Can Ride

The Power Zone programs not only introduce you to the concept of power zone training. Also, they help you get stronger and your endurance better so you can handle longer and tougher rides.

Peloton strength programs

Primarily, Tread instructors teach the strength classes you’ll find in this line up. But there are exceptions, such as Crush Your Core with cycling instructor Emma Lovewell.

• Beginner Strength
• Crush Your Core with Emma
• Crush Your Core 2 with Emma
• Strong Core, Strong Body with Irene*
• Total Strength with Andy
• Total Strength 2 with Andy
• Arms with Tunde

*German instructor Irene Scholz left Peloton in 2021. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if this program goes away at some point. However, she came back in 2024 with a new name so will be interesting to see how that changes things.

Now there are a number of core program offerings. Irene’s is still there, the two from Emma are still there and now there is a program of core workouts with Rebecca Kennedy, too.

Running programs

These running plans are done on the Tread as well as outdoors. This includes a Peloton marathon training plan. Right now, these are all of the Peloton running program options.

• You Can Run
• You Can Run Outdoors
• Road to Your 5K
• Road to Your 26.2 Part 1
• Road to Your 26.2 Part 2
• Road to Your 26.2 Part 3

More about Peloton outdoor programs and classes.

Peloton yoga programs

Right now this is the slate of yoga classes under this umbrella.

• Beginner Yoga
• Power Restorative Yoga with Ross

Peloton meditation programs

• The Power of Sleep

Here is my review of Peloton meditation classes.

Peloton workout and training programs

This lineup is self explanatory.

• Get Hooked: Peloton Boxing
• Road to Your 5K
• Road to Your 26.2 Part 1
• Road to Your 26.2 Part 2
• Road to Your 26.2 Part 3
• Train Like Allyson Felix
• Train Like Usain Bolt

Also, now there is a full suite of Peloton Rowing programs. Here is my review of the rowing program called You Can Row.

Peloton programs for beginners

There are a number of plans to follow if you’re a beginner on the bike, Tread, rower or the floor.

• Beginner Strength
• Beginner Yoga
• Mastering the Basics Cycling
• You Can Run
• You Can Run Outdoors

Programs on the Peloton app or website

The truth is, with any of the programs I’ve outlined above, you can do them on the Peloton app or via the Peloton website. For example, if you don’t own a Peloton bike, you can still do the bike programs with the app and whatever spin bike you own. In addition, I don’t have a Peloton Tread. Instead, I have a NordicTrack treadmill. I use my treadmill to do Peloton bootcamps with the app on my phone. Similarly, if I wanted to do any of the Peloton running plans, I could use my treadmill and the app, too.

How do Peloton programs work

These Peloton programs are usually a few weeks long. They are designed to be done in a specific order, over a certain amount of days or weeks.

Previously, when completing programs, like Discover Your Power Zones, you could go at your own pace and when it was convenient for you. This was how I did the Power of Sleep meditation program on the Peloton app. I took the classes I wanted in the order I wanted. Well, no more.

Now, you have to follow the set schedule for each Peloton program. This means doing each class on the specified day. So it takes some clever scheduling on your part to ensure you don’t miss a day.

Drawbacks of Peloton programs

One of the complaints I’ve heard–and I have, personally–is how restrictive the Peloton programs are. You have to do them based on the schedule laid out for you. And if you don’t follow this schedule to a tee, you don’t get credit for having completed the program. For example, at the height of the pandemic Peloton introduced a program called “The Power of Sleep.” It was an introduction to the many sleep meditations that Peloton yoga instructors had recorded.

Complete programs too quickly

Like so many people stuck at home, I was having trouble sleeping. So I was excited to try “The Power of Sleep,” which is 15 classes over two weeks. In fact, I was so excited that I blasted through the program in about a week’s worth of nights. Yes, I was doing, on average, two sleep meditations a night. However, when I got to the end of the program, I didn’t get “credit” for completing the sleep program. In fact, when you go into programs, you’ll see two tabs across the top–Browse and Completed. When I click on Completed, it doesn’t show that I’d completed “The Power of Sleep” in 2020. And, of course, I never got those coveted achievement badges either.

Skipping a day of Peloton programs

Another drawback is if you skip a day of the Peloton program schedule. You can’t go back and make up a class. Instead, you have to start the whole program over again. In addition, you can’t just skip ahead to the next class. In fact, you can’t even access the next class in the program without completing the class before it. Everything is locked. Literally, there is a locked icon on the classes you haven’t gotten to yet. This is super frustrating because sometimes life gets in the way of your Peloton streak, and you can’t get a class in. But if you want “credit” for completing a class, you have to do it on Peloton’s predetermined “schedule.” I wish Peloton would add a bit more flexibility into these programs. Sure, I understand the value of following a prescriptive program as designed. But perhaps a better way to design these isn’t Day 1, Day 2, etc but rather having a 48 hour window that allows you extra time to get from Day 1 to Day 2 and so on.

Inability to stack program classes for credit

Another drawback to the Peloton programs is the inability to stack the classes in the program. I mean, when you click on “Start” to start the next class in the program, the option for stacking it shows up. However, if you stack them, you won’t get credit for them. The program architecture is so restrictive that if you don’t access the next class in the program from the program page, it doesn’t count.  So, again, you’re left to either start the program over or having to take the class again to get credit.

You cannot access Peloton programs on Roku TV

I love that I can access my Peloton classes via my Roku TV. All I had to do was download the Peloton channel. However, there are two things you cannot do on the Roku TV. One, you can’t access your stacked classes, as I explained in this blog post about how to stack classes. And, two, you cannot get to programs through your Roku. I wish Peloton would change this functionality. So, if you’re wondering how to find the Peloton programs on the TV app, you can’t. And that sucks.

Nearly all classes are in English

You probably already know that most Peloton classes are taught in English. However, there are German-speaking instructors doing cycling and some strength and stretching classes. And there are Spanish-speaking instructors leading yoga and cycling classes, too.

Unfortunately, the only Peloton program taught in another language are the ones I’ve mentioned above in German. Mariana Fernandez, one of the Spanish-speaking yoga instructors, leads a yoga program. However, it is in English.

Either way, Peloton really should add more programs for non-native English speakers who may already be enjoying the other classes in German and Spanish. More about finding Peloton classes in German and Spanish.

Final thoughts on Peloton programs

Hopefully, I’ve done a good job of explaining how these Peloton programs work. They are well-organized plans for learning a specific skill, such as power zone training, yoga or, in my case, boxing. Here is my promised review of the Peloton boxing program.

That being said, unfortunately, there are a lot of drawbacks to how Peloton has organized things, which I’ve laid out above. When I first wrote this review in 2022 and there was a change in Peloton leadership, I’d hoped they would adjust the Peloton programs back to the way they used to be — that you could take them at your own pace. Nope, nothing has changed.