My husband and I bought a Peloton bike during the pandemic. I’m pretty sure half of the U.S. did; Peloton sales skyrocketed that year!
We are avid gym goers, and because everything shut down at the beginning of COVID, we needed to figure out a way to keep our bodies moving and to keep our fitness routine going. Very quickly we came to the conclusion that we needed to get our own fitness equipment at home. We live in a two bedroom condo, so we had to get creative. We got a Peloton bike for cardio, and bought dumbbells, bars with weights and a bench for weight training.
Fast forward three years, and we are completely obsessed with our Peloton bike! We are so glad we went for one during the Pandemic, because we have fallen in love with what it brings to us on the daily. From getting to feel connected with awesome instructors (their fun personalities, their incredible motivational speech, their upbeat coaching), to the plethora of effective classes offered, to the wonderful variety and styles of workouts. If you’re a fellow Peloton-er, then you get it. We are hooked.
It quickly became a bucket list item for us to be a part of a Live Studio Class at PSNY (Peloton Studios New York). Because HOW FUN would that be?
Booking a Class at PSNY
It took us over a year to get a spot. Woah, right? We never knew how hard this part was.
This was our experience:
Every Thursday, as soon as the new classes went live, Preston and I both jumped on the PSNY online schedule. But, lo and behold, we constantly found ourselves number 1000+ in the queue. How in the world were we supposed to get in?
Well, we don’t know how, but after logging in for what felt like the millionth time, we both secured a spot. The Peloton fairies aligned for us and we both ended up early in the queue line. As soon as the classes went live for booking, we jumped on the first one we saw with Kendall. And we both got a spot in one of her “stack” classes (shorter, back-to-back classes).
We had read many blogs and forums where people mentioned it was crucial to do the following to increase your chances:
- Log in to your Peloton account when you open up the PSNY class schedule on your browser.
- Pre-buy a live-class credit (~$35), that way you can book right away when it’s your turn on the queue.
- Classes open up for booking every Thursday at 12 noon ET. Open up the class schedule at 11:30am ET and keep refreshing until 12 noon ET.
- When you’re up in the queue, don’t think long at all, just select a class right away.
All of the above can affect the effectiveness of a booking. There are thousands of people all around the world who are ready to jump and book a class, too, so classes get taken very quickly if you don’t move fast. Even if it’s your turn in the queue.
All I can say is, keep trying and be diligent. You can do it!
Getting to PSNY
If you live in New York, this one is easy for you and it’s no biggie. You either jump on a train or a car, and you’re there in minutes or a few hours.
We live in Idaho, so we had to book flights. We always say that our least favorite part of traveling is the getting to-and-from, and this was no exception. We booked our favorite airline, Delta, and 7 hours later we were there. Two flights, one stop. No way about going around this. But hey, we’d do it all over again for the experience. Our favorite thing in life is to collect new memories, so we can go through a little airplane “pain” to achieve this goal.
After a little research I learned that, as of late, the most recommended airport to land to get to Manhattan is LGA (La Guardia). It’s the newest, nicest, cleanest and easiest to get in and out from when willing to Uber or cab. And my research was correct; LGA was a really wonderful airport experience all around. I highly recommend this airport if you are given the choice.
We made it to Manhattan late at night, but it all went smoothly and without any delays. Yay!
It’s important for me to note that our class was on a Monday and we chose to fly in the Friday before. We wanted to give ourselves some time to adjust to the new time zone, and time to get to know the Manhattan West area better (where PSNY is located). I am a planner (Type-A personality, can you tell?), so I wanted to get all my ducks in a row before our fun experience.
Staying near PSNY
This was a bit of a splurge, but 1000000% worth it. We stayed at the Pendry Manhattan West, which is located less than a 1 minute walk to PSNY. I could even see PSNY from my room’s window, that’s how close it was. We wanted something super close to the studios, because we wanted to remove as much friction as possible on the day of our class. Getting to the class, coming back from the class, exploring the studios and the businesses around it…it was all made super easy by staying in the same Manhattan West neighborhood.
This allowed us to:
- Check out PSNY prior to our class. We went in a couple of times, because we wanted to see what PSNY looked like, how it felt getting there from our hotel (sort of mimicking the process of walking there on the day of), and we wanted to talk to some of the people that worked there to ask a few questions about the Live Class process.
- Have an easy morning on the day of our class. Being so close allowed us to not feel rushed and have zero stress.
- Walk back with our sweaty clothes and hop in our own shower. We didn’t want to bring a change of clothes nor shower at PSNY, so having our hotel room right across the street was truly wonderful.
Also, it doesn’t hurt that Pendry Manhattan West is brand new, completely upscale and gorgeous. It has big comfy rooms, a beautiful gym (with Peloton bikes), a super accommodating and kind staff, and a plethora of restaurants (and a Whole Foods Market) just a few steps away.
We loved it and would stay there again next time we’re in the city!
The Day Before our PSNY Live Class
We did a couple of things to ensure we had a great start to our Live Class!
Day before the class in the A.M.:
I went to hydrate across the street at the Spa at Equinox Hotel. They have a very complete health spa with a good variety of wellness services. I got the MEGARECOVERY Wellness Drip, a hydration drip with a megadose of Vitamin C, Zinc, Lysine, B-Complex, B12, B6, Calcium, Magnesium and Trace minerals. I felt amazing afterwards and, although not necessary at all, I feel like it helped boost my performance on the class.
Day before the class in the afternoon:
It was Sunday and my husband and I took it easy; we took a stroll to The Museum of Modern Art and spent all afternoon there. It was a rainy day, so it felt cozy to spend time admiring art and learning.
Day before the class in the P.M.:
We wanted a good night’s sleep, so we got an early dinner takeout from Daily Provisions (right across the street from our hotel) and ate a nourishing dinner. We both got a salad with a side of salmon. We watched a movie and went to bed.
The Big Day at PSNY
The moment we’ve been waiting for!
First impressions: the studio felt bright, modern, clean and very welcoming.
From the moment we walked in, the staff was attentive and ready to walk us through the next steps. They didn’t miss a beat, they had a great welcoming energy from the start. I think they understand that most of us have been looking forward to a live class for a while and that we fly in from afar to get there, so they try to make it special. Kind of like a production or experience in Disneyland.
11 am:
Before they let us in to PSNY, they checked our IDs to confirm our reservation. Then they sent us to the check-in counter where they had about four stations, each with an employee. This is where you sign-in, sign a waiver, get our questions answered and get squared away with card passes/bracelets (kind of what you get at all-inclusive resorts).
Once sign-in is done, they pair you up with another team member who shows you where the lockers are and where you can rent your cycle shoes for free.
*Note: you could bring your own shoes, but we chose to rent them instead to avoid traveling heavy.
11:20 am:
After renting our shoes, we filled up our water bottles (be sure you bring your own, because they don’t provide water bottles there), put our stuff away in lockers, and proceeded to line up right outside Studio 1 where Kendall was to teach our “stack”.
*Note: these were the exact classes in our “stack”: 30 min HIIT & Hills + 15 min Hip Hop.
11:30 am:
They opened Studio 1 about thirty minutes prior to our class starting. We were about twelfth in line (of maybe thirty five people total?), and this was only because we didn’t rush to line up. The earlier you are in line, the more freedom you have to choose your bike.
Note: If you want to show up on camera, pick the bikes closest to the mirror in the first row. When we walked in, those were already taken, so we chose the bikes closest to the mirror on the second row (watching the recording later, only my hands and Preston’s leg made the debut, haha).
11:45 am:
In the studio there were about five staff members ready to assist and ready to get us hyped up. Again, amazing energy! The bikes’ screens were smaller than the screens we have home, because at the live studio, you really only need the metrics and the leaderboard functionality.
Note: know your username and password, so you can login and have your name to show up on the leaderboard!
11:50 am:
Kendall walked in about ten minutes prior to the class starting, so we got some time with her offscreen. She said hello and welcomed everyone to the class. She had amazing energy as well and was cracking jokes, really cute.
It was clear to me that a crucial job of the five staff members inside the studio is to get the instructor’s needs taken care of and to get their energy up. They were dancing, singing and putting out great vibes. It was interesting for me to observe how the behind the scenes work; very cool to know that corporate understands that it’s the instructors’ energy that keeps members hooked, and that they should strive to support and encourage their instructors in this area.
A member of staff also brought Kendall’s special Starbucks coffee to her as she was setting up on the bike (I’m assuming it’s her go-to request?) and they kept giving her heads on the time, so she could gauge go-time on her “performance”.
The music was loud, the fans were on, the bikes were clean and we each had fresh towels. We were told that after completing our first ride, we are to stay put for the small intermission. We were reminded to be conscientious of this being a live-recording; to behave like a live-studio audience, follow our instructor’s moves and bring out great energy.
11:58 am:
The countdown was on. The recording staff, in a completely separate room, were working their magic and ready to roll. Kendall was set. And we were all warmed up and thrilled to begin. A staff member was counting us down, and…
12 pm:
GO TIME! First class starts.
12:30 pm:
First class ends. Time to refill those water bottles (team members assist with this).
12: 45 pm:
Second class starts!
1 pm:
Second class ends.
*Note: more about my thoughts about the live-studio classes below.
1:20 pm:
Line up for a photo op with Kendall.
Our Thoughts After Experiencing PSNY
So what did we think? Would we do it again? Was it worth it? Is it better than taking a class at home? Let’s dive in!
What did we think?
It was a truly awesome three hours to experience! We were in at 11am and left at ~2pm. It felt like being a part of a big production; like I mentioned above, it’s a very smooth and very professional system they’ve figured out. From greeting their members, to their cameras and studios set-up, to the team member support, the their beautiful studio aesthetic. Very profesh. But with a touch of magic, just like Disneyland. They want to make sure we all have a great time, and they accomplish this goal beautifully.
Would we do it again?
100% yes! But I would like to go in summer time, not winter time. I love traveling light and not have to wear a million layers to get from point A to point B without freezing. Especially in walkable cities, like NYC. We spent a solid five days in Manhattan this time, and because of the cold, we felt like we couldn’t really do much. So I would love to come again in summer and experience PSNY with that extra added touch of magic that happy summer days tend to b ring bring!
Also, even though Kendall was fantastic, I would love to take a class with a different instructor next time. Perhaps take one of their Tread or a weight lifting classes? That would be super fun!
Was it worth it?
Yes! Getting from Idaho to NYC is hard on the body, because of all the travel, and staying in Manhattan is very expensive, but because we love the brand so much and love what the instructors have brought to our lives, we absolutely adored being a part of the production. Even if it was for a few hours. It was an investment we considered justifiable. My husband and I had so much fun, and we now have a shared memory that will last us a lifetime. I think experiencing a class with a loved one was what took it to the next level for us, so I would totally recommend experiencing PSNY with a friend or family member you love.
Is it better than taking a class at home?
This is a tough one. I personally would say it is not. I know, you’re shocked. Hear me out.
The genius of Peloton has been making the fitness experience so amazing for the individual at home. Think of the quality of the machine itself and how smooth it runs, think of the large screens and all the data you can get from it (including the ability of adding subtitles if you need them, the high quality filming of the instructors, etc.), think of the ability to be able to select the exact kind of class with the exact instructor you love at the exact time you *feel* like working out in a safe and comfortable space where you can be you and show up as you like. It’s true genius.
Because of all of this, I would say taking a Peloton class is better at home. You have all the accessories you like and need (water bottle, seat cushion, noise cancelling head phones, etc.), you have full control of the volume of the class (instructor to music ratio), you don’t get distracted by other people’s energy or movements, you can be loud and gross and not care about disrupting others…I mean, home triumphs.
Also, I found that because I am able to focus on the class itself more at home, I perform better at home. In the studio I was more focused on the instructor and the lights and others around me, not so much on my fitness performance. And my numbers reflected that. Taking a class in the studio is more for the magic of it all, I would say. Not so much about the fitness of it.
Something else to note is that PSNY has the regular Bike, not the Bike+. We have the Bike+ at home, which is far superior, so for me, this part was also less enjoyable.
Would I recommend it to my friends?
Abso-freakin-lutely. If you can get in, GO!
Just like traveling to see a concert or a show or an art monument, this experience is exclusive and completely worth traveling for. Especially if you love fitness and you’ve been following the Peloton instructors for a while. I follow a bunch of Peloton instructors on social media, and because of this, I feel like I know them on a more personal level. This definitely contributed to my excitement of taking a class with Kendall. Knowing who Kendall is off the bike, made it extra special for both my husband and I.
Hope this summary provided great info and insight about what it’s like to take a Peloton live class at PSNY!
If you have questions or want me to dive deeper into a specific area, please leave a comment and I will respond as soon as I can. I know I had a bunch of questions prior to going, and having a straight line of communication with someone who’s been there before would’ve been wonderful to have. So know that I got you. Don’t be shy!
XO
