Beyonce has announced a partnership with Peloton, with Homecoming-themed workouts and a focus on ten Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Students at those HBCUs will get free two-year memberships and donated gym equipment. Peloton will also provide internships and career opportunities for students. Here’s part of their announcement and my review of the first workout they released is below. The terms of the deal are not known but Page Six reports that Beyonce is a Peloton investor. We know she’s a member as she mentioned it in the press release.
Peloton… [and] Beyoncé, today announced a broad, multi-year partnership rooted in the celebration of music — a central component of the Peloton class experience — and pro-social initiatives.
The launch of the collaboration with Beyoncé, the most requested artist by Peloton’s global community of more than 3.6 million members, is commemorating Homecoming season, an annual fall celebration for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that honors tradition and legacy. While most of this year’s Homecoming festivities shifted to virtual celebrations due to the global pandemic, Beyoncé and Peloton worked closely to create a series of themed workout experiences to help extend Homecoming to Peloton members via classes across multiple fitness categories, including indoor cycling, running, strength, bootcamp, yoga and meditation.
The two are also gifting two-year Peloton Digital memberships to students at 10 HBCUs, providing access to a full library of fitness classes through the Peloton App that can be used with or without equipment. The digital memberships will go to students at Bennett College, Clark Atlanta University, Grambling State University, Hampton University, Howard University, Morehouse College and Morehouse School of Medicine, Spelman College, Texas Southern University, and Wilberforce University, by the end of November. Additionally, Peloton will build on its relationships with each of these schools to pursue long-term recruiting partnerships at both the internship and undergraduate levels.
“Peloton and I both believe that the power of music can help uplift, motivate and inspire those on their fitness journeys,” said Beyoncé. “I’ve been a Peloton member for several years, and I’m excited to partner with a company that helps people, young and old, be the best versions of themselves, in an innovative and adaptable way. I’m proud to celebrate the students at HBCUs with this donation, to encourage them to find and embrace their own wellness regimens.”
[From Investor.OnePeloton.Com]
Essence got the news first, I think before Peloton made the announcement because it was an exclusive, which is cool. I’ve mentioned that I started subscribing to Peloton when it was free for three months early in the pandemic. While I still have an old Schwinn, they really hooked me into paying for the app (and wanting one of those expensive bikes) with their instructors and workouts. They just put out that press release yesterday and have already released the first Beyonce spin workout! Today and later this week they will have Beyonce-themed yoga, meditation, strength and more.
The Beyonce spin workout is 30 minutes and features a bunch of her hits. (I put the playlist below.) Instructors Alex Toussaint and Tunde Oyeneyin taught side by side with a plexiglass barrier between them. Tunde is a huge Beyonce fan, when “I Was Here” was playing she mentioned how much that song helped her heal after she lost her dad in 2012. She kept touting Beyonce’s charity work, all the Grammys Beyonce has and was praising her a lot. She said “Beyonce requires us to be good, she requires us to be better.” While I thought she was laying it on thick you could tell she freaking loves Beyonce and was being sincere. I wonder how involved Beyonce was with the workout planning or if she handed that off to her team. If Tunde had talked to her you know she would have mentioned it. I would be bragging about that forever.
The workout was really fast-paced and harder than I usually do to but fun. I do Alex’s workouts when I’m in the mood for something medium-hard, but I avoid Tunde’s after doing one of her spin and arm classes. Her arm work killed me, but this one was pure cardio. Together they were a lot of fun and their energy was contagious. I hope they have many more spin classes like that and I would love to see Tunde and Alex teach together again.
As for Pelton’s commitment to working with students at HBCUs, that’s excellent. I’m glad Beyonce worked that into her deal with them.
If anything is going to get me to splurge on a 2k bike it’s Beyonce and Peloton knows that. Damn them.
Oh and I follow Alex Toussaint on Instagram and yesterday he had a Peloton-produced video announcing their Beyonce partnership! It was so cool but he’s since deleted it! It wasn’t the teaser video in the Peloton tweet below either. I bet that Peloton wants to release it themselves at some point.
Get ready to show up and show out for our most epic collaboration yet. On the edge of your seat? Good. We’ll see you on the Bike on Monday, 11/9 at 7:30 PM ET, with @alextoussaint25 and Tunde. pic.twitter.com/8oHmUoc2En
— Peloton (@onepeloton) November 6, 2020
Here’s a list of the songs, in order, from that first spin workout! I don’t know if anyone is interested in this but my laptop fits on my handlebars so I wrote it down. Crazy in Love, Diva, End of Time, Bow Down, Mi Gente, Lose My Breath (just a segment), Drunk in Love, I Was Here, Ring the alarm, Run the World, Get Me Bodied.
Beyonce x Peloton collaboration introduces a social competent by committing Peloton equipment to 10 HBCU's. #ESSENCE https://t.co/bYMqAGShJp
— ESSENCE (@Essence) November 10, 2020
Photos credit: Instagram and via Peloton app
This is such a great idea. I love spin classes and really got into them as a way to start my week right. The pandemic put that on hold, but now I’m missing them again and wishing I had space for a bike at home.
As an aside- anyone who does spin and/or also sits a lot for work needs to be certain to stretch well and regularly. Especially in the hips/hamstrings/quads. You can really tighten your psoas and mess up your back otherwise.
That lady’s body in the last picture is amazing!
That’s Tunde! She has lost a lot of weight! I considered covering an interview with her about it a while ago but I didn’t know if enough people would know her.
I’m usually a lurker here but had to post because I love Tunde’s workouts I would love for you to cover and interview with her. Her weightloss story would be interesting as well as her career journey. I did the workout with her and Alex on Monday, I’ve had my bike since Aug. and have been building up to harder workouts but this one was HARD for me but fun 🙂
Yes please I love her!!
Love Tunde!!! Would read anything on her.
Yes please 👏
Tunde is amazing! I love her classes
RIGHT???!!!!
HELLO !!!!
Omg. She is a warrior beastess goddess of the big bang. Damn. I wanna be her. Her body. Her hair. I know I know, simmer down. DAMN.
While I could do without the fawning—that’s strictly for the BeyHive, they regard her as a literal goddess and I like my life too much to argue with anyone of them—this review will make me download and try the Peloton app. I am also happy to see that Beyoncé also worked to ensure that HBCU students would benefit in a tangible way from this partnership. I hope they allocate many internships at a single time (I hope it’s not a one position thing).
What is that song in the Peloton Tweet?
I am thinking about buying the bike … I’m really struggling with my weight and has left me in this funk for months. I have Graves Desease and on methamizole for my overactive thyroid for a year now. So hard to loose the weight with the daily meds plus all the other issues Graves brings. Anyone can recommend a good diet to follow? I am careful with my food intake but still not loosing weight ☹️
I LOVE my Peloton! It was the best investment my husband and I ever made. It helped to keep my sanity during the early days of lockdown. Their meditation content has truly been a godsend. Came into it as not really being a big spin class fan but I’m now a believer. Peloton has a great range of instructors that can fit any personality, in my opinion. I tell everyone to just download the app and try their content for free for 30 days. You don’t even need a bike! They have flood workouts like yoga, HIIT, strength and outdoor workout content (for running and walking). I really love this product and I can’t rave about it enough!
Same here. I used to take a spin class here or there. I would NEVER use the bike for cardio at gym. Got it in early April- It has been my saving grace . Great for anyone, at any age, and at any point of fitness. (LeonaMelissa if anyone wants to ride with!)
I invited in a cheaper faux-peloton bike and the app membership a few months ago when it became clear that COVID isn’t going away and I’m not comfortable going back into a large gym. I love Peloton’s diversity and you really can find a workout to fit your style and mood. My favs are Cody for his pop rides, Tunde for rides and arms, and Jess for outdoor runs.
I got a Peloton and a subscription a few months ago and am fully obsessed. I’m currently on a training schedule in their PowerZone program, but I have a lighter PowerZone day coming up and I literally cannot wait to take Tunde and Alex’s class. Love their classes and their energy. This is a great partnership in terms of corporate social responsibility. I’m consistently impressed with Beyonce and how she’s able to parlay her popularity as an artist into advocacy.
I got a Peloton bike in April. I thought it was an insane expense before I got it and now I love it and I’m totally obsessed. Tunde is amazing. I would totally recommend downloading the app and trying it out. I love the yoga and the cycle classes.
I have read this site for years but never commented before but I had to add here. I got a Peloton in May and I just love it – love it. And I especially love Tunde – she is one of my favourite instructors. I did the Beyonce class on Tuesday and it is excellent! For anyone on the fence about the app (or even the bike or treadmill), I would say, go for it. The diversity and quality of content is outstanding. Plus, there are regular challenges and special events that add to the community-feel even though everyone is working out from home.