Peloton’s Tunde Oyeneyin: ‘Confidence is a skill, it’s not a trait, you can find it’


Tunde Oyeneyin is one of my favorite Peloton instructors. Her spin classes can be challenging though and sometimes I choose easier instructors, like Leanne Hainsby or Christine D’Ercole, for that reason. (My other favorites are Hannah Frankson, Olivia Amato and Alex Touissant.) I like the motivational talks Tunde gives because she doesn’t lay it on too thick, but they’re still inspiring. You feel stronger and ready to face the day after working out with her. Tunde has a new partnership with the company Bulletproof that she’s promoting. She gave People Magazine an interview that I wanted to talk about because her quotes about confidence made me think.

“I want people to come and have wins,” [Tunde Oyeneyin] tells PEOPLE of her classes while discussing her partnership with keto coffee company, Bulletproof. “When I teach a class — I know that my classes are challenging — there are moments within a ride that I bring it down a notch because I want people to feel like they’re finally freaking winning in that workout.”

Oyeneyin, who worked as a makeup artist for 16 years before joining Peloton, also opens up about how she stays motivated and confident during difficult workouts.

“I know people love to get a PR [personal record] and get their best output on the bike, but for me, many days, the goal or the standard rather that I’m holding for myself, it’s just finishing,” she says. “I think that that’s what helps to build confidence — when you are able to set an expectation for yourself and then meet that expectation.”

“Confidence is a skill, it’s not a trait,” she adds. “If you can accept that, then number one, you don’t beat yourself up when it’s gone … and number two, if you don’t have it, you know that you can find it. That relates to moments on and off the bike.”

To get her mind and body ready for the day, Oyeneyin says she reminds herself she is the “gatekeeper to my own energy.”

[From People]

The article also goes into how she creates workouts around playlists. It’s clear she puts a lot of thought into it, which comes through in her workouts. As for the quote in the title, I never thought about it that way, but confidence is definitely a skill. I keep trying to treat myself like a best friend, to see myself as skilled, hardworking and lovable, but it doesn’t always work. She’s right that it’s something you have to practice, just like working out. Also I know she’s promoting this meal supplement line, but she’s making me think that I need to eat more good fats like avocados and nuts. It can’t hurt!

Here’s a post Tunde made about how she used to be bigger. She’s lost quite a bit of weight, and I like how she says her soul was the same.

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17 Responses to “Peloton’s Tunde Oyeneyin: ‘Confidence is a skill, it’s not a trait, you can find it’”

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  1. HufflepuffLizLemon says:

    I LOVE what she says about before/after vs. the work in your head. I work out with BeachBody, but I may have to follow her.

  2. Katherine says:

    Avocados and nuts are delicious, do add them, and she’s drop dead gorgeous. That’s all I have

  3. LovesitinNM says:

    I’m so glad you shared this. Very down to earth and inspiring especially for someone who looks goddess level beautiful.

  4. D says:

    I LOVE her. Her classes are difficult but she is so great at motivating you and the music is always great. Tunde’s light arms series are also excellent and she has programmed them to get more challenging each week. Cody is my second favorite because his classes are super fun, never serious and you forget how hard it is.

  5. Tate says:

    Love Tunde! Her classes are amazing!

  6. Imogene says:

    Love Tunde! She’s gorgeous and her classes are difficult yet attainable. She, along with Alex Toussaint and Hannah Frankson are one of the reasons I survived the pandemic.

  7. Britt says:

    Big fan of Tunde and her classes. The more I learn about her, the more I love her.

  8. KinChicago says:

    She is gorgeous. Love this interview!

  9. Meredith says:

    Tunde is one of my favorites. I wish Jess Sims did more bike classes besides boot camp because she’s my second favorite.

  10. Duhaa says:

    Spot on! Great comment

  11. Singhsong says:

    I love her. She has a ride with Caribbean and Afrobeat music and it’s one I come back to over and over. One thing I love about Peloton is they never mention things like “bikini body” or any other crap like that. It’s all about the ride and the tunes.

  12. Mandy Purr says:

    I don’t have a Peloton so I had no idea she existed but damn, she is stunningly beautiful. Love her perspective in this interview!

  13. Valerie says:

    She’s gorgeous, but Peloton will always feel like a cult to me.

  14. Christine says:

    I could go on and on about Peloton instructors, I have one for every mood I have, but yes. Tunde is GOLD. I lean on her when I need to dig into myself for inspiration, and she ALWAYS comes through. Her gorgeous, smiling face has gotten me through many moments I didn’t think I had in me.