Dr. Whitney chats with Peloton yoga instructor, Kristin McGee, about how she got started in yoga, how she landed at Peloton, and how she practices mindfulness as a working mom.

Main Points:

Dr. Whitney: Tell us how you got started in the yoga space and how you landed at Peloton.

Kristin: I actually got started through drama! I was studying theater at NYU and we did yoga as a regular warmup and I really began to see how much more connected I was with my body when I was practicing yoga. Which led me to taking classes all the time and eventually teaching. I auditioned for an MTV yoga video and that really opened the door to so many other opportunities, including my own DVDs, and then I eventually started working with Peloton. My favorite thing about teaching here is that it’s so well-rounded. You can hop on the bike or take a stretching class or strength train, and you’re still going to connect and learn more about your body, no matter your season or fitness level.

Dr. Whitney: There’s so many more things available now, specifically for moms who are pre or postnatal. It used to be that there was one video that you had to play on loop, but now it’s endless. After I had my second daughter, I sprained my ankle because I didn’t pay attention to all these changes that my body had gone through and how they would affect me even after birth. But I love that there’s classes that take that into account.

Kristin: And it’s community building too! You can look at the leaderboard and know that there are other women out there just like you who are experiencing it together. And I love that we’re able to even help those that aren’t moms! I’ve heard from families who’ve been struggling with loss or a child that can’t sleep and the meditations have been really powerful for them. I love that at Peloton, we really can become a supportive community for people.

Dr. Whitney: Do you feel you can get to that contemplative state easier when you’re moving? As someone who’s anxious, I have a hard time meditating and I feel like when I’m moving, I can get deeper into that. Is that something you hear from others?

Kristin: I think that’s a great starting point and if it helps you get to that point, that’s amazing. But I also think that sometimes we shy away from what we really need–and maybe that is to just sit and be still and be in the moment. Sit with those meditative thoughts. And just like you have a running routine, you end up with a meditation routine.

Dr Whitney: It is a great starting point and then you can ask yourself, “Why do I feel like I need to constantly be in motion? And how can you bring yourself to that place where you are still with your thoughts? We love the Modern Mommy app for those quick meditations or Morning Pages to get your thoughts out.

Kristin: We are human beings, not human doings. And that’s where meditation comes into play. I don’t mind if you have racing thoughts. That's your brain processing things. The effects of meditation are actually more profound and noticeable while you’re not meditating. The meditation allows you to feel like you have the tools and outlet to process everything that’s going on in your life better, so you’re at your best and much less reactive.

Dr. Whitney: It’s very true that when you’re not doing the things to take care of yourself, you don’t show up as the best version of yourself. Just this morning we were in go-mode to get everyone out the door and my husband asked me where something was. In that moment I was so irritated and had to take a second to step back and evaluate. Why was I so mad? What conversation did I need to have with him to make him understand how I was feeling and what could I do throughout my day to come back and feel more refreshed?

Kristin: Absolutely. When you’re not being mindful, when you’re not doing those things that you know keep you in a better state of mind, it doesn’t just affect you. It affects the way you show up. And in our families, it definitely affects how we’re setting ourselves and our kiddos up for success. Or whether or not we even have the bandwidth to do that.

Dr. Whitney: What do your kids think about yoga? Do they understand that you’re this guru and think that they should listen to everything you say about mindfulness? Or are they over it?

Kristin: They see me do it all the time, so it’s definitely normal for them. As they’ve grown, they’re less on the mat with me and kinda learning who they are and what they love doing. I really try to honor that, even though Pokemon drives me crazy. It’s important to teach them boundaries with that but also it’s great to do something that you love. They’ll still randomly do yoga poses or sit next to me on the couch while I finish my meditation.

Dr. Whitney: You’re someone who’s a public figure, teaching mindfulness on the screen. How does that play into you as a working mom? Are you able to practice that in real life? How do you balance all the responsibilities and roles that you have? How is that at Peloton? How welcoming are they to having that level of integration that we know working moms need?

Kristin: I think this is the only place I could be doing what I do and still have the level of relationship I have with my kids. Most days I’m still able to pick them up from school, which is great! I teach morning classes a few days a week, but I’d rather sacrifice that morning walk to school (thanks to my awesome nanny!) than missing dinner, and books, and bedtime. So they work around that! I really try to bring my kids into my practice as much as possible, so they see me on the mat, they help me pick out songs. I love my job so much so it doesn’t feel like work most days. Peloton also has incredible maternity leave and gives a ton of pre and postnatal support.

Dr. Whitney: One of the things that I love about Peloton is that they recognize the women and moms in the classes and that’s amazing. But there’s also still this energy of, just because you’re in your 40s doesn’t mean you're finished. Let’s still listen to the hip hop music and take the fun class.

Kristin: Something that Robin from Peloton once said really stood out to me. She was talking about that being a mom is part of who we are, but it’s not our whole identity. And we are still a well-rounded woman with lots of other interests and things we bring to the table. I think that’s so important for even my kids to see, so that when they’re grown and out of the house, I don’t feel like I’ve lost my entire purpose.

Dr. Whitney: Another thing I love is that there seems to be something for everyone. Lots of different classes to choose from with different purposes. And on-demand workouts are so great for working moms because it saves so much time!

Kristin: What’s so cool is seeing people, including myself, discover things they might not have otherwise done without Peloton. Bikers who discover yoga or weight lifters adding cardio. It’s great to cross-train and to be able to keep your mind and body healthy.

Dr. Whitney: Where can people find you if they’re interested in finding out more about you?

You can find me on the Peloton app, which you do not have to have the hardware to do all the classes. And there’s a two-month free trial for new users right now! I’m also on instagram at @kristinmcgee and I’d love to see you on the leaderboard. Shoot me messages there if you’ve got any questions!