Get to Know the Man Behind the Bike: An Inside Look at Cody Rigsby's Peloton Instructor Journey
Cody Rigsby was formerly a dancer and is now a
renowned Peloton instructor. He rose against all odds to become a star at the company. To inspire his riders and to make them feel closer to him, he incorporates relatable topics into his cycling classes.
Rigsby has been a Peloton instructor for seven years. He started this job a year after Pelotons Kickstarter days. He said that it took him some time to get used to the box, as different members had different expectations.
The 34-year-old instructor is currently one the biggest stars and directors of Peloton. With endorsement deals with Adidas, GM and more than 792k Instagram fans, Rigsby has more than 792k followers. Rigsby is also a fitness celebrity after Jane Fonda. He achieved this by speaking out about his dislike for black licorice.
Cody Rigsby: hometown, height, weight, net worth, profession, birthday, Instagram, biography, and more
Attribute | Details |
---|---|
Full name | Cody Rigsby |
Birthplace | Born in California and raised in North Carolina |
Age | 34 years |
Birthday | June 8, 1987 |
Birth sign | Gemini |
Weight | 175 pounds |
Height | 5 feet 11 inches |
Shoes | Size 11 |
Diet/eating habit/ favorite foods | Pulpy fresh-squeezed orange juice in mimosas, crunchy texture of a Cheeto |
Food Dislikes | Orange marmalade, black licorice |
Hates | Justin Timberlake and people who can’t split bills on a dinner date |
Likes | Wigs, Britney Spears |
Ethnicity | American |
Education | Broadway Dance Center |
Marital status | Married to Andres Alfaro, an instructor at Barry’s Bootcamp |
Current profession | Peloton instructor |
Previous profession | Dancer, fashion and marketer, cater-waiter |
Social media | Instagram, TikTok |
Net worth | More than $4 million |
Cody Rigsby’s Early Life
Rigsby does not mention his father but he claims that he was raised in a single-mother home (Cindy Rigsby). His mother was a single mother and he was raised in a middle-class household. He wanted to be a dancer as a child, and hoped to attend a
dancing class. However, his mother couldn’t afford it.
Rigsby attended a private school in California, then he was awarded a scholarship to the Broadway Dance Center. He later got a job and saved enough for his tuition.
Cody Rigsby’s Journey to A World Star Fitness Instructor
Rigsby was looking for ways to save money and get more money, but he also worked as a dancer in a New York gay bar. He worked with celebrities like Katy Perry and Pitbull.
After trying to do as many jobs in 24 hours as possible to make money, his career turning point was five years later. He was a choreographer at a club in the lower east and a friend told him that a friend was looking to hire a coach for a cycling company (the Peloton).
Rigsby was one of the first employees at Peloton. He was also earning $150 per class, which was significantly more than his initial salary as a cater-waiter. He did his best to do this work and remembers doing between 14-15 classes per week.
Rigsby rose to the ranks of a teacher and a director of cycling during his seven years with Peloton. He is helping nature’s future talents by recruiting them in the USA and abroad.
How Cody Rigsby Got His Instructor’s Style
Rigsby tried to copy other intense instructors’ methods, such as incorporating their diets or serious trainer energy, while working at the Peloton. However, he realized it wasn’t what he was good at so he decided to be who he is and do what he knows best. He realized that people liked and accepted what he was doing.
Rigsby’s fitness style focuses on self-satirizing degressions about what he likes, pet peeves and pop nostalgia. Rigsby also uses specific phrases during his sessions that allow people to relate to his program.
The Peloton star instructor believes that it is better to be silly than serious while doing his job. His style is so funny that riders and followers forget that people judge or think they are stupid. Instead, he makes them laugh. This is a better way for people to have fun and to have a healthy relationship with their bodies and minds.
The main target of his rides is to get one away from their sorrows and pain in life, especially the one coming during exercise. He notes that people hate working out and like being distracted while at it that’s why he includes some entertainment to help them forget that they’re doing something they hate.
Cody Rigsby Family and Relationship
Rigsby only mentions Cindy, his mother who was a waitress and was struggling with drug addiction. Rigsby tried to date a girl while in school but it didn’t work out. He discovered he was gay after a while, which brought with it many difficulties in his professional and social life.
To discover his homosexuality, he had to travel from North Carolina to New York. He said that he felt shame for being gay in North Carolina but that he was able to open up to his mother and friends in New York after some time.
Currently, Rigsby is married to Andrés Alfaro, and it took them about two years while dating to come out publicly about their relationship. His upbringing in California, North Carolina, majorly contributed to this. He believes such an upbringing stops one from being who they want to be. He says, “I was in denial for such a long time.”
How Cody Rigsby Became So Popular
Even though Rigsby was a star before the pandemic, his star rose more during the COVID 19 lockdowns, which saw many people stay at home and shutdowns at major gyms. At first, it was a scare for Rigsby and the Peloton, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the company got a 141% rise in their quarterly revenue.
Peloton income increased and more people chose to do their home workouts. This helped Rigsby and his instructors. According to SocialBlade,
Rigsby gained a large following during this period, which saw him grow from 300k to more than 850k Instagram followers.
His announcement on appearing on DWTS has helped him gain more followers. This has resulted in him gaining 50k new fans.
Cody Rigsby Peloton Classes
Rigsby offers a variety of cycling classes, giving his riders a wide range of options. Sessions last between 20 and 45 minutes and include other body parts such as the hips, legs, and arms. He does, for example, a 30-minute intervals and arms ride and a 20-minute country ride. He also does a 20-minute HIIT ride and he does a 45 minute groove ride.
Rigsby is a Peloton instructor and now he’s a DWTS dance competitor. He claims it will not interfere with his workouts as he has a flexible schedule. Rigsby and his riders have a close relationship that has led them to join hands in various charitable events.
Bottom Line
Rigsby, the Pelotons director, is mentoring aspiring instructors from different parts of the US. He’s allowing his followers to have fun and not rely on their instructors to tell them how to do it.