Cody Rigsby is 'over' wellness trends. Now he's keeping it simple.
The New York City-based Peloton instructor, 38, told USA TODAY he picked back up his sessions after about six weeks off.
Rigsby says in therapy he's focused on "getting right with the thoughts and feelings that are coming up, and seeing what I need to take with me through the rest of the summer." For anyone picking up a wellness routine after a hiatus, Rigsby says working out or going to therapy might require an initial hurdle, but it's worth it.
"You can do something you don't want to do for 20 minutes," Rigsby says. "That consistently turns into a good feeling."
Shedding the wellness fads
Now is the time to get back to simple wellness routines, Rigsby says, and make a back-to-school plan to take into the fall. He's "over" the whiplash of wellness trends, and wants to set an example of simple ways for reliable results that make us feel good. He's taking this mentality into his partnership with Kashi, leaning away from habits like crash diets, feeling guilty about carbs and restrictive meal plans, and embracing intuitive, mindful routines. A bowl of simple cereal encapsulates that desire for ease, he says.
And with exercise classes and therapy sessions expensive right now amid inflation and rising consumer prices, Rigsby recognizes many Americans are struggling to keep us with constant fads to eat right and get active. To anyone feeling that wellness isn't accessible for them right now, Rigsby suggests simple, free tasks, like meditating for five minutes, a body weight exercise or a walk in a public space.
"It doesn't feel complicated," Rigsby says of this current wellness ethos.
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Rigsby, known for his effusive pop-music-backed positive cycling classes, has learned a lot about protecting his energy on and off the Peloton screen. Many people rely on him for their sacred moment of the day catching their breath between pedaling to Britney Spears and laughing at his "Codylations." But he's learned to set boundaries, he says, so he's got enough fuel to show up for himself and his classes.
"What really recharges me is quality time with the people I care about," Rigsby says of the balance. He tries to schedule moments of self care into his life, from a workout daily to a monthly night out with friends to an annual big vacation.
"I'm fortunate enough to have a job I get to bring that joy to what I do and connect with people," Rigsby says.
He's also stepped into a caregiving role for his mother, a duty he acknowledges is "draining" for so many people who manage the well-being of a friend or family member.
"With my mom, there are things I'm responsible for, but I try carve out time that's fun, enjoyable and memorable," Rigsby says. He has learned how to anticipate his "triggers" when going to be with his mom so he's able to show up and make the most of their time, rather than feel depleted or frustrated.
"A big reminder is that whether we are the caregiver or the person being taken care of, we're all doing the best we can," Rigsby says of his experience. "We're never going to do it perfectly, so give yourself a lot of grace because no one gives you a guidebook on how to have kids or how to care of your parents or how to take care of a partner. We're going to mess up."
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He balanced work and personal responsibilities with opportunities for restoration and exploration this summer, he says. Watching all four seasons of Netflix's "Emily in Paris" (a show he describes as "so bad it's so good") was his easy way to "dissociate" from the anxieties of his packed schedule. And he toured Europe, adventuring across Paris, London and Madrid. His favorite moment: A peaceful mid-week wander through the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Spain.
Art as wellness? "It's inspiring," he says.
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