Meet Peloton’s New Australian Guest Instructor, Tim Robards

We’re bringing more Peloton to our friends down under—and across the globe—with the launch of our new Australian guest instructor, Tim Robards. Starting December 8, you can join Tim in Bike, Tread, and strength 2-for-1 classes with some of your favorite instructors. Want to know more about Tim and what to expect in his classes? Keep reading for an exclusive interview with the newest addition to the Peloton team. 

Meet Tim Robards, Peloton’s New Australian Guest Instructor

If Tim Robards looks familiar, it might be because you’ve caught him as the inaugural bachelor on The Bachelor Australia, completing SAS Australia (he’s one of very few to finish the challenges in the military-based training show!), or on the popular Australian television show Neighbours. But he also has a long history as a fitness enthusiast, and now he’s adding Peloton guest instructor to his resume to bring you exciting new classes. Ahead of his premiere class on December 8, we chatted with Tim so you can get to know more about him, what to expect in his classes, and his favorite Aussie fitness staples.

What excites you most about joining the Peloton team? 

It sounds a bit corny, but I really miss inspiring people and helping change lives by encouraging fitter and healthier habits. I used to do that every day as a chiropractor, and I still do it with bits and pieces through my social media. But I’m actually looking forward to getting back to helping others, because that’s always been a big part of my life. Being a part of the Peloton team is going to be fun.

Where did your interest in fitness first start?

I think I was about 13 when I started training. Part of my interest came from my mum being sick and wanting to avoid becoming like that. I watched her have seizures and be bed ridden for days and struggle with daily life and being a mum.

The other part was, growing up in Newcastle, I wanted to play football. I thought I’ll build some strength and try out in year 8. So I spent a year working out in a home gym. I used to do that while I was watching Dawson’s Creek. No one else at that age was doing that, using the gym and training. So that became my little secret weapon that no one else had, and I started seeing the difference. I think it was right about then when Men’s Health came out in Australia, and I used to see the guys on the cover and I wanted to look like them—fit, healthy, and thriving. I wanted to live that lifestyle, and that inspired me to continue on.  

What is your favorite part of working in the fitness industry?

I always enjoy challenging myself and trying new things. It’s nice to set a goal and achieve that goal. I never want to just stick to something I’m good at, I always try new things. I like to push myself out of my comfort zone, and as scary as that can be, I think it’s about discovering my full potential and seeing how much I can push in every area. 

Fitness and wellness are so integrated into Australian culture—can you tell us a little about how that inspires and influences you?

I love going to the beach. It was always part of my everyday life growing up on the coast in Newcastle, New South Wales. As Australians, we have grown up with sport, we’re very sports-oriented and it’s a huge part of our culture. We love playing and watching, and we have a healthy balance between the two. Our climate is set up for being active, workout at home and train outside, you can have it all.

What surprising similarities have you noticed between being on TV and teaching a Peloton fitness class? 

For similarities, there are multiple cameras, and you’re in the studio all the same. But while teaching, you’re there by yourself, and you’re directing yourself, and you’re writing the story yourself. There’s a certain level of imagination that comes into both. You have to imagine the people at home on the other side of the camera. You’re trying to transmit energy through that camera to encourage them, inspire them, uplift them. With acting, we’re trying to convey an emotion that can affect someone on the other end of the camera, so it is similar. But when there’s people in the class with you, that’s a whole different thing. 

What's an exercise move you wish more people would spend time doing to get strong or live well?

Sitting in a deep squat. We’re in a world of desk sitting, most of us don’t get lower than the couch, the bed, the toilet seat. This limits our hip mobility, and we suffer back pain as a result. As a kid, you sit in all kinds of positions, we played with toys in that deep squat position. We do so many things in that deep squat. But we lose it as adults, and so many problems could be solved if we did that regularly. So I try to sit in deep squats when I can, like folding laundry, and I’ll do it every day as a warm up. 

When your motivation to exercise is lagging, what trick gets you moving?

I try to think about how I’m going to feel afterwards, the emotions and the feelings. One of the things you have to do is, when you finish a workout, you have to really try and lock that into your memory, really have that feeling and acknowledge it. I even do this sometimes with my daughter after jiu-jitsu. She wouldn’t want to go to class, but at the end of the class, she loved it. So I’d film it and show it to her when she said she didn’t want to go to class, so she could remember how much she loved it. 

What artist would you pick to soundtrack your life?

Foo Fighters. I really relate to the song Learning To Fly. 

What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?

My first degree was in photonics and physics. I wanted to get into 3D holographics and fiber optics. 

Ready to soak in that Aussie charm while you get your sweat on? Join us in welcoming Tim to the Peloton community in his first class, available on-demand on December 8—and keep an eye on the schedule for plenty more to come!