Training Without Witnesses

A mental edge no one talks about

When we moved back to LA in 2018, after living in New York City for two years, the first piece of “furniture” we purchased was a Peloton bike. We didn’t yet have a dining room table or a dresser for our 15 month old’s clothes, but those were minor details. My husband pitched me on the Peloton bike and for whatever reason, I said “sure.” I had accompanied my cycling-obsessed friend to three Soulcycle classes in NYC and while they were fun (after I figured out what the heck was going on), I still preferred road biking outside. But, the reality was that we had a toddler now—and I was home with him full-time. The days of long rides on Saturday mornings that ended with brunch and a nap were behind us. Time was valuable.

The irony was that I became obsessed with our Peloton bike and clipped in more frequently than my husband did. It turned out to be the perfect solution to working out during that all-consuming phase of motherhood. When Covid hit two years later, I was already well-accustomed to sweating at home.

No applause, no eyes, just you and the work

Home workouts became the mainstay for the masses during Covid, but many people returned to the gym as soon as life reopened. For me, home workouts persisted—partly out of convenience, partly out of habit, and partly because they’ve taught me something unexpected: there’s a unique mental edge that comes from training in private.

Not every rep is pretty. There’s no social pressure. There’s no coach to personally guide you. There’s no fellow gym rat vibing off your energy. Just you, your breath, your effort, and your attention.

It’s raw. And that’s what makes it powerful.

I worked with a gymnast once…

…who couldn’t perform well in practice unless her coaches were watching. When she knew eyes were on her, she’d power through her routine. But if no one was paying attention, she’d freeze.

Her intention wasn’t to rely on an audience—it just became her motivator. Gratefully, she worked through that struggle and ended up being recruited by a DI school, where she tapped into her inner fire and rocked it, whether people were watching or not.

This isn’t rare. A lot of athletes tie their focus to external validation or performance pressure. And it may work for a while, but it’s not sustainable.

The mental edge of invisible effort

Some cool things happen when you train without witnesses. You build:

• Internal motivation. You’re not performing for praise, likes, or leaderboard status (unless you also have a Peloton and you are trying to move up the leaderboard, but ignore that part). You’re doing it because it matters to you.
  

• Emotional regulation. Without external hype, you learn to generate intensity from within—or meet yourself with gentleness when you need it.
  

• Focus resilience. You practice paying attention in “low-arousal” settings. This sharpens your ability to stay engaged no matter the environment.
  

• Identity clarity. You’re reminded that you don’t need to be seen to be an athlete, a mover, a strong human. You just are.

There’s no stage. No show. Just a quiet room and your next move.

What I’ve learned from my home gym workouts

Working out at home has stripped things down. It’s taught me to listen better— to my breath, to my body, to my inner dialogue. It’s reminded me that consistency doesn’t have to be flashy. And that discipline built in solitude often becomes the most unshakable kind.

So yes, we bought a Peloton before we had a dining room table. And it was one of the best decisions we ever made.

Here’s the truth: If I can keep showing up for myself, even when no one’s watching—I’m winning something bigger than a race.