Are mirrors bad ?

[solarclimax]

I remember reading somewhere that it is a bad idea to train in front of a mirror, for example if you squat in front of a mirror it can give a faulse sense of technique or something like that. I think i read it in starting strength, or maybe it was somewhere else, i lent my copy to a freind and can't contact him any time soon, so was hoping if anyone on here could tell me why it's a bad idea to watch our selves in a mirror when performing various techniques ?

 

[thebadguy54]

I read that too. It was something about the mirror messing up your depth perception. Apparently when you squat you should be staring at the floor in front of you (about 3ft. in front). The floor will supposedly give you an indication sooner than a mirror if you loose balance or whatever.

I've always squatted with or without a mirror and didn't really notice a difference. Although, Rippetoe says stare at the floor and he is smarter than I am.

 

[Sculelos]

I read that too. It was something about the mirror messing up your depth perception. Apparently when you squat you should be staring at the floor in front of you (about 3ft. in front). The floor will supposedly give you an indication sooner than a mirror if you loose balance or whatever.

I've always squatted with or without a mirror and didn't really notice a difference. Although, Rippetoe says stare at the floor and he is smarter than I am.

Yea at a point 6-10 feet away from you, but whatever I look in the mirror and my form is spot on, err at least what I can tell from looking in the mirror...

...yes I know I am vain, and maby stupid, but my gym has mirrors everywhere!

 

[silver_shadow]

mirrors are evil

 

[solarclimax]

mirrors are evil

Cool, are they also bad for technique ?

I used to shave my own head in a mirror and sometimes if i wanted to shave the back of my head to my left and did this in the mirror i sometimes could not get my hand to go where i wanted it to, because the mirror was giving a faulse perception of up down left right.

Anyone else know of any reasons why mirrors can be bad for ones form/technique ?

 

[Protobuilder]

Ghosts always come out if you have a mirror around. So yes, they're bad.

 

[solarclimax]

Anyone have any serious answers to why mirrors can be bad for ones form/technique ?

 

[chicagobuffedbod]

I have to say I think they're necessary. If I don't have a mirror in front of me I am not inclined to squat as deeply. So I for one utilize them.

 

[solarclimax]

I have thought about it and it has become fairly obvious that mirrors give faulse impressions of depth perception. And to truely get a good understanding of our technique we need a good teacher/trainer whatever to correct our technique for us.
Video'in ourselfs from different angles would be a better alternative to using a mirror i think.

I started this thread because i thought that asking whether or not mirrors are bad for correcting our form/technique would be viewed as a serious question, considering the fact that people with bad form are risking injuries that could change their life in a bad way. Judging by a couple of the responses, some people who posted in this thread seem to think what i asked is silly maybe ?

mirrors are evil

Ghosts always come out if you have a mirror around. So yes, they're bad.

 

[chicagobuffedbod]

I don't think it's silly. But I wonder, what is considered wrong depth and perception. After all, if you look at yourself in the mirror at eye level, what could more more accurate? Someone that is several inches taller or shorter than you? Their perception is obviously skewed.
Honestly, what is considered accurate perception when it comes to this?

 

[solarclimax]

I don't think it's silly. But I wonder, what is considered wrong depth and perception. After all, if you look at yourself in the mirror at eye level, what could more more accurate? Someone that is several inches taller or shorter than you? Their perception is obviously skewed.
Honestly, what is considered accurate perception when it comes to this?

Weel if u go to a hall of mirrors where u get different types of mirrors that make u look thinner fatter taller ect, those would be giving you extremely wrong depth perception.

Not forgetting when you look in a mirror everything is reversed as apposed to when a person is looking at you face on.

Wether or not someone is taller or shorter than you doesn't matter, they can see the exact points at witch your feet hands legs are ect.
Whereas in a mirror u don;t get the whole picture

 

[floridalife]

All i know is i look 20 lbs heavier in one mirror than another in my house, stupid mirrors

 

[Sculelos]

I know looking in the mirror when I deadlift or squat can help me sometimes but If I stare at it I make mistakes so I usually just look at a point on the floor 6-10 feet away from me, sometimes glance at it though.

 

[mrgravez]

I do Olympic lifts and when I look at the mirror for over head squats or classic snatch I tend to lose my balance I find that looking down at the floor a few feet in front of me helps me stay balanced every time, but that's just me.

 

[nodiggitydave]

i always have a different perception of myself in mirrors too. the mirror i have in my room, since i always look at myself the same, i barely feel big. if i look at myself in a mirror in the gym i always feel bigger... hmm, not sure where that comes into it.

 

[super_rice]

if you use a mirror you loose out on using your proprioceptors - would a gymnast use a mirror?

the arguement about it "helping your form" is utter bullshit.

 

[Nathan]

It depends really. I like having the mirror from time to time in order to be able to equate the feel of the exercise ith how it looks. Unfortunately, you can't feel what other people are doing - the best you can do is watch someone squat with great form and then try to mimic them. The best way to do that I woul dsay is to use a mirror at first, but the whole time pay attention to how the motion FEELS and once you think you have good form, you shouldn't need the mirror anymore.

Really, you don't need the mirror if you have a good guide or someone helping you get started.

 

[Sculelos]

i always have a different perception of myself in mirrors too. the mirror i have in my room, since i always look at myself the same, i barely feel big. if i look at myself in a mirror in the gym i always feel bigger... hmm, not sure where that comes into it.

I'm kinda the same, I think it has to do with the amount of lighting in the gym and that your much more pumped up as well so that increases the perceived size. Although I'm still skinny however you look at it.

 

[nodiggitydave]

opposite for me really, i have a highbodyfat, round 20%, when I look in my bedroom mirror i feel a muscley fatty when I'm in the gym all pumped up and see myself compared to others, i feel better.

 

[silver_shadow]

alot of the reason why you look different in different mirrors is because of difference in lighting where the mirrors are located.

about form - i don't see any reason why you should mirrors to maintain correct form, more so if you have someone either taking vids of you to analyze later, or if you have someone to correct the flaws right there.