Mirrors

[Doc2029]

Ok, what is with mirrors and people lifting in a gym? I mean at the gym I lift at everyone crowds around the mirrors when they lift. It can't be to make sure their form is good. I know that isn't it form the rocking, flapping, not minding the negitives, and poor posture when lifting proves that. So really are people just the vain? I could care less if I am in a mirror or not when I lift unless, I am trying to watch my form. Which watching your own form is hard. So, it just drive me crazy. Especailly when I am trying to dead lift and someone is trying to get around you while you are lifting so they can stand in front of you so they can see themselves while they lift.

[maverick]

Yes, its vanity, its the reason most people are in the gym in the first place. Myself not excluded. Thats said, I workout in my basement now with no reflective surfaces.

[CF-OC_gal]

I was taught to use the mirror to check on form.

For the last year I've been working out without mirrored walls and I realize what a distraction they have been. I've been too dependent on the visual feedback and thinking less about what a proper "setup" to lift feels like.

Mirrors are very helpful for dynamic visualized resistance (DVR) bodyweight-only training performed shirtless as demonstrated in the Discuss Fitness Summer 2007 Newsletter. They provide an excellent visual validation of how well you are engaging your muscles.

I find it difficult to perform these exercises with maximum intensity if a vanity mindset is present.

[.V.]

I have one mirror in my gym. It's over in the corner and I just get it out when I need a form check. When I see myself in it it's usually by accident.

[Doc2029]

I think people just like to stand in front of them so they can see themselves moving the weight. Most people at the gym I go to have the worst form. Some times I just want to laugh at how poorly they are lifting. I also wonder how long it will be before they blow out their backs, knees, shoulders etc from doing lifts with too much weight forcing them to use really crappy form.

[ajarvis]

I personally use it for form, and I believe most people think they are too. When I was at the gym yesterday there was a lady doing some wonky shoulder presses, and the lady next to her corrected her form for her. You could see the first lady watching her form in the mirror after it was corrected. So for the most part they probably think they're fine form wise as they watch themselves lift. I wish if someone saw me using bad form they'd tell me! It's the main reason I don't try many new lifts! I'm afraid of bad form, and injury. I'd love to do say clean and jerk, but am not 100% confident on proper form, and I can honestly say in the last 6 years have never seen anyone do it in the gym before!

[Todd]

I use the mirrors at my gym to check my form when doing certain exercises, check my pump between sets to help gage my workout success and see how my body parts are coming along..specifically if I am working on bringing up a weak part (which there's always at least one). The last thing I use the mirrors for is to check out the eye candy that once in a while graces my gym...haha! (of course, I only do this between sets when I have the extra time...and only if something happens to catch my eye by chance)

[ajarvis]

I miss eye candy lol. That was a nice perk about a co-ed gym. Checking out the guys in the weights section I was often the only girl there.

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by ajarvis

I wish if someone saw me using bad form they'd tell me! It's the main reason I don't try many new lifts! I'm afraid of bad form, and injury.

Wow! I wish that feeling were more wide-spread. One thing we run up against a lot (and granted, MOST of it quite likely has to do with how the trainer approaches the member to comment), but many responses include wanting to be left alone, they know what they're doing, they don't "like" the safer way (usually because it involves lifting less weight to correct their form), they've "been doing it this way for 10 years and [are] just fine," -- and a host of other things.

We're really only trying to help....and rather than laughing at people with bad form, it scares me to see it, precisely because I know they're going to end up blowing out their back or knees or shoulders (usually back),....but given backs are my specialty I shouldn't complain since a lot of 'em end up in my lap much later. But it's scary to watch, and we do try to help.

Have you tried asking a trainer? Do you know anyone in or out of the gym who knows how to do the lifts you're interested in so they can help instruct you safely? Man, I wish more people had your attitude, I really do!

[Doc2029]

Actually what I do if attempting a new lift is I ask one of the trainers to spot me for a set to make sure my form is good. I am not asking for a chunk of their time just long enough for me to do 6-8 reps of a lift to have my form checked. The great thing about the interent you can find a ton of clips on how to do most lifts.

Also, if I am lifting and if my form sucks I would love it if a trainer would come by and tell me. but I think in some cases they get so much push back from people that they don't like to do it at all.

I think Cursor said once "1 rep with good form is better than 100 with poor form".

[ajarvis]

Originally Posted by Merrida

Wow! I wish that feeling were more wide-spread. One thing we run up against a lot (and granted, MOST of it quite likely has to do with how the trainer approaches the member to comment), but many responses include wanting to be left alone, they know what they're doing, they don't "like" the safer way (usually because it involves lifting less weight to correct their form), they've "been doing it this way for 10 years and [are] just fine," -- and a host of other things.

We're really only trying to help....and rather than laughing at people with bad form, it scares me to see it, precisely because I know they're going to end up blowing out their back or knees or shoulders (usually back),....but given backs are my specialty I shouldn't complain since a lot of 'em end up in my lap much later. But it's scary to watch, and we do try to help.

Have you tried asking a trainer? Do you know anyone in or out of the gym who knows how to do the lifts you're interested in so they can help instruct you safely? Man, I wish more people had your attitude, I really do!

I imagine it's difficult to find an appropriate way to approach everybody since who knows how they're going to respond!

I mean I don't want to have to lower my working weights either, but if my form is wrong then it's wrong!

The main one I want to learn right now is the clean and jerk. I'm not sure who I can ask. I've never seen anyone at the gym doing it - and don't know the trainers too well. The one I was going to ask no longer works there lol. The last lift I learned was deadlift, and it took me long time, but when I found a trainer I was comfortable asking about my form she said I had it down - it just took awhile lol. So slowly slowly.

Originally Posted by ajarvis

The main one I want to learn right now is the clean and jerk.

Ahh, the seduction of the clean and jerk, second only to the squat snatch. Very technical, challenging and an awesome whole-body compound lift.

I'd start with practicing power cleans, front squats and push presses, each separately, then combined. Lots of stuff on youtube but a book would be helpful if you are dead-serious.

3x8 or 5x5 of a power clean and push press workout is a quick "wham bam slam I'm done mam" anaerobic and whole-body workout.

[ajarvis]

Thanks I'll take a look at those other exercises. Can't think of what they look like right now...