Just about all gyms are full of mirrors. The reason is that mirrors help people perform exercises correctly. With any exercise, whether it be weight lifting or cycling, form matters. Correct form prevents injury and maximizes the benefit of the activity. Like any aid, a mirror can be a crutch.

If you constantly watch your form in your mirror, you lose consciousness of your body. Rather than paying attention to how your muscles feel, the movement of your arms or the position of your back, you are depending on the mirror to correct any mistakes. This can lead to incorrect form. Worse yet, if you have to sacrifice correct form in order to see the mirror, you run a serious chance of injury. Rather than looking at the mirror, focus internally. Are you tightening your abs? Is your back in a neutral plane or correctly bent for the exercise. Does your breathing match your movement? Are you achieving full range of motion?

Such an internal focus builds strength and reduces injury. Once you know how an exercise should feel when done correctly, you will be more able to tell when it is not being done correctly. More importantly, you will be more aware of when your body has become fatigued – a sign that it is time to end your workout.

Don’t get us wrong, mirrors can be a valuable aid. But, we’d rather you work with a certified personal trainer to get your form correct than stare at the mirror. Yes, a personal trainer does cost money. But when you weigh the cost of a personal trainer against the cost of treating an injury, a regular consultation to make sure your form is correct will suddenly seem very inexpensive.