Last Update On March 19, 2012
The Squat And The Mirror
Should I squat in front of a mirror?
by Rusi
Good question. I see mirrors in front of most power or squat racks. It's like an unwritten rule. There must be mirror in front of the squat rack. However the fact that something is popular does not make it right. Coca-cola and cigarettes are also popular. Are they useful? In most cases not really.
Squatting in front of a mirror is bad for quite a few reasons. The most important issue is proper technique. Most people may think I'm crazy but I don't recommend squatting in front of a mirror if you are a beginner because the mirror lies to you. You should learn to feel your body without the need to look in a mirror. That kinesthetic awareness has to be developed otherwise you will never learn to squat or deadlift.
If you don't know how deep you are squatting without a mirror you don't know how to squat and lack experience squatting.
If you need a mirror to make sure your back is perfectly straight you don't know how to squat.
Think about it. We are walking perfectly fine without looking in the mirror, we are running without looking in a mirror, we are making sex without looking a mirror, we are cooking without looking a mirror, we play sports without looking in a mirror...Squatting is an extremely natural movement. There is absolutely no need to use a mirror for it.
Bro...the squat rack in the gym has a mirror. How can I fix it?
First, if you have access to a power cage just set the pins on the opposite side and squat with your ass against the mirror. If that's not an option take some kind of a sweater or something and try to cover some part of the mirror with it. You just have to cover a small area where you will be looking during squats. No need to cover the whole thing.
Bro...but the big guy in my gym squat in front of mirror?
It doesn't matter. The best squatters in the world never squat in front of mirror. Have you seen Olympic weightlifters squatting in front of a mirror? Their facilities are so poor there are barely enough squat stands let alone mirrors.
What's the mirror good for?
The mirror is good for fixing your hair and posing. It's not meant to be used for exercises the very same way you are not expected to play football in front of a mirror. There are a lot of fucked up things in the commercial gym such as peck decks machines, cable cross-overs and what not. Please, don't make me start. Stay away from the mirror and use it once the hard part is over.
If you can't feel it. The mirror won't help you.
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