Squats without a mirror

[Rt8961]

Anybody have problems with squatting without a mirror? There is this one rack at the gym that a column blocks most of the mirror and every time I squat there, it seems my form is a little unstable and I have more balancing problems. It's like I lose a bit of my equilibrium.

[Plateauplower]

Anybody have problems with squatting without a mirror? There is this one rack at the gym that a column blocks most of the mirror and every time I squat there, it seems my form is a little unstable and I have more balancing problems. It's like I lose a bit of my equilibrium.

Pick a spot on the floor far enough away to keep your head nuetral and focus on that. There are mirrors in front of teh Racks I use and I try to not even see my reflection just pretty much focus on stairing strait ahead. If I watch myself I am worse off.

[Jtbny]

Anybody have problems with squatting without a mirror? There is this one rack at the gym that a column blocks most of the mirror and every time I squat there, it seems my form is a little unstable and I have more balancing problems. It's like I lose a bit of my equilibrium.

I use to have issues squatting without a mirror. Now I prefer not to have one. My home gym doesn't have a mirror I face during squats but my current gym I go to does. Now, having done so many reps without a mirror I'm good but it took some getting use to. A few weeks out of a meet I don't squat in front of a mirror at all. Real easy to think you are low enough from the front image when in actuality you are squatting high.

What PP said is good advice. If you are still having trouble focus on an object in front of you and go from there.

[DuracellBunny]

If I watch myself I am worse off.

That's very common. Because we are predators, our bodies tend to follow whatever we are looking at (it's why people feel drawn towards the edges of bridges when they keep their eyes on 1 vehicle), so there is a tendency to lean forwards when looking in the mirror.

[Iceman1800]

Never squatted in front of a mirror crew....

[Richie71]

I've got too used to squatting with a mirror. On Saturday's, I even drive five minutes extra to a different gym, because it has mirrors in front of the squat rack. Also three times as much kit for calf raises so less waiting later.

[JWoodCF10]

I never use mirrors as I become fixated in a non-helpful way. When I squat I pick a point in the distance which I can focus on.

I use vid's to check my form, which I do periodically.

[BenchPress3000]

I try to avoid squatting with mirrors - realistically it doesnt do much for spotting technique issues since you are in motion. JWoodCF10 is right about using a cell phone to video yourself - much better way of looking for things to work on.

[grubman]

Anybody have problems with squatting without a mirror? There is this one rack at the gym that a column blocks most of the mirror and every time I squat there, it seems my form is a little unstable and I have more balancing problems. It's like I lose a bit of my equilibrium.

From the responses so far you might think you are alone...you aren't. I'm the same way. Fortunately I have a big mirror in front of my rack, so it's not an issue.

I'm guessing I could get used to doing them without a mirror...but I can't imagine any benefit.

[blue9steel]

I'm using the mirror right now since I'm fixing a bar placement issue but normally I prefer not to be looking in the mirror, it's distracting.

[olyw8lifter]

I'm the opposite, actually. Squatting in front of a mirror messes me up due to focusing on how I look, not how my body is moving during the lift. Mirrors don't mess me up so much that I can't squat, just makes me feel uncomfortable.

[MrNismo]

That's very common. Because we are predators, our bodies tend to follow whatever we are looking at (it's why people feel drawn towards the edges of bridges when they keep their eyes on 1 vehicle), so there is a tendency to lean forwards when looking in the mirror.

Yep, it's called Target Fixation and is a very real phenomenon. Not sure about other states but in WA, target fixation is part of the curriculum you need to learn to get your motorcycle license.

Back on topic, the mirror at my gym is a few feet in front of the squat rack and I hate it!

[melDorado]

My old gym only had a side mirror and I loved it because I could glance to check my depth. Now I have to film myself, its a hassle and replaying my grunts makes me cringe. Don't really watch myself much in the front mirror tbh - what is there to see apart from knee cave which I don't tend to suffer with.

[DuracellBunny]

My old gym only had a side mirror and I loved it because I could glance to check my depth. Now I have to film myself, its a hassle and replaying my grunts makes me cringe. Don't really watch myself much in the front mirror tbh - what is there to see apart from knee cave which I don't tend to suffer with.

I had a Mr Miyagi "wipe on, wipe off" style coach when I first learned to squat. 3 months of squatting with 1 plate, squat to depth with eyes closed (that REALLY messes with your balance) and some other annoying stuff. I'll occasionally get somebody to watch my form, but my body just knows where depth is after 20+ years of squats.

[jeromefr]

Anybody have problems with squatting without a mirror? There is this one rack at the gym that a column blocks most of the mirror and every time I squat there, it seems my form is a little unstable and I have more balancing problems. It's like I lose a bit of my equilibrium.

I was squatting 350lbs for set of 10/12. First time i tried without miror 225 was hard. The activation of muscle was totally differend. I had to start from 0. So i squatted without miror for 1 year. Then in another club i squatted with a miror. I noticed few thing = i was placing the bar higher than before and my torso was slighly bending on the left side. So since i always squat with a mirror to correct my technique

[Flounderbout]

I was squatting 350lbs for set of 10/12. First time i tried without miror 225 was hard.

I can believe this. Oh wait. No I can't.

[jeromefr]

I can believe this. Oh wait. No I can't.

I'm serious, same trouble with deadlift, without a miror i was lost. Was deadlifting 500 for reps, without a miror 450 was hard.

[TheRealAPOLLOS]

Nationally certified motorcycle safety instructor here. The target fixation thing is pretty much universal in instructional curriculum.

[itsagoodday]

Anybody have problems with squatting without a mirror? There is this one rack at the gym that a column blocks most of the mirror and every time I squat there, it seems my form is a little unstable and I have more balancing problems. It's like I lose a bit of my equilibrium.

That may be just because parts of you are appearing and disappearing around the column as you move. Our brains are pretty easily messed with. There is a bench in the free weights section of my gym that is bolted to the floor right where two mirrors meet, and when you look at yourself, it looks like your right arm and right side of your body is several inches higher than the left. If you try to watch yourself in that mirror, you will wind up doing everything crooked.

All of the racks at my gym have mirrors right in front of them, and I'd rather they didn't. I've gotten really good at just not focusing on anything when I lift though. I don't really "see" the mirrors or anything else, pretty sure they could put a chainsaw juggling act in front of me at this point and I'd look right through them. This is really useful for me at meets as well, where there are no mirrors and you don't necessarily want to be distracted by anything happening in front of you. At my first meet, I was staring straight ahead during a deadlift, accidentally locked eyes with some poor fellow in the audience for the entire lift, and got distracted by how freaked out he looked because I was staring at him.

[Rt8961]

I tried to focus on one spot on the mirror and it was awkward. I guess its going to take some practice to get used to. Hopefully I won't tip over😁

[vanhoud]

Ive been squatting for about 2 years now, always in front of a mirror. Today i tried a squat rack with no mirror for the first time, and i felt very unstable and everything just off. it was crazy, never thought it would be that much different.

[wesleysh21]

I feel like I can get more reps of anything in the mirror. I get so fixated and distracted by watching the man in the mirror, it's like it takes a little extra time for the pain to register in my brain. I definitely prefer a mirror, but I have no issues without one.

I love the gym I've been going to for the last 2 months. They've got one squat rack near a corner, so you can watch your squat form in the front and side mirror.