Why? Mirrors help guide you when you’re working out. Yes, it doesn’t really matter if you’re on a treadmill, elliptical or bike, but for yoga, barre and other movement-based exercises? They help A GREAT DEAL. Especially if you’re not the most balanced person in the world.

I’m a barre and Essentrics person. The barre studio I go to is mirror-free, but I’ve been attending enough classes with a specific instructor to know her routine and feel comfortable without the help of a mirror. However, I’ve found that when there is a sub or if I have to attend another class due to a scheduling conflict, I might have to rely on a mirror to help me with the various movements – especially if it’s a faster-paced class. And mirrors can help prevent injuries, too. Do you REALLY want to hurt yourself, and thus, not be able to go to class? Especially if it’s something you love? I think not.

I know size diversity activists typically are extremely adamant about mirrorless gyms and most will NOT make room for debate. These people don’t even WANT to hear my side of the story (surprise, surprise). I find it very sad and very typical of today’s “snowflakes.” Seriously, people, how can you consider yourself “woke” if you don’t let others speak? Your idea of what’s “right” and forcing it on the rest of the world is just as bad as the other side forcing their views on you. Or, they will close the conversation by saying something along the lines of “thanks for your comment.” And they leave it at that, without anything further. That more or less translates to “you’re totally wrong, dahhhhhhling, and *I* will ALWAYS be right!!!” I really don’t know how many eye roll emojis to insert for something like this.

Let’s just put it this way: mirrors work for some people. It HELPS some people. It even makes some people MORE CONFIDENT about themselves because they know they’re doing things correctly and WILL GO BACK FOR MORE CLASSES. The gym will make money and the client will be satisfied because he or she is becoming MORE FIT. Exercise not only helps improve physical health but mental health as well. And isn’t that a good thing?

Image courtesy by Vereshchagin Dmitry/Shutterstock

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This class is different.  It’s only 45 minutes (opposed to an hour), and doesn’t feature ANY mat work (which was the ONE THING about barre I LOATHED as crunches can make me dizzy).  Of course, it’s not any gentler, which is a good thing.  In fact, I’m finding that I get MORE of a workout in those 45 minutes than I have in any one hour barre class I’ve taken in the past.  It’s likely because this class concentrates A LOT on glute and leg work, which I like.  And I feel great afterwards (okay, I was ABSOLUTELY EXHAUSTED after the first session, probably because my body wasn’t used to this version of barre).

Since there isn’t work on the mat at all, the class focuses much more on the barre and centre, in about a 55-45 rate (though these sessions are 45 minutes long, one STILL spends more time at the barre, probably an extra few minutes).  Like most classes, we start with a warmup at the centre, and then move to the barre.  This is followed by some work with weights at the centre and ends with a cool down back at the barre.  The 45 minutes go by very quickly and unlike some studios, I barely notice the music (I HATE loud music, and it’s probably why I stopped going to clubs/bars soon after I finished university.  I can count on ONE HAND how many non-classical/jazz concerts I’ve been to).  The only point of criticism I have for this particular studio that every session is more or less the same, without many new routines.  However, barre is relatively new to the studio, so things might change over the next few months.

I think this class is here to stay, at least for the time being.  I will also be trying some of their yoga classes as I’m looking for something gentle to replace Essentrics for the summer.  The yoga class I’ve signed up for focuses on restoring and destressing one’s body and mind – excellent, as I’m trying to get into a more “mindful” lifestyle.  I’ll report back!

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