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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I don’t really understand this.  Are people really so into the “do whatcha want, whenever ya want” philosophy?  Especially with clothing?  To each their own, I suppose.  Or maybe I’m just getting old at 38.  I have no issues with my body.  I don’t want to hide anything.  I just don’t want to look like I’m spending a day at the beach or pool – there’s a time and place for everything, and I think many young people forget that.  Or don’t care. And yes, I think it’s sad.  Or am I spending too much time on liberal fashion blogs where people, well, weren’t “raised that way,” so to speak?

Over the winter, I was looking for non-leggings pants to go with some of my tops.  I DO wear leggings (as you saw in my #nosolidblackforlent pictures on Instagram), but mostly for more barre-centric classes opposed to personal training or Pilates.  Do you know how difficult it can be if you’re looking for something that isn’t black?  There are tons of non-black choices for leggings, but pants?  Not so much.  Maybe I’m just too picky and dealing with a so-called #firstworldproblem.  Okay, I admit it.  I AM dealing with a #firstworldproblem.  But it doesn’t mean I can’t rant about it, right?

A lot of people in the fashion world just see me as a prude and probably more conservative than I should be.  Many even think I’m uncreative and the more militant might think I’m holding progress back a few decades.  However, they can think what they like.  As long as they don’t become too aggressive and bully-ish (which, unfortunately, they often are), I’m fine with it.  I just want more options.  Is that too much to ask for?  Let’s hope things will change this year!

Image credit: Mtsaride/Shutterstock

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