French gym culture can teach you loads about the French. While my gym in town isn’t a hip or happening place, it’s still a gym and I enjoy people watching as much as the next gal. But one thing you might notice at my gym (and others I’ve visited in France) is that group fitness classes don’t have mirrors. Or if they do, you’re facing the wall on the other side of the room meaning when you’re working out, you’re not staring at your reflection. I found this really weird because in American gyms, the walls were lined with mirrors. You saw your reflection, it was normal and I liked it.
What gives?
Mirrors and French gym culture
I’m a huge proponent of mirrors in gyms. For me it’s normal to see your reflection in group fitness classes — along with everyone else’s. So imagine my surprise when I walked into my French gym’s group fitness studio early for the first time, set up my equipment for class and sat down facing the mirror only to realize later on I was facing the wrong direction. The mirrored wall was actually to the side of the class not used at all. We instead all faced the other side of the room, which had a mirror that was entirely concealed by dark fabric. What the heck was the point of that?
Differences between French and American gyms (yeah there are a bunch!) >>
For me, mirrors at the gym do 3 things:
- Help ensure my technique is correct. Sometimes what you think you’re doing and what you’re actually doing are two different things. If the instructor says make sure you’re fully extending your arm or keeping your knee over your toe, you may think you’re doing the move correctly but maybe you aren’t. It helps to see yourself. In BODYCOMBAT, I was sure my punches were on point but until I did them at home in my bathroom mirror, I didn’t realize my wrist was bent. I’d been developing this bad technique for months — and I saw it in the mirror at home right away and corrected it.
- Keep me from slacking off. If I see my energy starting to wane (not kicking or jumping as high, punching as hard, etc.), I step it up. I don’t want everyone else to see me slacking off and I don’t want to see myself looking like I ran out of steam. Sometimes you don’t notice your energy is dying until you literally see it in the mirror.
- Give me something to do when my mind wanders. I like to see what everyone else is doing. Yeah, I’m curious and I admit that, but seeing the group is part of group fitness after all. Seeing others working like a dog too can help motivate you when you see you’re not the only one sweating buckets. It’s not as fun when you see just the person next to you peripherally.
But in France?
Well, mirrors in group fitness classes are not our friends. Two separate French instructors told me the same thing. They’re taught in their training that the French actually become discouraged and self-conscious when they see themselves in the mirror and know that everyone else can see them too. They don’t like it at all and will actually not come to class at all or will stop coming if they know they’ll be looking at themselves in the mirror.
Say what?!?
I found this hard to believe but apparently it’s true. Seeing myself in the mirror motivates me more and I find it beneficial for the reasons mentioned above. I even asked the manager to try a class with uncovered mirrors for a change but he said people will just complain and he’ll get in trouble.
Totally weird. But that’s how it is!
I am an aerobics trained South African teacher, I cannot imagine working without mirrors! T’other Diane
Yes, I’m of the same mindset and I truly feel they serve a purpose. But I guess it’s what we’ve gotten used to as well. My first gym as a college student had mirrors and I guess I’ve just accepted them as commonplace, so when I moved to France and noticed fewer mirrors, it was strange to me. Guess SA is more like the US when it comes to gym culture. Thanks for checking out the post!
I’m with the French! At one time I attended a dance aerobics class in the Chicago suburbs three times a week for nine years. Still miss it. Can’t find anything like it anywhere else I’ve lived. We normally worked out in a room without mirrors. Occasionally we would need to move to a room with mirrors. It was horrible! I loved the class and felt sexy and energetic without mirrors and it was such a come down to see what I actually looked like!
Hi Teddee Grace, I understand what you mean. For a dance class where you feel the music and just let your body go, I can understand how it might be uncomfortable to go from a room without mirrors to a room with mirrors. I hope you can find a similar class you love where you are now!
Not something I had thought about before I think we just take it for granted that the gym will have mirrors most of them do here in Aus, well the ones I have been to do that and a lot of music
Yes, from what I’ve heard, Australian gyms are similar to those in the US. Mirrors all around to check your form, people watch, etc.
I’m french and when I lived in France all the gym classes I went to had mirrors and we faced them during the class! I don’t think it’s a general french thing, I think it depends your gym and the teacher!
Oh interesting! I figured it wasn’t a French thing either and that my gym just had fewer mirrors than what I was used to until I asked a few sport coaches and they explained this French mentality of not liking to see themselves in group fitness classes. Who knows, maybe it’s a regional thing? Or small town thing?
I prefer a gym without mirrors. I really don’t want to see myself and agree that it can be discouraging from even going to the gym. I can understand the need to check positions but I think that this can be learnt by learning to become aware of our body (no mirrors needed).
But if the only gym in your area had a bunch of mirrors would that stop you from going entirely? I kind of expect mirrors in the gym, like I’d expect there to be coffee sold at Starbucks. So it just comes with the territory for me.
Very interesting concept, Diane. Thanks for sharing this. Of course, I don’t get to look in the mirror when teaching group fitness classes, but I sure like to look in it while taking them. The only place I don’t like a mirror is yoga. But it does seem like a cool idea to have everyone just going off how they feel. Body awareness is definitely heightened when you have to think about what you’re doing without getting your reflection to correct.
Hello! So when you teach, you’re always facing the class and mirroring their movements? I just like seeing my efforts in the mirror. I like seeing my red face and sweaty chest. I guess without a mirror I’d still know I was working hard but seeing what a mess my hair is and everything just reinforces what my body is telling me. 😉 Hope you’re having a good weekend! Love your pup!
I’m with you – I need having the mirrors for the same reason. I like to see that my form is correct but also because, haha, I’m so competitive, I need a little healthy competition to keep me going (even if it is all in my own head). If I’m so tired and feel like slowing down, all I do is need to see someone else going strong and it helps to propel me.
Exactly, I love looking at other people. Usually the ones that are SUPER fit and energetic and the ones that are uncoordinated. Terrible, I know. But they’re both entertaining for different reasons. This one guy at my gym was so motivating in class, just a participant like me, and was even better than the instructors and he just moved away. Majorly bummed about that.
Ha! Personally I hate mirrors as watching myself exercise is a bit like watching a horror film. But you’re right, it’s odd, and very incongruous when you think of, say, the full frontal nudity in the swimming pool changing room.
Hahha Emily, I’m sure you’re better than you think. I have to say I’ve never been to a French public pool…