Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall #1

The use of mirrors in training is usually not given much attention in spite of their ubiquity. On a sociological level, the mirror fulfills an interesting psychological function, i.e. it divides the viewer into two parts, that of the viewer and the viewed. Stated another way, the mirror creates a situation where the observer can also become the observed.

This division allows the observer, who is the causal agent in the relationship, to act upon the observed, i.e. the mirror image, as the object of change.

What does this mean?

First, it allows the Agent (I prefer agent over observer because this is a dynamic relationship in which intention (read: willpower) and force are applied) the freedom to objectify her target and de-personalize it. In an athletic or fitness context the image is normally seen as undesirable and must be re-formed into a competitive or aesthetically pleasing state.

Seen in a context of self-mastery, the objectified self is infinitely imperfect and, therefore, always subject to improvement. If the objectified self were to attain a perfected state then there would be no need for the Agent to remain an agent of change and could, theoretically, revert to a state of passive observation and self-satisfaction.

However, and again, theoretically, the ravages of time on the human body will always ensure that any state of satisfaction will only last a short while before "imperfection" sets in again requiring willpower and force to bring the body back into its idealized vision.