It is high time that, like restaurants, gyms too had a dedicated selfie corner!
Because apparently a pump check cannot wait, you pause your set to give them room,. Some already do, so that there is room for people who actually want to use mirrors for a form check. In case you happen to be part of that minority who do not register their presence in the gym with a selfie every day or record their workout for the gram, you already have my attention. Only you would understand the struggle of finding the perfect spot in the gym where you can focus on your workout and keep a close watch on your form in the mirror. Somehow, it has become a common assumption that mirrors in gyms are primarily for photo shoots, and those, especially the unassisted ones, who want some space in front of the mirror to check their form are seen as an exception. If none of this has happened to you yet, I am sure you have had people walk too close while you concentrate on your set, as if they want to have a conversation. Turns out, they just wanted a quick pump check and a close selfie in the mirror, even if it meant almost standing face to face with you, with barely any breathing space. Then there are those moments when you need to get to the weights but someone is recording in the way. You wait or try to walk around them, only to realise that they are watching their video and may need another take. By now, you have spent more time trying to stay out of the frame than checking your own form. It is high time that, like restaurants, gyms too had a dedicated selfie corner. Nobody is asking anyone to give up their gym selfies. But having to ask for space to see yourself in a gym mirror shouldn’t be part of the workout. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test Get the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app.
You may not want to record your own workout, but that doesn’t mean you won’t feature in someone else’s. If you haven’t noticed this yet, try taking that spot facing the mirror with the perfect lighting and see how often you are stared at for occupying the space. You could be doing your squats wrong, but clearly the bigger concern is that you are doing them in someone’s selfie spot. Some may just walk up to check how long you will be working out for, and a few may nonchalantly plant their selfie stands right in front of you as an indication that you should move. Some may not care if you exist in the background, wiping your sweat or lying on the ground, dead after that last set of burpees. Asking if you are comfortable being filmed rarely seems to be part of the routine.