Is it Possible to Recreate the Studio Fitness Class Experience in the Mirror?

Are you looking for a method to boost the ante on your at-home workouts? Perhaps you’ve heard of the , a fitness device that looks like a standard decorative mirror but can stream exercise sessions through its concealed screen. Though the Mirror was the first linked workout mirror on the market, it now competes for space in your living room with gadgets from Tempo, Tonal, NordicTrack, etc. Is the Mirror capable of standing on its own? If you’re drawn to bodyweight workouts like yoga and barre, we believe so.

What is the Mirror?

The Mirror is the intelligent fitness mirror that began the whole frenzy, as you may have seen it all over Instagram. It appears to be a regular full-length mirror at first glance. When the Mirror is turned on, you may watch workouts on the concealed screen and follow along with your favorite activity. When you use the Mirror to exercise, you can see yourself in the Mirror and adjust your form to match your instructor’s if necessary.

You can choose from yoga, strength training, cardio kickboxing, and more from the considerable workout collection and filter by difficulty level, equipment used, and impact level (e.g., “ground only,” “up to down,” “no jumping”). You can choose from prerecorded or daily live lessons, in which you can engage with other participants and your instructor, and the Mirror’s 10,000+ sessions range from 5 to 60 minutes. You may either choose from the Mirror’s playlists for each class, such as pop, rock, and “throwback,” or connect to Apple Music and change out the tunes if you don’t like what the Mirror has chosen.

In addition, for $40, the offers one-on-one personal training sessions. We didn’t participate in any virtual training sessions, so we can’t comment on the experience, but it’s a valuable tool for individuals who want personalized instruction at home.

The Mirror displays how many estimated calories you’re burning during your workout (though you can disable this option), and you can connect a heart rate monitor via Bluetooth to check those numbers as well.

What is the price of the Mirror?

The Mirror costs $1,495 on its own, including the device, a pedestal if you don’t want to put it on the wall, and a lens cap to keep the camera covered when not in use. The subscription, which allows you to establish up to six profiles with one account, costs $39 each month.
You’ll almost certainly need some accouterments for your workouts, and one of the available package options includes a bundle of Lululemon gear (the business owns the Mirror). A branded heart rate monitor, resistance bands, a Lululemon The Reversible Mat 5mm, a Lululemon mat strap, a Lululemon yoga block, and a small foam roller are included in the Mirror Essentials, which costs $1,695. For $1,795, the Mirror Pro package contains one pair of Mirror weights (you may choose one pair ranging from 1 to 35 pounds) and a Lululemon workout towel. The Mirror Family bundle costs $2,045 and contains two except the Mirror stand, lens cap, and little foam roller.

We like the Mirror for a variety of reasons.

The outstanding instructors and classes

Every class I’ve taken with the has been enjoyable, challenging, and straightforward. Each instructor had a distinct teaching style, and I thoroughly loved every lesson. The Mirror’s extensive collection of live classes is one of its most appealing features. More than any other mirror we tried, the Mirror’s live courses allow you to interact with others in the class. The instructor can see you (assuming you’re not wearing a lens cap), encourage you, and provide criticism on your form. About a hundred additional individuals usually joined me during my classes, while some of the more popular ones had over 500 people. You can also communicate with others in the class by sending emoticons such as a cheerful face, a fire emoji, or a sweating emoji and adding a remark for others to read.

You can skip motions or rewind and repeat a set during prerecorded classes. And, when you create an account, the Mirror will ask whether you have any injuries or limits (you can change your survey answers at any time) and, if so, will suggest alternative movements throughout the class.

If you wish to workout without the Mirror, say while traveling, you may do both live and prerecorded courses on your phone.

It has a lovely design and is reflective.

The Mirror is undoubtedly the most attractive device we tested because of its simple design and frame, which allows it to blend into almost any environment. It not only appears like decor, but it also functions as an actual mirror, allowing you to see your reflection even when it is turned on. Our top two overall performances, Tempo Studio, and Tonal, both have a computer screen in place of a true reflective mirror. Both machines employ AI to provide form feedback, so there’s no need to verify your form in the first place. However, some users may prefer to assess themselves throughout their exercises.

We don’t like the Mirror for a variety of reasons.

It’s ideal for bodyweight exercises.

The Mirror’s primary flaw is that it’s excellent for bodyweight workouts, which I get tired of after a few weeks unless I can develop creative methods to increase the intensity. Though I enjoy the occasional bodyweight pilates practice or yoga flow, I prefer to push myself to get stronger by using weights, bands, or cable resistance. You won’t be able to do it with the Mirror if this is how you prefer to exercise.

You can take Mirror strength training classes—which are fantastic—and use the Mirror’s dumbbells, but they only go up to 35 pounds, which isn’t very heavy in the grand scheme of things. The dumbbells from the Mirror are “smart” and can couple with the Mirror to show you what weight you’re using, but the 1-pound dumbbells are $50, and the 35-pound dumbbells are $200. (For example, a 1-pound pair of costs $12 on Amazon, while a costs $80.) The Bowflex SelectTech 552, our favorite pair of adjustable dumbbells, costs $350 and includes weights ranging from 5 to 52.5 pounds per side.

This means that gaining power with the Mirror is more complex and costly. Tonal, another exercise mirror that uses resistance cables to allow users to lift to 200 pounds, is a better investment if you challenge yourself to raise bigger weights (though for a higher price tag than the Mirror).

Its lack of storage space

You’ll also need to find a method to keep any accessories you buy for the Mirror, such as dumbbells, resistance bands, ankle weights, and so on. The Tempo Studio, ProForm Vue, and NordicTrack Vault are among the mirrors we evaluated that include built-in storage for any equipment you might need, but the Mirror does not.

Is it a good idea to buy the Mirror?

Yes, if you wish to participate in live classes from the comfort of your own home and enjoy bodyweight exercises.
The or’sMiiggest advantage is its life lessons. Interacting with others is enjoyable, and receiving feedback from educators is beneficial. The MirrorMimore, unlike any other device I tested, seemed to foster a workout community.
However, despite the Mirror’sMiantastic programs and teachers, if you don’t love participating in live sessions or aren’t looking for a sense of community while you work out, you may not be able to justify the price tag. The yoga routines from , our favorite yoga app, were equally as enjoyable as the Mirror’sMiourses, and an Alo Moves subscription is only $20 per month. If the high-tech streaming doesn’t appeal to you, you may try out different gym courses in front of a mirror in your bedroom and save a lot of money.
In the end, the MirrorMis the way to go if you prefer bodyweight activities like pilates, yoga, or barre and want to duplicate the in-person class experience without leaving your house.