The Best At-Home Fitness Machines of 2024
Ditch the gym membership

What are Fitness Mirrors? 

Fitness mirrors resemble regular mirrors, fitting seamlessly into your home’s decor. But they offer a lot more than just your reflection. Through integrated technology, you can stream high-quality video classes, track your workouts, play music, and get feedback from professional instructors. You’ll have the benefits of a fitness studio in your living room.

Most brands offer a wide variety of workouts including HIIT, yoga, boxing, and dance. Most workouts are led by professional trainers and can either be streamed live or on-demand, so you can work out at any time. Many smart mirrors on the market also come with equipment such as bars and handles and mimic weight machines, so you can replicate the workouts you would otherwise do at the gym. 

How Do Fitness Mirrors Work?

Most fitness mirrors are wall-mounted, but some are freestanding. You can set them up wherever you want to work out in your home. With touchscreen technology or through your phone, you can quickly select the workout you want and participate in a live class or choose from a library of on-demand classes. Some fitness mirrors use integrated cameras to feed images of your workout to professional instructors who can give you feedback. Others have motion-capture technology to monitor your workout and give computer-generated tips. 

Additionally, many fitness mirrors come complete with equipment so you can recreate the gym experience at home. This can range from free weights and kettlebells to resistance bands and yoga mats. If you want to customize your workout, Bluetooth connections can enable you to play your own music or sync to other devices like heart rate tracking wearables. 

Most fitness mirrors will require an ongoing subscription for their classes in addition to purchasing the base unit and extra equipment. In most cases, a subscription enables you to participate in a range of different fitness activities, so you can vary your workout depending on your goals and even your mood!

What Are the Benefits of Using Fitness Mirrors? 

Fitness mirrors enable you to work out with professional trainers at any time. Exercising at home can help fitness become an easy part of your day. But it can be tough to figure out how to get started or to know if you’re doing the right thing. Fitness mirrors solve this by giving you access to thousands of high-quality video classes and live sessions with professionals. You also won’t have to worry about finding a locker or feeling self-conscious in your gym clothes like you would at the gym.

Fitness mirrors also help you improve your form as you work out. You can follow along with the instructor on-screen and, in some cases, receive feedback on your technique. This can be useful for beginners if you’re not sure how to do a certain exercise. It can also benefit more advanced exercise enthusiasts by helping you train smarter, so you get more out of each set. For example, if you’re not extending your arms to their fullest or supporting your back in the right way, some fitness mirrors can alert you to fix your technique. This can help you maximize your workout and avoid injury. 

Another benefit of fitness mirrors is that they can increase your motivation. Having a professional leading your class can encourage you to keep going when you’re tired and help push you to the next level. Some mirrors add gamified features that track your workouts and challenge you to beat your previous personal best. Others enable you to connect with friends and watch them work out in their own homes through the integrated camera. By syncing the mirror with your wearable devices or phone, you can view your heart rate and play your own music.

Some fitness mirrors even have useful functions when you’re not exercising. You can use them as giant tablets or speakers. And when they aren’t switched on, they remain inconspicuous in your home.

How to Choose the Right Fitness Mirror for Your Needs?

When choosing a fitness mirror, the first thing to consider is what kind of workouts you want to do. Most fitness mirrors enable you to connect to live or on-demand sessions in various exercise styles. But before you buy one, it’s best to check that it offers the workouts you’re most interested in doing. You can also check whether your chosen brand offers training programs or one-off classes, or if it includes other routines like meditation classes or recovery sessions. Some fitness mirrors also come with workout equipment to complement your routine, so look out for the additional extras that suit your fitness goals. 

You’ll also need to decide where you want to put your smart mirror, which might restrict what size mirror you can get and whether you can get a wall-hanging or freestanding version. For some mirrors, you will need to drill holes in your wall to hang them, which may not work in your home. You should also check if the mirror’s sensors only work within a specified range, which might limit its viability in your available space. Some mirrors have built-in storage for your equipment, which could be useful if you have a smaller workout area. You may also want to check if the company offers professional installation or if you’ll need to set up your mirror on your own. 

The option for real-time feedback is also something to look into. Some mirrors will enable a trainer to watch your workout and give you pointers. Others will provide digital feedback using motion capture technology. Think about which option you prefer. A live professional might be easier to relate to, but if you’re working out at unusual times, it might be preferable to have access to a virtual trainer. 

Additionally, check out the potential for connecting to other smart devices. Bluetooth capability can add another layer to the fitness mirror by enabling you to connect your phone or wearable device for heart rate monitoring, music streaming, or to use headphones for a quieter workout. Whether you want the ease of a touchscreen mirror or are happy controlling the device from your phone is also something to consider. 

In terms of cost, you can compare the prices of the base units for different fitness mirrors. However, you should also factor in any optional extras like equipment. You will also need to check the price of a subscription to the ongoing service. Usually, subscriptions are monthly and may cost extra for having more than one profile on the device. If you’re looking to share the mirror with your partner or family members, a bundle deal is worth keeping an eye out for.