The high-tech fitness mirrors that aim to get you exercising more

Image source, iFit

The thought of having to watch yourself work out is not appealing to most people.

We don't look our best when we sweat on a treadmill or use a weights machine.

Some people like to look at their reflection in the mirrors at the gym.

The latest trend in home exercise is smart fitness mirrors, and it is these keep-fit enthusiasts who are most excited about it.

The high-tech mirrors are so tall that they can be used as a video screen and as a computer.

The idea is that you connect with an online trainer, who will appear on the mirror with your reflection.

The mirror on the more advanced devices has cameras and speakers so the trainer can observe your movements and suggest changes.

Users have the option of live one-to-one lessons or group classes with a number of workouts.

You can see and hear the trainer, but not the other way around, on the simpler mirrors. You can access a library of streamed workout videos.

Image source, iFit

If you go for a more basic model, you'll typically pay at least 1,000 for the mirror and a monthly subscription.

The touch-screen mirrors are connected to an artificial intelligence which can give feedback on your movements and suggest improvements.

The Vaha was the first mirror to be sold in the UK. It hit the market last year. Rival brands include Portl and ProForm.

Vaha describes its mirror as a place where you can get full personalised, immersive sessions for body, mind and nutrition.

Is it any advantage to be able to watch yourself work out?

Image source, Care OS

Colleen Logan, vice president of public relations at i Fit, the US-owner of Nordic Track and ProForm, says that seeing yourself on the mirror allows the user to adjust their form so they get the optimum benefits of the strength exercise.

There is merit to this argument, but Dr Anthony Papathomas has some concerns about it.

He says that exercising in front of your reflection can provide important feedback, for example on running technique or weight lifting form.

How do people with body image issues feel about this? It might be a problem for people who are new to exercise and want to make a lifestyle change.

Even for regular exercisers, we know there are many who experience body dysmorphia or eating disorders, and for them, seeing a reflection throughout their exercise might be troubling.

A smart mirror is also entering the market. These are mirrors that use technology to evaluate a user's skin and underlying health.

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The Care OS products are designed to replace the mirror above the sink in your bathroom.

Its mirrors use a camera and a number of sensors to analyse a person's skin and temperature, and then suggest a number of care routines. The user can access subscription-based skincare videos.

The mirror works with both voice and motion.

Image source, Care OS

She says that the bathroom is a place where you have your hands full, or wet, or with cream on them.

Dr Anoob Pakkar-Hull, a medical aesthetic, or beauty, consultant at Harley Street Specialist Hospital in London, says that this new technology has made the famous line "mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest of them all"?

Advances in artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and facial recognition bring a plethora of opportunities that we must leverage to give people the ability to assess and manage their health from home.

Dr Pakkar-Hull still has concerns about their accuracy and lack of touch interaction.

Image source, Anoob Pakkar-Hull

Dr Elena Touroni has concerns about fitness and wellbeing smart mirrors.

For someone who is already focused on perfection, and perhaps already notices every perceived flaw in their body, these mirrors could end up making their psychological difficulties worse.

Lee Chambers agrees that there is a risk of people working to perfection. He says that the smart mirrors have the ability to encourage health choices.

He says that the exercise mirror is useful for people who don't have time to go to the gym, but still want feedback on how they are getting on.