Mirror as a great help to VRT

[Focus]

Hi, all of you,

I sometimes train myself in front of a mirror, in my VRT workout, for 2 reasons :

1 - It is very helpful to visualize your resistance, whatever it is (lifting a barbell or pulling trucks).

2 - It helps focussing on the sollicitated muscles, because you can see them swelling up and you can see your veins swelling up as well and appearing on the surface of the skin. This is very encouraging.

Focus

[gruntbrain]

Focus
I prefer closed eyes for superior focus but I'm far from a VRT expert. Moreover, VRTing without a mirror is often the only practical option.

[Focus]

I'll give a try to this "closed eyes" version.

[VRT Man]

Gentlemen, I have tried both. Bob White ("Rubberbus") turned me on to the closed eyes system. A nice technique. I agree with Grunt, one can intensify the 'internal vision' with the closed eyes, and one is more mentally able to see, hear, feel, and touch the imaginary weights. However, I took a tip from John who mentions looking at oneself in a mirror (and Atlas suggested it too) for the DVR's, and I often use a tall hall mirror to observe when doing them. Both are good.

Some of the best VRT I've ever done is using neither, however, and doing VRT on a dusty path in the middle of the woods. Being in a deep, dark, forest and doing it really enlivens my imagination.

--Greg Mangan

[Focus]

Thanks for your input, Greg.

I did not know that the use of mirrors had already been suggested for VRT.

As I indicated in a previous message, I've tried closed eyes VRT, and I like it, too. A great focussing.

Like you I think both methods are worth it.

Focus.

[Andy62]

VRT exercises have been practiced in yoga for thousands of years. In ancient times students would perform their VRT exercises in front of a well developed yogi master and mimic his movements so their imaginations would duplicate his perfect development in their bodies. Yogis believe that the body is developed by the mind. Today since we don't have access to a yogi master we substitute a mirror instead. In "Yoga And Health" on page 163 it says," While exerting our will power or imagination, we observe the moving muscles and send a flow of prana to them.....The constructive power of consciousness will give the muscles the shape and the size which we hold in our imagination."

[jaymo]

At the risk of seeming "profane", I will confess to doing VRT in front of the...TV!

Since I do it in the early morning, I find that watching "Squack box" business news on MSNBC goes well with my flexing repetoire...

I usually switch to an old movie whilst doing my subsequent Power Calisthenics!

Just a note from the real world of working man's exercise!

[jaymo]

I think you are really onto something here, Greg!

Just as the ancient Greeks and their imitators, the Romans, only needed an open space to exercise, we have gone "Back to the Future" with the DVR's, and other components of Transformetrics. True exercise does NOT need gym memberships, elaborate equipment, drugs and supplements...

Real food: lean meats, LOTS of fruits and vegetables, some dairy perhaps; that's all that is necessary.

Years ago, a fine instrumental musician told me "You should be able to make music, all alone, even on a mountain top- NOTHING else should need to be present!"

No synthesizers, electricity, microphones, gadgets, drums, etc...

He was right about music;(I just recorded myself singing a gospel song in the woods, all alone), and you are right about exercise!

[Andy62]

I sometimes exercise in front of a TV as well. While using a mirror helps you concentrate and direct energy to the target muscle group; if you work at it the use of a TV, in it's own way, can help you develop your concentration by over coming a diversion. Tiger Wood's father, Earl Woods, was a veteran of Special Forces where he had been trained under a variety of combat [disruptive] conditions to teach him to complete his mission inspite of whatever was going on around him. In training Tiger he used to do all kinds of things to divert Tiger's attention during his practice sessions with the idea the it would help him to develop the ability to concentrate inspite of the diverting activities that would be going on around him during an actual game stiuation. We do not live our lives in pristine, greenhouse, environments and sometimes it is good to exercise under a wide variety of conditions.That is one of the advantages of this type of training. I once did a whole DVT/VRT workout while waiting for my car while the tires were being changed. I purposefully selected the exercises that I used so they would not be obvious other people in the waiting room.

[VRT Man]

I once did a whole DVT/VRT workout while waiting for my car while the tires were being changed. I purposefully selected the exercises that I used so they would not be obvious other people in the waiting room.

My most unusual environment was on a beach at Pike Lake in Wisconsin. Off of a crowded beach, in water up to my neck, I performed a full VRT workout, under water of course, in between time playing with my kids.

Greg Mangan

[gruntbrain]

Water's accommodating reistance provides a change of pqce way to perform Power Cals

[Andy62]

"The Magic Of Believing" by Claude M. Bristol is a book that you might find interesting.It has a great chapter in it on using the mirror for self suggestion and motivation.