The release of the Arnold Schwarzenegger starrer ‘Pumping Iron’ gave way to the golden era of bodybuilding. The Austrian-American became a beacon of the sport, with many athletes looking to him for inspiration. Arnold mesmerized people with his chiseled physique and showmanship. He exuded charisma that would impress the toughest of audiences.

Arnold was the answer to why bodybuilding was not just a sport but an art. But what is the significance of a bodybuilding artist’s most important tool- A mirror?

Arnold Schwarzenegger explains the importance of a mirror

The first thing probably anyone notices when stepping into a gym are the mirrors on every wall. The professionals practice their poses in front of a mirror as they show off their perfect physique. But that’s not the primary reason behind so many mirrors in a gym.

In 1977, Arnold gave an interview about the change in the bodybuilding scenario after the release of Pumping Iron. The documentary was an enormous hit, and it brought forth the sport in much-needed positive light. The interviewer asked Arnold, “Why are bodybuilders always looking in the mirror?” A question on the minds of millions of people.

“By looking in the mirror, you can find out what is missing in your body. If you should improve one area or if you should work harder in one area. Or if you do an exercise the right way,” replied Arnold. He continued to talk about what exercises he did and what area of the body it affected.

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Arnold’s approach to the significance of a mirror is the most logical one. Bodybuilders and gym-goers use the mirror as an aid to check their form when they exercise. The wrong form can often lead to severe injury, as the professionals lift a lot of weight. Injuries such as a nerve or a muscle tear are common if one doesn’t hold the correct form when working out.

The Grecian Ideal

Many of the studies by the ancient Greeks serve as the base for newer inventions in today’s time. The Olympics also originated in Ancient Greece over 3000 years ago. Similarly, the ancient Greeks had a set idea of what the male physique should look like. The excavated Greek and Roman statues also revealed the concept of the perfect physique, which laid the concept of the ‘Grecian Ideal.’

According to the Gracian ideal, the measurement of a perfect male physique should be: the flexed arms and calves should be 2.5 times larger than one’s non-dominant wrist. Shoulders should be 1.618 times larger than their waist. The chest should be 6.5 times larger than their wrist, and the upper leg should be 1.75 times larger than their knee.

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The man behind the Mr. Olympia statuette, Eugene Sandow, is considered the first man to achieve true muscularity based on this ideal.