Exercise and Ramadan

We are living in a society which puts considerable importance on physical health and longevity.As long as we don’t get obsessed about this and make it into a god,which many people do, it is fine and well.During the month of Ramadan,however,we,need to make some adaptations.I don’t believe that intense aerobic exercise of any kind or hot Yoga are compatible with fasting.As I have stated in the past ,the two most relevant physiological problems during Ramadan are dehydration and hypoglycemia.Both are avoidable but one needs to be cautious.Any form of exercise that induces sweating should be avoided as it can induce dehydration and any intense forms of exercise could compromise our glucose storage and this can give rise to hypoglycemia.That is why ,generally,diabetics are not able to fast.

On an interesting side-note I was told that the Tunisian Olympic team used to do their training in the night after tarawih.That makes perfect physiological sense.If you have to do intensive exercise that is the time to do it.But remember to leave enough time before suhoor to rehydrate and take in the necessary calories to replace what was expended.

“So what can I do?”you may well ask.My personal preference is for moderate -paced walking and Chigong or Tai chi.Neither of those should cause excessive sweating or hypoglycemia.There may well be other alternatives.Yoga comes to mind.Just don’t overexert yourself.Ramadan is the month of patience and submission -not a time for excessive wilfulness of any kind.Ramadan Mubarak to all.