With the Holy Month of Ramadan comes a month of spirituality, patience, blessings, and generosity. The ritual of fasting is practiced during this month, and it pushes one to test their patience, enhance their endurance, and strengthen their relationship with God. However, with Ramadan also comes some fatigue due to not eating or drinking for most of the day. While many would prefer to just stay in bed, it has been shown that exercising during Ramadan can prove fruitful.
Importance of Exercise
Exercising is a sport that really refers to anything, and not just going to the gym. One could go for a walk, a jog, take certain classes (Yoga/Pilates/Zumba), or even go hiking. Exercise has proven to play a contributing role in reducing our stress and enhancing our wellbeing. In fact, exercise has been associated with a longer life and the delay of potential health problems. Accordingly, “the molecular mechanisms by which exercise sustains” enhances quality of life, as is beginning to be understood according to Ruegsegger & Booth (2018). On a psychological level, exercise has been associated with enhanced mood levels and various other benefits. Aerobic exercise, which refers to swimming, jogging, dancing, and more, have been associated with a decreased level of anxiety and depression and an overall improved mood. Further benefits of exercise include distraction from stressors and mindfulness – being present now – along with the facilitation of social relations. Additionally, it enhances self-efficacy, a term coined by Albert Bandura, which describes the belief of an individual in their ability to achieve things with their own power and will, and this mindset can prove extremely satisfying to mental health and self-perception.
Exercise During Ramadan
The aforementioned reasons why exercising is a great mechanism to incorporate explain its essence in our lives. Hence, although many feel fatigued during Ramadan, exercise is a primary tool one can use. However, one should not use more effortful exercise measures. It can be enough for them to take a walk. In fact, exercising is associated with a decrease in fatigue, thereby improving concentration at work or school. There are a few measures that people can use catered to individuals who are not exercise-oriented and those that are. The measures include –
For those who are not exercise-oriented –
- Walk around your house
- Do your chores
- Make sure that you are moving and not always sitting
- Achieve at least 10,000 steps a day
For active individuals –
- You could run twice a week
- You could even exercise outdoors, but nothing too extraneous, as this helps with dehydration and fatigue