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Ramadan can be a taxing time for both your mind and body if you don’t take certain precautions. In order to accommodate only eating during nightfall, your entire routine needs to be re-considered and carefully thought about. Your sleep pattern may get disrupted if the sun is due to rise early, and Suhoor needs to be eaten. This can leave you feeling more tired than usual until your body adjusts to its new routine.
Another change is the risk of dehydration – you can’t drink water during daylight hours in Ramadan unless you are at an immediate health risk. Muslims are expected to take necessary precautions to avoid getting seriously dehydrated, bypassing being too active as this makes you sweat and lose water, resulting in a higher risk of dehydration.
This, combined with the increased tiredness and weakness felt by not eating for extended periods of time, can make it difficult for Muslims to exercise during this holy month. That being said, keeping active is an essential part of life and is incredibly important for your overall health, so to stop doing it for a whole month could have a negative effect on your physical health, not to mention your mental health.
It is possible to keep fit during Ramadan, but you need to approach it slightly differently from how you would normally exercise. With this in mind, we’ve put together this handy guide on how to exercise during Ramadan.
So, can you exercise during Ramadan? In short, yes, you should aim to exercise during Ramadan as you would at any other time of the year, as it’s vital for your physical and mental health. That being said, you will need to approach it slightly differently in order to do it safely. Still, provided you take the following tips on board, there’s no reason why keeping active during the month of fasting will present a threat to your health and well-being.
One of the changes your body may experience during Ramadan is muscle loss. If you’re someone who puts a lot of effort into gaining muscle and defining your physique, this can be detrimental to your training and can put you in a negative mindset. You don’t necessarily have to lose muscle during Ramadan, though.
In fact, one of the best exercises you can do during Ramadan is strength training (in moderation). By visiting the gym during Ramadan and focusing on your muscles, you will prevent muscle loss and should be able to maintain your physique – provided your diet remains steady, and you don’t fall into the trap of bingeing on all the wrong foods during Iftar.
Some people prefer to do cardio workouts, and whilst this is great for heart health, it can be more demanding on your body. This is because cardio makes you thirstier than strength workouts do, and it can require far more energy from your body overall. When your body is in a fasted state, you will likely already feel tired; paired with the fact you may also be slightly dehydrated, the increased sweating associated with a cardio workout can make you feel even worse.
Whilst fasting is commanded by Allah (SWT) for your personal, religious, and spiritual growth, your health is paramount, and you must put that first. Therefore, if you exercise and feel severely dehydrated or weak, you must stop immediately and drink water to prevent fainting or any further health issues. Strength training will reduce the chances of this, but if you want to do cardio, think about walking or jogging in a way that doesn’t leave you out of breath or panting. Gentle activity is very much the way forward throughout Ramadan.
As well as knowing how to work out during Ramadan, you need to consider the best time for working out while fasting during Ramadan. This is namely because you will likely want to drink water during your workout or immediately after. With this in mind, working out in the middle of the day isn’t advised, and it’s instead recommended that you coincide your workout with either Iftar or Suhoor.
Most personal trainers tell their Muslim clients to work out just before Iftar so they can eat and drink immediately after. Still, depending on their schedule, some people find it easier to work out after Iftar or just before Suhoor. By planning your workouts to fall at the same time as your meals, you can quickly rehydrate and sustain yourself before the day of fasting begins, ensuring your body isn’t negatively impacted by working out. This is also of particular note if you want to do cardio workouts.
It’s generally not recommended to work out during the day whilst fasting, but if this is the only time you can focus on your fitness, consider sticking to a slow walk or doing something lighter like resistance training. Also, try and avoid working out in the hottest part of the day, especially in summer, as you will dehydrate much faster.
In addition to the points listed above, you should be aware of several other good exercise tips during Ramadan. They include:
Whilst it’s important to remain healthy and fit during Ramadan, you need to ensure you don’t lose sight of the goal of this auspicious month. Ensure you allocate enough time to recite the Qur’an and strengthen your bond with Allah (SWT). This is the most important part of Ramadan, so ensure your workout plans don’t impede your religious growth during this auspicious month. If you do work out, the tips above should help you stay healthy whilst doing so.
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