BIKING IN RAMADAN

I mentioned in passing something about balance in life in my two previous posts. I was interested to know once whether it is advisable for us to exercise during Ramadan or to just take a break from any physical activities during the said month. I then read something about the importance of exercising during the fasting month. It states that it is important for us to exercise during Ramadan in order to maintain balance or what is referred to as 'mizan'. It explains that mizan is achieved when our spiritual, mental and physical life is maintained. During Ramadan, the spirit is kept healthy by purging the self of all negativity including the negativity that is associated with the fast while the mental self is maintained through regular reading of the Koran. As for the physical self, it  is kept strong through a light workout.

I do not intend to delve further into the subject about this balance or mizan. Suffice for me to say that I can't disagree with that statement and in respect of the physical life, believe that I do need to keep myself moving not only to keep up with life itself, but to keep myself alive as well. Didn't I read somewhere that says that life is about movement and one who doesn't move or words to that effect, is just as good as, errr...Well, you can finish that sentence for me. I therefore like to believe that the more I can move, the better it is for me, Ramadan or otherwise, unless of course, for some reasons, I can't.

Somehow, the approach of Ramadan did not cause me to review my physical activities with the aim of reducing them or their level of frequency or intensity, but instead, to find ways how I could go on maintaining my routine activities without too much disruption. I am referring, of course, to my biking activities. For me, those activities have to go on as long as they can go on and for which, I have no desire to see them being relegated to a lower frequency or intensity even during the fasting month.

I suppose the light workout is recommended while you fast and that is only sensible. But a few hours after breaking your fast, I don't see why more than just a light workout could not be done unless of course you feel that one should not be exercising at night during Ramadan. I am referring to the same kind of workout just like the kind  that I usually do during the day and with the same kind of intensity as in the non-fasting months. There's still a way to make the necessary adjustments to enable the level of my exercise routine to remain unchanged. Now that it is advisable to only do the light exercise during the day, I will do the strenuous ones at night. After all, I have been doing those workouts at night too during the non- fasting months. I am unaware of any medical or health related drawbacks that can result from such action. For me, I only need to listen to my body to know whether it is up to it or otherwise.

So, my biking activities have remained very much the same during this fasting month and I am enjoying them just as much as I do as in the non-fasting months. I still do those same workouts more or less; the light kind during the day and the heavier or more strenuous type at night. But you need to listen to your body and that is highly important. What you think about the whole idea too is also important. As for me, I love and enjoy what I do. I could do some other things other than biking but I know I will never enjoy doing them. 

So, it has remained a status quo for me with regard to my biking activities during this fasting month. The urge to cycle has not ebbed the slightest for me. I do the light workouts usually between one and a half to two hours before breaking fast and the strenuous kind at night at least four hours after the fast-breaking meal. There have been three long hard rides at night since Ramadan started ranging between 30 and 60 kms and there will be a few more coming before the blessed month ends.

That's how much biking can really bite you or is it a case of bikers simply crazed by their biking that nothing seems to be able to slow them down, not even Ramadan? But one good thing is certain about their involvement. Their level of fitness and stamina and their power of endurance seem to have become limitless that they are able to ride long and hard almost every night -- as some of my biking friends seem to do -- without showing signs of being burnt out. That's what biking can do for you, not to mention what it can also do for your cardiovascular health other than your mizan.

So biking in Ramadan, anyone? Emmm...sahur or suhoor has never tasted this good!