KOCHI: Worried that you may miss out on your regular exercises because its Ramzan? Anoop Nair of Team Yogaholics, a yoga training centre in North Paravur, says that yoga is the best exercise to take up during the month of fasting.
“People tend to think that one should take complete rest when fasting. This is not true. You just need to be careful that you don’t strain your body or mind to the point of exhaustion,” he said. Anoop is also quick to say that Yoga and fasting go hand-in-hand. Fasting is an important tool for a healthy lifestyle and helps cure diseases. When one fasts, the body releases toxins rapidly. “The combination of gentle moving, stretching and twisting along with breathing exercises helps in making the energy channels clearer. So, Yoga is always a good option,” he said. Anoop discards the myth that yoga is religious custom “Yoga is a science and not a religious custom. It should not be considered as ‘Hindu’,”said Anoop.
Yoga and Muslim prayers
According to him, Muslims practice yoga a lot. Sujood which is prostration is just like a yoga pose and is covered in the beginner level yoga. During Qiyam and Namaste, the praying positions, eases the nervous system and balance of the body. Many people perform yoga with soothing instructions to help them meditate. Recitation of the Quran serves as a guidance to the individual. In this position, a verse of the Quran ‘And guide us to the straight path’ is recited.
There are a few asanas which are suitable for Ramzan fasters:
Pawanamuktasan is an asana that relieves acidity and helps to get rid of constipation. This exercise is done by lying with your back on the floor.
With inhalation, right leg should be raised to 90 degree. Then by interlocking fingers on your right chin, with exhalation the thigh has to be brought closer to your chest by bending knee and touch the forehead with knee.Raise the leg with inhalation to 90 degrees and rest the leg on the floor with exhalation.
In Bhujangasan,one has to lie down on your stomach, keeping your palms on both sides of your chest. With inhalation, lift your torso up keeping your hipbone firm on the ground. Elongate your neck and with exhalation come to the prone position. Other forms of asanas are Dhanurasan, Paschimottanasan, Shavasan, Sahaj Pranayama and Sheetkari Pranayama.
“During Ramzan, practising yoga can be beneficial in reducing hunger pangs and thirst,” Anoop said.
Yoga, a form of exercise which involves stretching and twisting your body along with the deep breathing exercises can be taken up during this month of Ramzan. It is very important to keep your mind and body strong and healthy during this month by doing sports or exercises. But this doesn’t mean those who are fasting need to play their usual basketball games or go for long run.
Though some people tend to skip their routine exercise during Ramzan,you will be amazed to know that the only exercise that is doable during Ramzan is yoga. The reason for it is during a prolonged fast,people feel they should take complete rest which is completely a fallacy. A yoga Centre ‘TEAM YOGAHOLICS’ at North Paravur is giving yoga classes in this Ramzan month to give relief to the people.