Fitting in exercise during Ramadhan
Keeping fit: Harun's Gym owner Harun Hj Ahmad said he has adjusted operating schedules and programmes to accommodate Muslims who wish to stick to their regular exercise routines during Ramadhan. Pictures: BT/Rudolf Portillo/BT file
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
IT TAKES some doing but fitting in exercise during the fasting month can still be done. Brunei's fitness clubs and gyms are even adjusting operating schedules and programmes to accommodate Muslims who wish to stick to their regular exercise routines during Ramadhan.
Nurul, the front desk manager of Fitness Zone Health Club, said that the timetable for some of the sessions offered by the health club was modified to suit the preference of some of its members.
She said that some group exercises, such as cycling and aerobics classes, were held earlier during Ramadhan to accommodate the change in working hours of government officers who regularly attend these classes. She cited one example where cycling sessions were moved to 4.30pm instead of its usual slot at 5.30pm.
Nurul also noted that in previous years fasting months, most of the health club's members came in during the evening hours, after they have broken their fast. She said some members also came in during the daytime, just before it was time to break their fast.
Harun Hj Ahmad, owner of Harun's Gym, said that in previous years, he noticed that most Muslim members still came in during the evening, usually after the Tarawih prayers.
Some members also asked for the gym to be closed later during the fasting month. He said that they wanted Harun's Gym to close at midnight instead of 10pm. "We hope (this Ramadhan), people will continue to come in to train for their health." He said that it was difficult to predict whether members would still come in since there were also other factors to take into consideration. He said that more gyms and fitness facilities have opened up and this may cause less people to come to the gym.
Harun also mentioned that some members who usually came in four to five times a week, would work out at the gym twice or three times per week during Ramadhan. He added that some members who wished to be "on leave" from their membership during the fasting month, used a coupon system whereby they could come in and pay for that particular session instead of paying for a whole month's fee.
Owner of Joie Fitness, Aida stated that their opening and closing times have been modified for the convenience of their Muslim members.
Prior to Ramadhan, the women's fitness club closed at 8pm, but from today onwards, the club would be closed an hour later.
She said that during the beginning of last Ramadhan, most of the members continued to come into the club as usual. However, after the first week had passed, she estimated that around 90 per cent dropped out. This year, she said some members were already beginning to pull out, even before Ramadhan had started.
To accommodate members who fasted, Aida said that the "high-impact cardio" class was switched with a lighter exercise session. Although, she went on to say that the other classes would not be altered since most of the instructors were fasting themselves. "If (the instructors) can do it, then the members should also be able to do it as well," she said.
Aida believed that physically, the human body is able to withstand exertion of energy of this scale while fasting. She added that it was due to their mentality, that they believed they could not exercise while fasting.
"I believe you are able to withstand this type of exercise... you are actually defeating yourself if you think you can't do it." The Brunei Times
Nurul, the front desk manager of Fitness Zone Health Club, said that the timetable for some of the sessions offered by the health club was modified to suit the preference of some of its members.
She said that some group exercises, such as cycling and aerobics classes, were held earlier during Ramadhan to accommodate the change in working hours of government officers who regularly attend these classes. She cited one example where cycling sessions were moved to 4.30pm instead of its usual slot at 5.30pm.
Nurul also noted that in previous years fasting months, most of the health club's members came in during the evening hours, after they have broken their fast. She said some members also came in during the daytime, just before it was time to break their fast.
Harun Hj Ahmad, owner of Harun's Gym, said that in previous years, he noticed that most Muslim members still came in during the evening, usually after the Tarawih prayers.
Some members also asked for the gym to be closed later during the fasting month. He said that they wanted Harun's Gym to close at midnight instead of 10pm. "We hope (this Ramadhan), people will continue to come in to train for their health." He said that it was difficult to predict whether members would still come in since there were also other factors to take into consideration. He said that more gyms and fitness facilities have opened up and this may cause less people to come to the gym.
Harun also mentioned that some members who usually came in four to five times a week, would work out at the gym twice or three times per week during Ramadhan. He added that some members who wished to be "on leave" from their membership during the fasting month, used a coupon system whereby they could come in and pay for that particular session instead of paying for a whole month's fee.
Owner of Joie Fitness, Aida stated that their opening and closing times have been modified for the convenience of their Muslim members.
Prior to Ramadhan, the women's fitness club closed at 8pm, but from today onwards, the club would be closed an hour later.
She said that during the beginning of last Ramadhan, most of the members continued to come into the club as usual. However, after the first week had passed, she estimated that around 90 per cent dropped out. This year, she said some members were already beginning to pull out, even before Ramadhan had started.
To accommodate members who fasted, Aida said that the "high-impact cardio" class was switched with a lighter exercise session. Although, she went on to say that the other classes would not be altered since most of the instructors were fasting themselves. "If (the instructors) can do it, then the members should also be able to do it as well," she said.
Aida believed that physically, the human body is able to withstand exertion of energy of this scale while fasting. She added that it was due to their mentality, that they believed they could not exercise while fasting.
"I believe you are able to withstand this type of exercise... you are actually defeating yourself if you think you can't do it." The Brunei Times
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