How to Exercise During a Fast

Exercise should be kept to a minimum during times of fasting. However, you can still actively assist your metabolism.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Athletic Shoes
• Exercise Mats

1. Understand that fasting is a time for the body to repair itself internally, and that exercise can distract your body's attention from the inside to the outside.

2. Realize also that during a fast your body lacks many of the nutrients and calories necessary for a workout to be beneficial to your body, and therefore exercise can be detrimental during a fast.

3. Avoid strenuous workouts or heavy labor during your fast. If you have a normal regimen you can't stand to quit for a few days, cut it down by more than half.

4. Do light, low-impact exercise: walking, gardening, or light work.

5. Do simple yoga exercises to help balance and stimulate your inner organs.

6. Stretch and breathe. Do not underestimate the healing power of deep, conscious breathing.

7. Develop and maintain a regular exercise schedule after completing your fast. Exercise is essential to proper nutrient absorption and triggers endorphins that help you feel good.

Tips & Warnings

• Pregnant women and children should not fast.

• Consult your healthcare provider before starting a fast, especially if you have diabetes, heart disease, ulcerative colitis, or epilepsy; if you are less than 18 years old or underweight; or if you are on any medications.

• This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.