Break the fast first, roller skate later

That night, Aditya and more than five other roller skating enthusiasts were learning to perfect the technique. Hobbyists who are members of the Jakarta Inline Skate community appreciate each other when someone succeeds in doing it. They also share laughs when certain movements prove difficult to do.

This is the umpteenth "training" session for Aditya after breaking the fast. Prior to this, he practiced several other techniques with hobbyists who began to gather after Tarawih prayer.

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"This is a sport that is addictive. "Once you try it, you'll definitely want to keep playing, so even though it's Ramadan, keep going," said Aditya, who has only been trying out roller skating for the last six months.

In addition to being enjoyable, according to Aditya, this sport is also useful as a mode of transportation. It is not uncommon for residents of Tangerang Selatan to rely on roller skates to travel to a certain place. Instead of riding a vehicle or walking, he prefers to glide on roller skates.

Not only that, Aditya also feels helped by roller skating in his effort to reduce weight. In half a year after trying this cardio exercise, his weight successfully dropped by 8 kilograms.

Exercise is even more crucial during Ramadan because the body is not in its usual or optimal condition.

According to Harvard Medical School, roller skating can burn a lot of calories in a short period of time. When roller skating for one hour, a person can burn up to 600 calories.

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Meanwhile, Assyifa Choirunnisa (24) and Maulana Al Jano, who were also roller skating at GBK that night, chose the sport for several reasons. Firstly, this sport strengthens muscles in the hips and legs. Body balance is also trained. In addition, the sport brings happiness because it allows people who do it to travel to many places by gliding on roller skates.

"Especially in the month of Ramadan, if you do this exercise at night, the next day you will feel fresher after fasting. "Maybe it's because you're happy when you roller skate, there are lots of things to see and people to meet," said Assyifa.

Evening sports

Putra G Waluyo (30), one of the founders of Jakarta Inline Skate community, said that roller skates are a popular choice for sports during Ramadan or other months because of their flexibility. This sport can be done anywhere as long as there is a good road. Skating can also be done alone or in groups.

During Ramadan, roller skating can be done without worrying about disrupting the fasting worship. This is because this sport is commonly done at night, so there is no need to struggle with the heat of the sun. The energy expended can also be quickly replenished after breaking the fast.

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"So, whether during Ramadan or not, you can still rollerblade because many people do it at night. Moreover, most people do it after they have free time, for example, after work," said Yuta, a friendly nickname for Putra.

Separately, sports medicine specialist Dr. Anita Suryani reminds that night-time exercise should take into account the body's recovery. Especially for those who observe Ramadan, such as performing night prayers and having pre-dawn meals for the following day's fasting.

Therefore, Anita suggests that exercise should end at least two hours before bedtime whenever possible. This is aimed at ensuring that there is enough time for relaxation after exercise. Because after exercising, a person's body will feel fresher and may have difficulty sleeping as they have used more oxygen than usual.

Anita reminds people not to be afraid to exercise during Ramadan. Exercise during the holy month of Islam is actually more crucial than in other months. This is because during fasting in Ramadan, a person lacks glucose and fluids which causes the body's performance, such as the heart and lungs, to decline. Exercise helps keep the body's organs stimulated in performing their functions.

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"Sports become more crucial during Ramadan because the body is not in a normal or optimal condition. Thus, exercise is important compared to other months to prevent the body's functions from decreasing drastically. If the body's functions decline, so does the quality of life," said Anita.