Fasting for Ramadan:insights + observations

Dressed up for Eid with my Moroccan family

Having lived in Morocco since 2018, last year I was ready to join in the fasting.

To deepen my understanding and connection with the community.

Fasting for Ramadan is a fascinating, challenging, and fantastic experience, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join in.

Having been on numerous yoga and wellness retreats, my most significant observation was that Ramadan feels like a community retreat in its simplest, purest, and family-centric way. And the health benefits were noticeable.

Here are some of the things I learned while fasting last year and *semi-fasting this year;

How much time is usually spent consuming

When I stopped drinking and eating during daylight hours, I realised how much of the day is usually spent snacking, eating and drinking. My digestive tract never had a break. In a world of consumption, it felt amazing to stop, to rest the digestion, and to feel hungry and thirsty.

Overcome a fear of running out of water

During the first few mornings of fasting, I noticed a panic on waking: How would I make it through the day without drinking water? I soon realised this was an irrational fear, one I am grateful to have overcome. I credit the fear of not surviving a day without water to a cultural program telling me I have to drink 2-3 litres daily and always carry a refillable water bottle.

Health benefits

Health-wise, after a week of fasting, my tongue was clean, my eyes brighter, and my digestion functioning optimally. My body was calmer and less inflammatory—I have since read research papers on the anti-inflammatory effects of fasting during Ramadan. I enjoyed resting more, taking naps, gentle walks, and deepening my yoga practice. Overall, it felt great to relax the digestive tract and consume less.

Teaches you to preserve your energy

With less energy, I found a more considered use of energy. I was less reactive. Letting things go quickly. Fasting encourages you to slow down, detoxify, and reset the digestive organs. However, there is a flip side to that. If food, nicotine, or alcohol are usually used to suppress emotions, in Ramadan, I also observed a few explosions as tempers rose and things came to the surface! Hangriness.

More practical energy

At times, with less mental focus, there was no energy to overthink. A positive for me. These times were best used for practical tasks, such as cooking, running errands, painting, gardening, cleaning, and fixing things in the house. Or, simply being with the community, relishing in the energy of Ramadan.

Connection

To God, the self, and the community, there is a strong feeling of support and compassion toward others. Prayer, rituals, and mosque life are more prominent, and spiritual energy abounds. Ultimately, fasting is between you and yourself, or you and God. If I get home and drink a glass of water, no one will know except me and God. There’s strength and connection in that. Why would I lie to myself?

Gift of presence

Ramadan reminded me that less is more. When you arrange to meet people during the daylight hours of Ramadan, it’s not to share a coffee or a meal; it’s simply to share someone’s presence. A reminder that being with someone is a gift in itself.

Big fan of Iftar, the sunset breakfasts

I love the rush of getting home or ready in time for Iftar—that final hour when a little bit of deliriousness sets in. Peeking out the door to see how far until the sun sets. Oh, and of course, the epic Iftar table spreads and coming together of family in whichever form that takes. Ramadan offers a rare opportunity for everyone to stop, sit down and share a meal together, early, a rare occurrence in a country where dinner can usually be as late as midnight.

Sense of achievement

Every day of fasting I felt a sense of achievement at sunset. A community-supported challenge that left me feeling empowered, resilient, and strong.

Vulnerability

I felt more vulnerable, more seen, maybe because of the connection to others. It’s hard to look good at the end of a hot day of fasting when you’re dehydrated and low in energy. The truth is, it doesn’t matter because everyone is in the same boat, and supporting each other becomes more important than looking good. Consequently, there’s a deepening of compassion for those in need and taking action to help.

Eid celebrations and abundance

The Eid festival is at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The days leading up to Eid reminded me of the buzz before Christmas, filling the kitchen in preparation for a day of feasting. I remember driving through Agadir after Ramadan, that sense of abundance from seeing cafés open in the daytime again. Sun-drenched tables spilling onto the streets, filled with people enjoying a coffee in the morning sun. Enjoying life.

It took a while to get out of the Ramadan routine last year. A yearning for the calmer, slower days to remain—the rest for digestion and mind.

So, as we pass this year’s halfway point in Ramadan, I will continue to enjoy this experience and admire the resilience and strength of the community around me. For anyone curious, I highly recommend travelling to Morocco during Ramadan. Maybe see you next year!

Thank you for reading this blog. I hope it has enlightened you on how it feels to join the fasting for Ramadan, through non-Muslim eyes.

*This year, I am semi-fasting, which means I eat breakfast 9-10 a.m. and then fast until sunset.

Celebrating Eid with my Moroccan family