If Diwali brings guests, late evenings and a full house, leave room for your movement routine to change. You can practise less or take a break. Rest does not need to include five minutes of breathing or stretching to be a valid choice.

Decide what fits today's plans

Before setting an exercise target, look at the time and energy left after your commitments. If a session would cut into needed sleep or make the day harder, leave it out. You do not have to recover those minutes after the celebrations.

When you feel well and want to move, choose a familiar activity that fits the available space. A short, comfortable practice may be enough for you today. Twenty minutes of sun salutations is not a universal default for a quieter day, particularly if that is not already part of your practice.

Check the air and the space

Check current local air-quality information and public-health advice before outdoor exercise. Follow guidance for your health needs, especially if you have a respiratory or heart condition. Do not use an exercise streak as a reason to ignore an alert.

Moving indoors is an option only if the indoor space is suitable too. Do not practise in a smoky room or beside cooking, lit lamps or a crowded walkway. If there is no suitable place, postpone the activity. For more on assessing the setting, read When the Air Is Unsafe.

Keep the household arrangement simple

If you need some space, agree a time with the people sharing it. Put away a mat or other equipment afterwards so it does not obstruct anyone. A crowded celebration is not the moment to improvise a new exercise with furniture as support.

If you begin a familiar movement and it causes pain, dizziness or unusual breathlessness, stop. Seek appropriate medical help for concerning symptoms rather than treating them as a sign that you need more practice.

Return when the schedule settles

Check how you feel before returning to your usual sessions. You can start with something familiar and manageable rather than a harder workout to compensate for the week. There is no requirement to book a new class or buy a programme after a festival break.

Sources

• SACHET: Disaster safety guidance (opens in a new tab)
• AirNow: Understanding air-quality alerts (opens in a new tab) (U.S. AQI explanation; use your local authority's index and advice.)