It is now more than a year since the variations of lockdown and staying at home began. At the point where I was ready to crawl the walls, a month of yoga saved me. As I write this, I have completed a challenge for an on-line 30-day Hatha yoga program.

By chance, I ran across this offering, and it was just what I needed. After a many-year hiatus from a regular practice, this was my road back.

My History with Yoga

I began to practice Hatha yoga in1967, thanks to a roommate who skipped out before paying her portion of the utility bill. In her hurry to slip away, she left behind a book by Jess Stearn titled Yoga, Youth, and Reincarnation.

At first, the title didn’t draw me in. I was already young and wasn’t ready to explore reincarnation, but for some reason the yoga portion spoke to me. At that time, I don’t believe there was a yoga studio anywhere near me. For those who had heard of yoga, it was still viewed as something foreign and suspect.

Stearn’s descriptions and drawings of yoga poses were good enough that I could follow them without a guru or teacher. I developed my own routines which always ended with a meditation. Yoga cleared my thinking then as it does now. I credit the importance of breath technique incorporated with each pose.

A 50-Year Hiatus

So why did I slip away from a regular practice for, oh, let’s see, 45 or 50 years?

Through the years, I have participated in any number of exercise classes. Every now and then it would dawn on me that a good portion of the instructor’s routine was based on some of the yoga poses I learned from Stearn’s book years ago.

The cat stretch or cat/cow is used in a number of – what are called – fitness classes. What those classes left behind is the importance of a breath pattern to center your mind and body.

Since that book fell into my hands in 1967, yoga has gone mainstream. During those 50 years of integration, soft lit yoga studios with bolsters and every type of physical support became common.

And then there are the yoga classes in high temperature rooms and those that gyms slip into their class lineup, described as wellness-related but more like calisthenics. I did try a couple of those in a pinch. It just wasn’t the same without time set aside for a bit of pre and post practice meditation.

Those 50 years now place me in my mid-70s. The 30-day program I just completed was Hatha Yoga, the branch of yoga I began with way back when; one of the oldest schools of yoga.

Back to Hatha

With all the newly-developed forms of yoga available now, it can be a bit difficult to find a pure Hatha yoga class. But with all the yoga variations available, my choice continues to be Hatha Yoga. The postures bring strength, improve balance and create a consciousness of my body. As we move through life, breath is at the center of it.

On this bookend of my life, I plan to continue my 30-day yoga online program and journey into the future. In fact, I am now another three weeks beyond the initial 30-day program. Even in the busiest day, I have carved out a few moments on my yoga mat to engage my breath and stretch out my body in an asana or two.

As Dr. Alisa Sabin advised in her recent Sixty and Me article on the fear of getting old, I plan to continue my 50-year interrupted journey with Hatha Yoga and see where we go together into the future.

Have you rekindled a relationship with a long left-behind activity or joy? How is that experience working for you? Has yoga, in any of its forms, played a role in your life?

One thing being in lockdown did to a lot of people is show them—for better or for worse—their natural hair. Maybe you noticed you actually look great with a little roots or decided to stop straightening your curls. This could be why we’re seeing so many people, including celebs, go dirty blonde for spring. It’s laid-back and easy to maintain. Julianne Hough’s dirty blonde hair is the latest to try the shade.

Hough’s friend Taylor Swift rocked a similar color to the Grammy Awards Sunday night. “Dirty Blonde is all the rage right now! Could it be from quarantining? And salons being closed for months and months at a time? Everyone got to see their natural hair color and decided, it actually isn’t that bad after all,” said Riawna Capri, co-owner Nine Zero One Salon, in a statement. “Julianne has been talking about growing out her natural hair color for years now, and we finally were able to do it! Nothing makes that #NaturallyNude hair color pop better than a handful of good hair extensions.”

“It’s so amazing after working with Julianne for about 14 years now that we can still create a look she has never had before,” she continues. “Jules is forever my muse and I love nothing more than creating with her. No joke, we’ve been talking about doing this look for two years. And of course, just like all the rest of them, we are completely obsessed.”

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Source: Instagram

Capri’s uses the haircare line created with her co-founder to keep Hough’s hair healthy. That includes the In Common System ($90 at In Common) and the deep conditioning treatment, Crystal Cashmere.

In Common.

To get Hough’s laid-back waves, Capri prepped her hair with the In Common Magic Myst ($35 at In Common) and blew it dry. Once dry, she used the T3 Voluminous Curls 1.5″ Clip Barrel ($95 at T3 Micro) to quickly bend each section back and forth. “Quickly” is the key to creating effortless waves,” she said.

It’s all about Y2K right now in terms of beauty and fashion trends, as well as icons of the time. Not that Paris Hilton has gone anywhere. She’s just continued to grow her empire. And now, Hilton surprised everyone with a new bob in the new Lanvin campaign. Sure, it’s a wig but it looks so good, she’s actually considering doing it IRL. The images were inspired by the 1950s portraits of New York City’s society women and shot by photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot.

“I’m humbled to be working with Lanvin for their Spring/Summer campaign and to be able to contribute to the brand’s legacy,” Hilton said in a statement. “I’ve always been a fan of the house and personally admire the founder Jeanne Lanvin. She was able to build an empire from one small shop that still exists 130 years later. Her entrepreneurial spirit is so incredible — remind you of anyone else?”

Bruno Sialelli, Lanvin’s creative director, is responsible for this new side of Hilton we all get to see. “She is quite known for her long blonde hair and glimmery style and we wanted to shed light on her ability to transform — much like a swan,” he said.

Source: Instagram

“As the originator of the influencer movement and the idea of ‘famous for being famous,’ I wanted to show the world how far she has come in the industry that she created. We stripped back the styling and allowed her natural beauty to be captured.”

Source: Instagram

Friends and fans are obsessing over this more pared-down version of Hilton, plus the new curled-under bob with bangs. “Thinking I might cut my hair short again like this. Thoughts?” she wrote on Instagram. We say a resounding yes.

Is there anything better than getting your hair cut and/or colored, leaving the salon and feeling like a supermodel? No, we don’t think there is. But because of the current climate, seeing your hairstylist might not be as easy and getting your split ends cut off or your roots done might just be a quick in-and-out appointment without all the fun. That’s one reason why we’re so obsessed with actors and influencers who switch up their look on a dime. We’re jealous, sure, but it’s also aspirational AF. So, we’re rounding up the best celebrity hair makeovers of 2021 as they come so you can drool with us.

Though, it’s not just about drooling over these looks. Saving this page and referring back to it at the hair salon can help you decide if curtain bangs or a bob is right for you. Hairstylists actually love when you show them photos because they can get a real feel of the vibe you’re looking for and can adjust the look into something that suits your wants and needs. This goes for color, too. Did you ask for balayage when you really meant a shadow root? It’s easier to just give examples of what you want.

Some of these celebrity looks aren’t permanent. Stars love to play around with wigs, extensions and faux bangs. But there’s nothing wrong with that. Real or faux, we’re taking inspo from our favorites to figure out our next look for 2021 and beyond.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Source: Instagram

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

While filling us in on the Covid-19 relief package, AOC showed off her adorable new haircut. When followers commented saying they loved the chop, she replied, “Let’s not start another national crisis over it, right?”

Source: Instagram

Gigi Hadid

The model mom returned to the runway, walking in the Versace fall 2021 show. Hairstylist Panos Papandrianos wrote “Ginger for Gigi” on Instagram, making us believe he really did dye the model’s hair this gorgeous red shade for the occasion.

Source: Instagram

Olivia Rodrigo

The ‘Drivers License’ singer jumped on the curtain bang trend thanks to hairstylist Clayton Hawkins. They’re subtle but make a big difference in her look. One interesting note: Sabrina Carpenter has them too.

Source: Instagram

Lana Condor

The actress looks so great in this pastel pink wig, maybe she’s considering doing it IRL? “Get ‘Anyone Else But You; to 5 mil streams and I’ll keep it,” she wrote on Instagram. Though, she told STYLECASTER last year, “I don’t know that I’d ever dye dye my hair. I think my mom would kill me, you’d know?”

Source: Instagram

Ashley Graham

The model had everyone thinking maybe she got a pixie cut but her hair is actually the result of new growth post hair loss. “Postpartum baby hairs come through!” she wrote on Instagram.

Source: Instagram

Emma Roberts

A new color and cut for the birthday girl! “Emma always looks and feels her best blonde,” said her hairstylist and Nine Zero One co-founder Nikki Lee. “We decided to keep her a warm blonde and went for a ’90s supermodel vibe. With a new baby and a big birthday, we went out with a bang! Lisa Satorn added extensions for length and fullness. I kept her haircut free and flowing with piecey layers around the face.” Lee keeps her client’s hair healthy with the In Common 3 Step Treatment System ($105 at In Common).

Source: Instagram

Katy Perry

Why not start with one of the biggest hair chameleons? Though she’s been ultra-blonde for a while, we can’t help but miss a brunette Katy Perry. It’s classically chic and fits her personality. So, when we saw these photos of backstage at Jimmy Kimmel Live, we were so excited to see the long brown hair. But it seems it’s a wig and she’s already back to blonde.