Lee Hyori Urges Yoga Studio Students to Follow Rules, Expresses Regret Over Overheated Interest
Key Takeaways
- •Lee Hyori posted a notice on July 23 stating that visitors with expired memberships or without valid day passes are not permitted at Ananda Yoga studio and that no exceptions will be made.
- •The singer reminded attendees that anyone who comes to the studio to learn is a student and that those who wish to teach should do so at their own yoga studio.
- •On July 22, Lee acknowledged that the situation around the studio had become overheated and expressed feeling both sorry and grateful for the attention the studio has received.
- •Lee Hyori opened Ananda Yoga, located in Seoul's Seodaemun District, on September 8 of last year, naming it after her yoga alter ego.
- •Lee debuted in 1998 as a member of the girl group Fin.K.L and moved with her husband Lee Sang-soon to Seoul's Pyeongchang-dong in 2024 after spending eleven years on Jeju Island.
Singer Lee Hyori has expressed regret and concern about conduct at her yoga studio, urging students to observe the studio’s rules as public attention around the celebrity-run space continues to spill into its day-to-day operation.
On July 23, Lee posted a notice through the studio’s social media account addressing visitors who arrive without valid access. “There are occasionally people who come even though their membership has expired or they were unable to purchase a one-day pass. There are no exceptions, so please make sure to follow the studio's rules,” she wrote.
Lee also issued a direct reminder about the role of participants at the studio, writing, “If you came here to learn, you're a student. If you want to teach, please do so at your own yoga studio.” The comments underscored her effort to keep the studio functioning as a regular practice space rather than a venue shaped by her celebrity status.
The singer has previously acknowledged the difficulties that have come with operating the studio. On July 22, she shared a message about a recent session, saying, “At our Ananda Yoga studio, we meditated while listening to the sound of rain and birds and also practiced 30 minutes of stillness.” She added, “Lately, I wonder if things have become a little overheated. I feel both sorry and grateful.”
Lee debuted in 1998 as a member of the girl group Fin.K.L and married singer-songwriter Lee Sang-soon in 2013. The couple later drew public attention by showing their life on Jeju Island through several television programs. After spending 11 years on the island, they moved to Pyeongchang-dong in Seoul in 2024.
On Sept. 8 last year, Lee opened Ananda, a yoga studio in Seoul’s Seodaemun District named after her yoga alter ego. As public interest in the studio grew, she said, “This excitement will eventually settle down. Until then, I hope neither I nor the people who come here become exhausted or overly excited. As we always have, we'll continue our practice calmly.” Her latest notice suggests that managing access and class etiquette remains part of that effort as interest in the studio continues.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.