[Sports Seoul | Reporter Woo-geun Bae] Singer Lee Hyori explained why she opened a yoga studio and how the practice reshaped her outlook.
On April 24, the YouTube channel "Channel Sip-O-ya" posted a video titled "Nanda Ginda Ananda: Lee Hyori’s Namaste Yoga Class."
In the clip, Lee taught yoga to cast members, including producer Na Young-seok, and walked them through ways to care for both body and mind. She said she wakes at 5 a.m. every day to prepare for her classes.
"I get up at 5 a.m. for class every day," she said. "I set a rule to be in bed by 10 or 11 p.m., and it really helps me stay mentally healthy."
Lee also explained why she opened the studio. "Yoga has given me so many benefits," she said. "I even met friends through yoga who I can really open up to." She added, "Because I've gained so much, I hope people wrestling with similar concerns can feel a little more at ease."
She addressed how to respond to pain and tension during practice. "When a problem comes up and people criticize you, you can accept it and wait it out — but that's not how I handle it. If you tense up and force it, you can create bigger problems," she said.
"The same goes for the body: when a tight area starts to release, pain can be expected. Try sitting with it and calmly allowing it to pass," she advised.
Yoga has also altered Lee’s daily habits. "If you only do exercises or eat foods that suit you, you can become one-sided. Since I started yoga, I've tried things that initially didn't feel like a fit, and often they're surprisingly fine. That openness has broadened my work life as well," she said.
"In the past I only did what I liked — wore the colors and clothes I preferred, and looked at the things I was comfortable with — but now I try to keep everything a bit more open," she added.
Lee lived in Jeju with her husband, Lee Sang-soon, for 11 years before moving to Pyeongchang-dong in Seoul in 2024. She now runs "Ananda Yoga" in Seodaemun District, Seoul.
kenny@sportsseoul.com
