Singer Lee Hyori, 46, is drawing daily buzz with Ananda, the yoga studio she opened in Yeonhui-dong, Seoul. As reviews from students who took her classes are shared on social media (SNS), applications are turning into a near "light-speed click" race.
On the 15th, the official Ananda account posted vivid testimonials from students who received direct instruction from Lee Hyori. One student said, "I'm new to yoga and clumsy at it, but I liked that it was time to focus on myself," adding, "Teacher Hyol went around correcting our posture. Since she touched me for 10 seconds, I don't think I can even shower today," the student joked.
Another student said, "I work as a Pilates instructor, and teacher Lee Hyori praised me, saying my 'body is good,' and cheered me on to get a good result at the competition," adding, "She said, 'Let's meet again next time,' which gave me great strength." A male student said, "I had a brief chat with (Lee Hyori) noona, but I was so nervous I even forgot to take a photo," drawing laughs.
Lee Hyori announced the opening of the studio on the 29th of last month. Due to a reservation system issue, the opening was delayed by a week and classes began on the 8th, but the one-day class tickets sold out within an hour of release. Classes run for about one hour and the fee is 35,000 won. Instead of regular courses, it operates only in a one-day format, and starting in Oct., a pass program is also planned.
Lee Hyori recently said on a radio program, "The reservation competition was so fierce it felt like 'ticketing with pickets,'" adding, "If some people come to see me and then fall for the charms of yoga, I think that's a good thing." She added, "Wouldn't it be even better if those people then connect with their neighborhood yoga studios?"
Called the entertainment industry's leading "yoga evangelist," Lee Hyori moved with her husband Lee Sang-soon to Pyeongchang-dong, Seoul, late last year to start a new life. News of the studio's opening has also captured public attention, once again becoming a hot topic.