On May 10, the YouTube channel Ah Yoga released a new video titled “Not Hyori, But Ananda — What Yoga Teachers Really Think.” The episode featured Lee Hyori alongside yoga instructor Mani as the two shared honest conversations about yoga, life and self-discipline.
During the discussion, Lee Hyori revealed the surprisingly simple reasons she first became interested in yoga.
She explained, “The first reason was because I wanted my shoulders to stop hurting. The second reason was because the difficult poses looked cool.”
However, she admitted that as she studied yoga more deeply through books and training, she realized true mastery was far more difficult than it seemed.
The singer then made viewers laugh with a self-deprecating comment: “My asanas (yoga poses) are still too weak for me to show off. There are so many real masters out there.”
Despite operating her own yoga studio, Lee Hyori’s modest perspective impressed many viewers online, especially considering her years of dedication to yoga practice.
She also reflected emotionally on how yoga completely transformed her lifestyle and emotional wellbeing.
According to Lee Hyori, she has always possessed an extremely energetic personality, but yoga gave her a healthy outlet and helped stabilize her mind.
She shared: “Without yoga practice, I honestly don’t know where all that energy would have gone.”
The star explained that through yoga, staying home and spending quiet time with her dogs, she gradually became more comfortable with peaceful daily routines instead of constantly chasing stimulation.
She added: “In the end, what remained for me was peace of mind.”
Lee Hyori also compared the temporary excitement of outside stimulation to the more sustainable fulfillment she found through yoga.
“The dopamine you get from the outside world is intense,” she explained, “but yoga replaced that for me. I don’t think anything else could have filled that space.”
She further confessed that becoming deeply immersed in healthy habits helped her naturally avoid distractions and temptations.
Lee Hyori has practiced yoga for many years and previously operated yoga spaces while living in Jeju Island beginning in 2016.
Last year, through Antenna, she officially announced the opening of her Seoul yoga studio “Ananda,” attracting major attention from fans and media alike.
Shortly after the launch, the studio’s official account also released a statement explaining that all sponsorships and promotional offers would be politely declined in order to preserve a quiet and focused environment for practice.
The decision further strengthened Lee Hyori’s image as a celebrity who has increasingly prioritized simplicity, mindfulness and authenticity over commercial activity in recent years.
Many Korean netizens praised the singer’s honesty and calm mindset, with some commenting that her openness about imperfection makes her even more relatable despite her legendary celebrity status.
Sources: Daum | TV리포트
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