Lee Hyori (이효리), the K-pop star dubbed Korea's "Nation's Fairy," has recently expanded into yoga instruction, but even her studio is facing operational challenges. After an initial rush of bookings following its opening, the studio is now dealing with students reserving early morning and morning classes only to be absent. The official studio account even issued a special announcement, stating that starting in November, students who book a class but do not attend will still be allowed to take an evening class, a development that has garnered significant attention.
On October 20, Lee Hyori appeared on MBC FM4U radio show "A Perfect Day, Lee Sang-soon," hosted by her husband Lee Sang-soon (이상순). She shared updates on her recent life and the progress of Fin.K.L's full-group comeback preparations. She revealed that lately, in addition to teaching yoga, she also has to make time for practice, keeping her busy from 5 a.m. until the afternoon with a tight schedule.
Discussing her work persona, Lee Hyori laughed, explaining that she strives to maintain a composed and mature image when interacting with yoga students, wanting them to see her as someone in control of her emotions. However, as soon as class ends and she heads to the practice room, she immediately sheds that facade, letting loose and revealing her lively private self.
Nevertheless, running a business also presents its headaches. Reflecting on life as a self-employed individual, Lee Hyori admitted that due to her unique work style, she might not fully grasp the struggles of other self-employed people. Still, she couldn't help but sigh, "It's really hard to go to work at a fixed time every day." Lee Sang-soon then playfully revealed that his wife gets quite distressed every tax season.
Lee Hyori went on to complain about the numerous monthly expenses, saying that just thinking about all the outgoings gives her a headache. She also confessed that her eyesight has been deteriorating recently, but out of a reluctance to admit aging, she has delayed getting reading glasses. Instead, she has to borrow Lee Sang-soon's glasses in a pinch, sighing, "I really can't see clearly anymore." Lee Sang-soon added that when he first decided to get reading glasses, his juniors were also surprised, but at their age, declining eyesight is ultimately unavoidable.
Lee Hyori also joked that her biggest concern now is that if she holds a concert in the future, she might not even be able to read the teleprompter. Therefore, she plans to ask staff to enlarge the font in advance, a humorous reaction that once again showcased her youthful spirit and wit.
Beyond tax and vision issues, Lee Hyori's yoga studio has recently encountered a new problem. On October 19, the studio's official account posted an announcement stating, "Starting in November, students who book early morning or morning slots but do not attend can still come in the evening." This new arrangement addresses the issue of students who book but fail to show up.
Lee Hyori's yoga studio, named "Ananda" (아난다) after her yoga alter ego, opened in September last year in Seoul's Seodaemun District. Initially, the studio garnered significant attention because Lee Hyori personally taught classes, leading to extremely popular bookings and even fierce competition for spots. Unexpectedly, in addition to various operating expenses, she now faces the challenge of students booking but not attending, proving that even a top celebrity has her own business difficulties.
The shift from overflowing bookings to having to issue announcements reminding students not to miss classes has sparked discussion about the current state of Lee Hyori's yoga studio. However, the official arrangement, allowing students who miss early morning or morning classes to attend in the evening, does not indicate the studio is struggling financially. This has only intensified public interest in the ongoing operations of this celebrity-run yoga studio.
