Claire Hartley

British born Yoga teacher, Claire Hartley has been at the forefront of the American yoga scene since 1993 when she began practicing at the Jivamukti Yoga Center in the East Village New York.  She is known for bringing the deeper layers and meaning of Yoga and Yoga philosophy through all of her classes and workshop experiences, leaving the practitioners with an experience of the authentic joyful Self. She always does this with a healthy dose of her Brit wit and sensibility! She teaches daily at her LA studio as well as traveling the country to conferences and festivals.

She moved to Los Angeles in 2001 where she continued her practice and trained with some of the best teachers in the world including an apprenticeship with Senior Iyengar teacher Lisa Walford.

In April 2006 she opened and co-founded Rising Lotus Yoga, a busy and thriving studio in Los Angeles, attracting practitioners seeking alignment based Vinyasa Yoga classes with healthy doses of dharma talks, chanting and joyful community.

In 2008 she created the popular Rising Lotus Teacher Training Program, which teaches trainees how to bring intelligent alignment and sequencing to students as well as meaningful Dharma talks. This teaching program has a reputation for excellence in Los Angeles, the capital of American yoga. 

She lives in Los Angeles, with her husband John and her daughter Nova.

A Few Testimonials

I’m grateful to have practiced with Claire for over 7 years.  As a teacher, she is nurturing and supportive yet will take you to your edge.  As a yogi, she truly walks her talk.-

Kellie Martin, actress

Claire not only teaches a wonderful yoga class for the body but for the spirit. I always look forward to stepping into her studio because I know that I will be spending the next hour and a half with a teacher that reminds me that I am exactly where I should be.  I am grateful to call her friend and  teacher.

-Gabrielle Carteris, actress, National President SAG-AFTRA

Claire Hartley is a most generous instructor.  She is a technician with a wealth of anatomical knowledge with her heart firmly planted in the roots of yogic philosophy.  Her workshops are awalsy a favorite at the festival. Joyful, informative and inspiring.  We LOVE Claire Hartley. – Joann Burnham, Producer Nantucket Yoga Festival.

Like most other people my life is busy and often chaotic . I know that a class with Claire will  calm my mind , my  body and bring me back to center .

– Amanda de Cadenet, Host of ‘The Conversation’

Fresh, authentic, generous – these are just a few words to describe Claire Hartley. Taking a class with Claire is to bask in her knowledge and passion for yoga. She is a natural teacher with a wonderful voice who delights and inspires students. Claire is truly a gem! . – Ann York, producer Iowa Yoga Festival.

I signed up for two months of weekly Personal Development training sessions with Claire because I was keen to make improvements in my life and needed help finding the tools to achieve this goal. During our relaxed discussions via ‘FaceTime,’ Claire easily zeroed in on and identified some counter-productive patterns of thought and behavior and helped me to implement some positive adjustments to my daily habits. I am gratified by what I learned and feel equipped to continue on this path of self-improvement. Mutually honoring our weekly commitment was an essential part of its ongoing success.  I am grateful for Claire’s sunny spirit, her generosity and, above all, her insightful and gentle guidance.

– Pauline A.

For 16 months after injuring my neck I experienced daily pain that limited my normal activities. I tried physical therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and massage therapists but was still in pain. Claire Hartley was the answer. She continually astounds me with her knowledge of the body, positivity, and sense of humor. In addition to relief from pain, I now feel stronger and more confident in what my body can do!

– Lalo Crane