Claire Hartley’s experience has been invaluable in helping me navigate my diagnosis of HEDS. It’s been a long and difficult struggle, but through Claire’s NKT work and her deep understanding of how the body finds stability, I’ve finally experienced a few good days for the first time in five years.She is kind but tough — exactly the balance needed when working through complex pain and instability. Claire also incorporates other movement and rehabilitation techniques that truly complement her approach, helping the body reconnect and strengthen in ways that last.I genuinely believe she could be a great asset to the Ehlers-Danlos Society with her knowledge and holistic understanding of the condition. Anyone experiencing pain or instability should reach out to her for assistance — her work can truly help you find hope and progress again.

I can’t recommend Clare enough. I’ve been dealing with severe upper back and neck tension, along with muscle spasms, for nearly 9 years. I tried everything—multiple specialists, treatments, even epidural injections—and was ultimately told that surgery might be my last option. Working with Clare through her movement rehab approach has been life-changing. She was able to target the root of my issues in a way nothing else had. My pain level has gone from a constant 7–9 down to a 1–2, which I honestly didn’t think was possible. She is incredibly knowledgeable, attentive, and truly cares about her clients. If you’re dealing with chronic pain or tension and feel like you’ve exhausted your options, I highly recommend giving Claire a try.

As a long-time and fairly adept practitioner, I long leaned into my natural flexibility and strength. But I could never--ever--maintain a simple tree pose and experienced periodic neck and lower back pain. I suffered a severe shoulder injury, and given my age, was simply grateful to be able to engage in basic RLY classes--which I loved. But then I got a whole new lease on my wellness life through Claire's Structural Vinyasa classes and particularly through her intensive private training sessions. I'm rebuilding my practice. My balance is improved. I have little to no pain. I have a stable core, a neck that sits pretty well on my head, and my body and brain are completely engaged. Claire is an extraordinary teacher. One of a kind.

I walked into Rising Lotus on my first day in LA. I'd been looking online for a yoga studio that was homey and supportive, not corporate or slick. I took Claire's class and I was hooked. Over the past year plus, I've been enveloped into the warm RLY community and it's become such a source of joy and connection for me. Claire's Structural Vinyasa technique, in particular, has been a huge game changer. I've been to a ton of chiropractors and physical therapists over the years for some alignment issues, and her method of biomechanics with a strong core breathing emphasis have been a revelation. Working with Claire in her classes, RLY teacher training, and in a few of her private Movement Rehab sessions, has really begun to transform my body's compensation patterns and lay the groundwork for huge strength and stability increase. I'm so thankful to be interwoven into the Rising Lotus family, and to have found a movement method that is steadily remaking my body's stability. If you're looking for a studio with extremely kind and knowledgeable teachers and solid movement methods, Rising Lotus might just be your new home studio. :)

When I joined Claire’s studio Rising Lotus, I was fatigued and with all sorts of pains that I had ignored for far to long. The entire reason I made the switch from kickboxing to yoga. After some attendance in Claire’s delicious morning yoga sessions, she caught onto my aches & pains, and said “when your tired of them, come see me” I’m usually much more stubborn in my ways, and a skeptic, but my gut said go. From the moment we started going through the main spots that had been giving me a hard time, I felt at ease, and confidence in Claire’s ability to investigate the root causes and deliver information. It made sense to me the system she uses, the Neurokinetic Therapy. We went through a series of exercises and homework to identify the causes, its fascinating, that my shoulder pain could be rooted from clenching my teeth at night. Or that my knee pain that I thought for 9 years was my cartilage is in fact not, but a ligament that I was never in touch with, all of a sudden from her homework exercises the light was shining down and surfacing some even achier issues that were in dire need of attention. Claire is attentive, investigative, warm-hearted, professional, experienced and passionate for the work she does. I rest assure if you work with her you will feel all of this and more, and if that is not enough you will be on the road to recovery as well.

As a retired professional dancer, I thought I knew my body pretty well.  Then I hit middle age, perimenopause, and was in a car accident that left me doing minimal exercise for months.  This is when I found out about Claire’s yoga teacher training program at Rising Lotus Yoga in Sherman Oaks.  Despite my pain, Claire convinced me that I was in the perfect place for training because I could go at my own pace while learning how to help others work through their own limitations, which is one of the amazing attributes of the team of teachers at Rising Lotus and Claire’s leadership; through yoga you can build strength instead of pushing through pain. I also was fortunate to be introduced to NeuroKinetic Therapy.  By working privately with Claire, I was opened to a whole new world of body awareness that was not only fascinating but profoundly helpful to my recovery.  I was learning about motor control and how past injuries have deeply effected how my body was moving, how to change and retrain my body/brain connection so I could use my body in the way it was meant to while strengthening my deepest core muscles. In the weeks of working through the teacher training, taking classes at Rising Lotus and being able to work on NKT with Claire I’ve not only gained a deeper understanding of my body, I’m stronger, healthier and feel like I have a clear path for my recovery and a safe place in which to do it.  I’m so deeply grateful that Claire convinced me to persevere.  Through her kindness, vast knowledge and incredible sense of humor, I am forever changed for the better.  Thank you Claire and the wonderful teachers at Rising Lotus!

For anyone interested in practicing yoga, I can’t recommend Claire Hartley highly enough. I’ve been practicing yoga for many years. Claire’s structural vinyasa classes and private instruction have been a revelation.

I met Claire after she came highly recommended by a friend. At the time, I was in a great deal of physical pain and discomfort and had been unable to find meaningful physiological support for my symptoms.  Claire was absolutely phenomenal: she helped assess the issues I had been having, approached each one of those issues with great insight, allowed me to finally feel relief from the pain and gave me practical tools and exercices I could also do on my own. She was one of the first physical therapist I saw who also pointed out I may be suffering from Ehler Dahlos syndrom which was later confirmed by a rhumatologist. Her knowledge of that condition meant she could also adequately taylor the rehab movements I was doing under her supervision. I cannot recommend Claire highly enough!

Claire is a miracle worker. She really knows and understands the body. She helped alleviate pain I was having in my hip. I have gone to both movement rehab sessions and her wonderful Yoga classes. Highly recommended.

I’ve been going to Rising Lotus Yoga, Claire’s studio, since 2012. Recently, I decided to make a smart investment in my health by starting one-on-one sessions with Claire Hartley. I’ve been seeing her twice a month, and it’s been a game-changer. After years of on-again, off-again yoga practice, I was hit hard by hip pain that made walking a real struggle. Coupled with the strain from my job’s long hours of sitting and standing, and having run four marathons, my body was feeling the wear and tear of repetitive, unhealthy movements. Claire’s approach with Neurokinetic Therapy and functional movement care has made a huge difference.She helped me understand the root causes of my pain and showed me that living in discomfort wasn’t something I had to accept. Thanks to her, I’m moving more freely and feel like I’ve turned back the clock by at least a decade. I’m genuinely excited about the progress I’ve made and look forward to continuing improvements. Claire’s deep knowledge, patience, and sense of humor make every session enjoyable and motivating. If you’re struggling with similar issues or just want to enhance your movement, I can’t recommend Claire’s coaching enough. It’s been a fantastic investment in my health and well-being. Thank you, Claire, for all your help and for making me feel so much better!

I had been experiencing deep neck pain from overly tensioned muscles, Claire is a masterful therapist, she did an assessment and provided me with a very specific movement sequence to rectify the problem. Claire did a video of me doing the exercises in her treatment space which really helped me properly execute her instructions. I would (and do) recommend her happily with 5 stars

I’m the type of person who likes to do her homework, which is why I’m writing this.  I want other people who are searching for an actual solution to joint pain to know about Claire Hartley b/c she’s helped me so much physically and mentally. Claire has 25+ years of experience and is insanely knowledgeable about breath work, body mechanics and core stability.  She is especially good at changing the bad habits you’ve picked up that cause the pain you try to compensate for.  It doesn’t matter if you’ve been actively moving your body for years or never thought about how you move your body: you will understand more and feel better than ever after learning from her. She works out of her yoga studio, so if you’re not ready for private coaching, she teaches a class MWF mornings that use similar techniques.  If you do the private coaching, expect the good kind of homework.  It will help you progress faster and truly change your neural movement patterns. Whatever your pain or even weird tingles / cracks, you’ll add years to your life (and joints) if you go see Claire.  A plus, the studio is really easy to get in and out of, and there is free parking in the back.

A few years ago I had a neck injury that resulted in constant pain. I tried multiple physical therapies, acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, massage, etc., but nothing helped. A friend finally recommended that I try NKT with Claire Hartley. It worked like magic, and I'm still pain-free many years later. I recommend Claire to all of my friends!