Hidden Gems: Meet Claire Klein of Clear Blue Sky Retreats

Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Klein.

Hi Claire, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
For my whole life, I have been drawn to a few recurring themes: creativity, food, connection, and movement. Looking back, it’s amazing to see how clearly they have shaped my career. In college, I studied art history, architecture, and photography, but after I graduated, I immediately pursued a career in food. Over the next 20 years, I worked in nearly every corner of the industry-from retail and restaurants to a farm, a distributor, and finally various food brands, where I worked in sales. Creativity remained a constant in my hobbies, though it often took a back seat.

Alongside all of this, I have practiced yoga since high school in New York City. I was 16 when I took my first class at Jivamukti on the Upper East Side, and it has been a steady presence in my life ever since, through multiple jobs, cities, pregnancies and babies.

Despite years of practice, it wasn’t until I attended a yoga retreat at Esalen in Big Sur, my 38th birthday gift from my husband, that I had the lightbulb moment to pursue teacher training. At first, I assumed the training would simply deepen my own practice, but after completing 200 hours of immersive study with my wonderful teacher Janet Stone, I realized I wanted to share my love of yoga with others.

In conjunction with our move from the Bay Area to Los Angeles, I decided to dedicate most of my time to teaching yoga and planning retreats, allowing some of my food sales clients to go. I began creating one-day retreats that wove together my passions for yoga, creativity, good food, and meaningful connection. After my first event in the Bay Area, Pause Day, I knew this work was fully aligned with who I wanted to be and how I wanted to share my gifts with the world.

In the summer of 2025, I began teaching regular Vinyasa and Yin classes at The Circle, a women’s club in Burbank, which has been deeply fulfilling. I continue to lead one-day retreats on various themes and even co-led a five-day yoga retreat to Mexico in December. I still find myself pinching myself that I’ve been able to build this in such a short time, and I can’t wait to see where it leads.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest struggle launching this yoga and retreat business has been marketing myself and finding aligned folks to attend retreats and events. Although I’ve had an Instagram account for years, I always viewed social media as something to consume and not actively engage with. That view has done a complete 180 in the last year and I now post multiple time a week and use the platform as a way to form meaningful connections and relationships. While I surprised myself by enjoying the process of putting myself out there on the internet, it is frustrating trying to figure out the algorithm and I need to be extra mindful of my attention and screen time.

Another ongoing struggle is just time in general, but isn’t this true for everyone? Balancing spending time with my family, building this yoga and retreat business and also working with the food clients who still help pay bills is not always easy but I love staying busy and I feel so fortunate to be able to pursue my passion.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Clear Blue Sky Retreats?
Clear Blue Sky Retreats is my yoga and retreat business. As a retreat planner, I draw on my circle of friends and community to create containers for real transformation. Whether it’s a one-day mini-retreat or a multi-day destination experience, I always weave together movement, creativity, reflection, connection, and delicious food. Retreats offer a rare opportunity to step out of daily routines, pause, reflect, and move forward with intention. We have some exciting events coming up, including a Professional Development Day at The Circle in Burbank and a one-day Mother–Tween Daughter Retreat in Encino.

As a Registered Yoga Teacher, I offer private sessions, small group classes and corporate yoga, ideal for those who feel intimidated by studio environments or who want to bring yoga into their own space and community. My teaching style is accessible and adaptable for all ages and abilities. The great yoga teacher Desikachar says you can only teach people what they are ready to receive, and I meet each person exactly where they are, offering yoga as a practical tool for nourishing the body and navigating life’s challenges with greater ease, presence, and joy.

What’s next?
I am looking forward to adding more offerings and retreats including more multi-day experiences. I hope to go back to Mexico and would also love to do some weekend retreats at some of the beautiful venues here in California. I will continue to bring on a fuller roster of private clients and would like to bring my teaching to some of the offices near me.

At the Circle we will continue to plan quarterly personal and professional development retreats which are a wonderful way to experience a 1-day retreat right in Burbank. We will have a different line-up of practitioners and experts every time, and I always take away so much.

I cannot wait for my first mother-daughter retreat that I am planning with my 11 year old daughter. If you are a mother to a 9-12 year old daughter please check it out. This will be a special opportunity to connect with your tween before the tumultuous teen years and I hope it will be an experience that we replicate on an annual basis.

Pricing:

• Private Yoga- $100-$135
• Corporate Yoga; $150-$200
• Workshops: $250-$350

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.clearblueskyretreats.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/underclearblueskies/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bunkmeister/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-klein-43017a5/

Image Credits
Emilee Gilpin Media