About me…

I research, teach and write about holistic health.

For twenty years I’ve been fascinated by how our thoughts, identities and relationships impact our physical and mental health. I’ve worked with leading yogis, bodyworkers, academics, healers and scientists.

I’ve pioneered holistic health research in prestigious public health departments, collaborated with government and published internationally.

I currently work with Gracemount Mansion Development Trust. We are renovating a beautiful 18th century mansion to create a holistic health and alternative education community centre.

You can see a selection of my positions, qualifications, trainings and publications below.

Academic Education & Experience

Much of my academic education and research has focussed on young people and their families, and how their identities, relationships and position in society impact on mental and physical health.

Research Fellow & Working Group Lead for Young People, University of Edinburgh, Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research, Usher Institute Edinburgh Medical School, developing bespoke mind-body health support programmes for different - often deprived - groups including parents, grandparents, kinship carers, teachers and pupils.

✨ Hartley, J.E.K. and Henderson, M., (2018). Mental health promotion for young people – the case for yoga in schools. Education in the North

✨ Hartley, J.E.K. et al., (2018)., CARE: The development of an intervention for kinship carers with teenage children. Qualitative Social Work

✨ Cathy's Relaxation Story Resource for Kinship Carers

Senior Research Fellow, University of St. Andrews, Child & Adolescent Health Research Unit, School of Medicine, developing an international tool to measure the connection between wealth and health.

✨ Hartley, J.E.K., Levin, K. & Currie, C. (2016), A new version of the HBSC Family Affluence Scale - FAS III: Scottish Qualitative Findings from the International FAS Development Study. Child Indicators Research

Programme Manager, Global Health Challenges, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh.

University Tutor in Sociology, Social Anthropology, Medical Ethics & Public Health, Universities of Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow.

Ph.D in Public Health, University of Glasgow, funded by the Medical Research Council, exploring the connection between media influence, gender identities and health behaviours.

✨ Hartley, J.E.K., Wight, D. and Hunt, K. (2014), Presuming the influence of the media: teenagers' constructions of gender identity through sexual/romantic relationships and alcohol consumption. Sociology of Health & Illness

✨ Hartley, Jane Elizabeth Katherine (2011) Do media portrayals of drinking and sexual/romantic relationships shape teenagers' constructions of gendered identities? PhD thesis.

Masters by Research in Social Anthropology, University of Edinburgh exploring music, belonging and identity.

Double First Class MA in Social Anthropology and Art History at the University of St. Andrews

Holistic Health Education & Experience

I have learnt a range of mind-body and trauma-informed embodiment skills and practices from some of the leading teachers in the world. Our body-mind system is exquisitely intelligent; the state of the body directly impacts the state of the mind and vice-versa.

Yoga Teacher Training Qualification in ashtanga vinyasa, Yoga Alliance 200 hours with Himalaya Yoga Valley, and 500 hours with Kranti Yoga, in Goa, India

Yoga Teacher Training Qualification in Teaching Children Yoga with Susanna Hoffman

Tension and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) Module 1 and 2 with Steve Haines & Vicki Cook, developing the body’s innate releasing and rebalancing mechanism of shaking to release tension and trauma in the body. -

Here you can watch a video of me being interviewed by David Berceli - founder of TRE tension and trauma release exercises - about my use of TRE during pregnancy and post-natally

Kundalini Yoga Master Level with Rod Stryker, developing innate healing and creative energy to use skilfully in the world.

Yoga Nidra Master Level with Rod Stryker, developing the skill of deep regenerative rest for mind and body.

Intention Essentials with Lynne McTaggart, understanding the science of focussed intention and manifesting

Progressive Meditation with Dr Joe Dispenza, developing focus, thought, intention and awareness to create more of what you want.

Ziva Magic Embodied Manifesting with Emily Fletcher, refining clear intentions, releasing emotional blocks and using life-force energy to power-up embodied manifesting.

Neuroplasticity, Dynamic Rest, and Well-Being with Bo Forbes, exploring the application of the latest science in neuroplasticity and our need for deep rest.

Well Woman Yoga Therapy with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli, developing the skill of utilising the menstrual cycle to inform the energetics and application of therapeutic yoga.

Reiki Practitioner Level 1 & 2 with Jacqui Mitchell, collecting, amplifying and directing healing energy.

Since 2013 I have been teaching therapeutic yoga privately, in workplaces, at conferences and in studios.