About us

We’re two best friends in our 30’s who met in the mountains of Breckenridge, Colorado. What started as casual hikes, days at the rock climbing crag and shared adventures quickly turned into something more: a powerful connection and a shared vision to create experiences that inspire growth, exploration, and inner peace.

Our retreats are born from our passion for travel, movement, and mindful living. Whether we’re deep in the forest, standing at the top of a mountain peak, or meditating beside the ocean, we believe in the power of nature and yoga to reconnect us with what truly matters.

We’re not just here to guide you through poses or lead you down a trail- we’re here to walk beside you as you challenge your limits, move your body, and take charge of your life. Each retreat is thoughtfully designed to nourish your spirit, spark your curiosity, and support your journey toward becoming the best version of you.

If you’re craving connection, adventure, and a chance to change the way you think, we invite you to join us. Let’s explore ways to absolutely fall in love with this life.

Meet the Team

  • A smiling woman with long hair wearing a black cap and waterproof jacket, taking a selfie near a body of water with green trees in the background.

    Kayla Aitken

    I’ve always been drawn to the mountains, but somewhere along the way, they became much more than a place I go to. They became a place where I’ve learned who I am.

    The mountains have challenged me in ways I never expected, physically, mentally, and emotionally. They’ve taught me how to sit with discomfort, how to trust myself when things feel uncertain, and how much more I’m capable of when I’m willing to take a step beyond what feels comfortable.

    Yoga and meditation became the framework that helped me navigate that process. After years of practicing yoga, I traveled to India in 2025 to complete my 200-hour yoga teacher training, deepening a practice that had already become such an important part of my life. I found that what I was learning on the mat, breath, awareness, presence, acceptance… was the same work I was being asked to practice in the mountains.

    Stay present. Breathe through it. Trust yourself. Keep going.

    That philosophy has shaped so much of the way I live. I want to create experiences that give people permission to be vulnerable, to try something that scares them, to get uncomfortable, and to discover what they're truly capable of. Not because we need to constantly push ourselves to the limit, but because there is something powerful about stepping outside of the life we already know and seeing what happens on the other side.

    And underneath all of the mountains, adventures, yoga, and big experiences, I think we're all looking for something pretty simple:

    Community. Connection. A sense of belonging.

    Some of the most meaningful moments of my life have come from sharing an experience with people who started as strangers and ended up feeling like family. Those are the moments I want to create more of.

    I feel incredibly grateful to be living a life that allows me to explore this world, challenge myself, learn from the places I visit, and share those experiences with other people.

    Training & Certifications

    200hr YTT-Devvrat Yoga Sangha

  • a young woman at the top of the world watching a volcano erupt

    Jess Race

    I love my life, but it wasn’t always like that. The mountains have been some of my greatest teachers, bringing me face-to-face with fear, self-doubt, and the limits of what I thought I could do. They’ve taught me to trust myself, adapt, and recognize when courage means taking another step, and when it means turning around. Through them, I’ve discovered unexpected strength, joy, perspective, and a deeper connection to myself.

    That transformation is part of why I co-created Afterglow. I want to help people discover their own capabilities, explore unfamiliar places, and feel supported while trying something new. I know how profoundly adventure has changed my life, and that experience shapes the care I bring to ours.

    I teach yoga because I love the way it makes people feel; stronger, softer, and more connected, inside and out. My practice has taught me as much about my shadows as my light, reminding me that we are far more alike than we are different. We all experience joy, pain, fear, love, and transformation, and there is comfort in knowing we don’t navigate it alone.

    Yoga and adventure have taught me that growth comes through effort, rest, honesty, and listening. Some days call for strength; others ask us to soften. In my classes and on our retreats, I encourage both—meeting challenges with curiosity, respecting our limits, and giving ourselves permission to be beginners.

    As an Afterglow co-founder, my role extends from shaping and leading retreats to nurturing the relationships and atmosphere that make them meaningful. I value shared meals, deep belly laughs, and honest conversations just as much as the big mountain moments.

    My teaching emphasizes presence, confidence, resilience, and self-compassion. Whether on the mat or out exploring, I create space for people to breathe, learn, challenge themselves, and simply be human. My hope is that they leave feeling grounded, capable, and connected—with a sense of possibility that stays with them long after returning home.

    Training & Certifications

    200-hr YTT -Rishikul Yogshala

    300-hr YTT-Devvrat Yoga Sangha

    50-hr Rocket Vinyasa YTT Ashtanga Yoga PR

    SUP Yoga Teacher Training- MYS

    Reiki Level 1