Meet the AWAKEN founders!
Kelsey and Preston’s friendship began far from mountains or rivers. We met our freshman year at University of Miami, FL in 2010 and became friends through a blur of South Beach clubs and college frat houses, unable to fathom what this friendship would turn into – something special, something bigger than us. Probably because our souls were seeking something else…
Which brings us to 2016, when yoga and the mountains of Colorado brought us back together after world travel and corporate jobs. Preston called Kelsey up, post a break up, post living in Thailand, to ask about her yoga teacher training. She saw something in Kelsey’s new life in Denver – a sparkle that she couldn't quite put her finger on, but she intuitively felt drawn to it. So, Preston bought a car, road tripped around the country, put 12,000 miles on her new Subaru, and landed in Denver to make a new life. Kelsey was her instant best friend.
Life in Denver was all we dreamed of. We camped together, sang together, and road tripped together. We immersed ourselves in a community of healers and visionaries alike. We hiked from Crested Butte to a concert in Aspen, caught a show at the Belly Up and back to Crested Butte again the next day. Adventures like these were our regular weekends. We found the most joy when we were in the mountains. Meanwhile we both also started to find our way in the wellness industry, developing values that became increasingly aligned.
Through all of our adventures, we came to realize we had a shared vision. A vision that incorporated movement, adventure and play. This was a vision we wanted to share with others, because we were coming to see that when we spend time in nature, we awaken the truest essence of Self. And through this, Awaken Retreats was born.
Our first retreat sold out, with 25 people traveling from Colorado and all across the country to be part of an immersive movement and adventure experience. From there, we have honed in on our vision, made daily efforts to live out our values, and committed to weekly meetings and meditations together. We hold each other accountable, hold space for each other, and reflect each other in our wholeness. We are so excited to continue on this journey of giving back to each other, our community, and our shared home, Mother Earth.
co-founders
Kelsey Brown
Co-Founder, 500-EYT
Kelsey Brown is a community builder, brand strategist, and movement teacher devoted to building systems and spaces that help people feel fully alive and connected to their purpose. For more than a decade she has worked across Fortune 500 retail brands, wellness studios, and fast-growing startups, weaving together strategy, storytelling, and community design. As the founder of Living Ethos, she guides organizations, leaders, and individuals through the work of aligning purpose, systems, and strategy so they can thrive in ways that feel authentic and sustainable.
With over 1,000 hours of yoga, meditation, and somatic training—spanning Vinyasa, Bhakti, Katonah, Buti, Kundalini, and more—Kelsey spent the last ten years teaching classes that blend structure, mobility, and creativity. She invites students to ask, What are you devoted to? and to discover the intelligence of their bodies through steady effort (abhyasa), breath, and imagination.
Adventure has shaped her leadership style. Kelsey’s most expansive journey was a multi-week expedition down the Grand Canyon. And her favorite adventure remains the hike from Aspen to Crested Butte—and back again.
These days, island living keeps her close to the ocean, but she is happiest on a mountain trail, cooking a homegrown meal with friends & family, or incognito in a coffee shop.
Trainings & Certifications: 500-EYT in Vinyasa, 200-Hour Katonah Yoga, Buti Yoga, Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga, Yoga Sculpt, 50-Hour Bhakti Yoga, Level 1 Wilderness First Responder
Preston Slaughter
Co-founder, 200-EYT
Preston Slaughter is a backcountry guide, retreat leader, educator and photographer whose work lives at the intersection of nature, community, and personal transformation. As the co-founder of Awaken Retreats, she brings a decade of experience leading people into wild places—both externally and within themselves. Preston is the founder of a Richmond, VA based nonprofit L.O.C.A.L Adventures, that empowers youth to explore their inner and outer landscape through mindfulness, the arts, and outdoor adventures.
A lifelong traveler and storyteller, Preston discovered her love for yoga and photography while teaching English in Thailand. Since then, she has taught thousands of students, guided multi-day expeditions, and woven together movement, mindfulness, and adventure into retreats across the country. She has hosted 10 retreats nationwide and most recently expanded to host her first international retreat.
Preston’s backcountry leadership is rooted in deep personal experience. She has completed numerous multi-day wilderness trips, including leading a 23-day expedition down the Grand Canyon, and has spent years exploring remote landscapes on foot, skis, and river. Her style blends calm, grounded leadership with playful curiosity, creating spaces where people feel safe, seen, and inspired to explore their edges.
Trainings & Certifications: 200-Hour Vinyasa Yoga, Kids Yoga, Trauma-Informed Yoga, Yin Yoga, SUP Yoga, Buti Yoga, Deep Stretch & Meditation, Meridian Yoga Therapy, Level 1 Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue
