Hello! I’m Kait, your resident Modern Hippie. I’m a certified yoga instructor, a passionate advocate for holistic wellness, and am rooted in the tenants of herbalism. For the past six years I’ve been based in the foothills of the Rockies in Denver, Colorado! The mountains are home, but my happy place is definitely at the edge of any body of water- this balance between earth and water spills over into my lifestyle as well.
I believe a balanced lifestyle is of the utmost importance- so you’re just as likely to find me hiking up to a glacial lake as you are to find me at an endless brunch, surrounded by friends with a mimosa in hand. I’m also an overly obsessive dog mom to my two Samoyed pups, Tinkerbelle and Meeko, who definitely know how cute they are and are sweethearts to their fluffy and feathered sisters, Sage the bunny, and the six hens in a tiny home in my backyard!
Now, you might ask, ‘Modern Hippie– what on earth is that?’ To answer that I’ll have to give you a bit of my backstory:
I’m the product of a mother who is a naturopathic doctor and a master herbalist and a business executive father (talk about opposites attract) and my sensibilities, that admittedly swing far more to the ‘hippie’ side of the spectrum, reflect that.
I was really fortunate to grow up in a household with an emphasis on health that one might call ‘alternative.’ Natural remedies and essential oils took precedent over more ‘traditional medicine,’ playing sports and exploring outside were daily activities, and I was taught the value of organic, farm fresh food and where it came from (I used to eat beets out of the garden without washing them- silly kiddo!) from an early age.
Growing up if you were to stick me in one of the high school stereotypes I’d be a jock, but I never thought I fit into just one category. I played soccer year round and sprinted on the track team starting in the seventh grade; I loved the adrenaline rush of competition and the flying feeling you get when your feet barely touched the ground. But the competition didn’t stop there- I loved to learn, everything from the English language to the medicinal properties of herbs. Well, everything except for math- because no, thanks.
I took that competitive drive all the way to Boston College where I majored in English and Communications, minored in Philosophy, and ran on the track team. It was while I was at BC that my father coined the term ‘prippie,’ a combination of the words preppy and hippie, to describe me. I loved it. As I matured I really began to appreciate the way I was brought up, and when the ‘back to natural’ movement gained momentum I was an early adapter.
After graduating (and a short hiatus living and backpacking in Europe) I joined a public relations firm, put on my ‘I’m a professional’ suit and a pair of Louboutins, and proceeded to be miserable in a corporate setting.
Long story short, I quit hating my job, moved out to Denver on a whim, and became a yoga instructor. To this day, that is the best decision I have ever made. Now I’m happy, healthy, have mermaid colored hair, and most definitely still have a weak spot for excessively expensive shoes.
Now, back to Modern Hippie:
Modern [mädərn] adjective. 1. of or relating to the present or recent times as opposed to the remote past.
Hippie [hip-ee] noun. 1. a person, especially of the late 1960s, who rejected established institutions and values and sought spontaneity, direct personal relations expressing love, and expanded consciousness, often expressed externally in the wearing of casual, folksy clothing and of beads, headbands, used garments, etc.
Remove the dated decade and clothing, add in a touch of modern technology and taste, and maintain the free thinking, spontaneous creatures full of love and you have a Modern Hippie.
Modern Hippie [mädərn hip-ee] noun. Healthy living, open-minded individual with a penchant for yoga and a love for mindful living.
