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OUR STORY
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FREE SPIRITED WANDERER
Free Spirited Wanderer goes beyond a yoga and wellness business – it’s a way of life born from a personal journey of transformation, self-discovery, and an unwavering commitment to live authentically and fully.
From a young age, Carole Keefer, founder of Free Spirited Wanderer (FSW), has been driven by vivid visions, audacious goals, and a deep desire to carve her own path, guided by purpose, intention, and the pursuit to find meaningful connections.
This path has not been without its challenges. Like many, she faced struggles with chronic stress, self-doubt, and uncertainty about her place in the world. However, discovering the power of yoga changed everything as she began to uncover what it meant to live a life aligned with authenticity, inner fulfillment, and freedom.
Yoga became her anchor, guiding her through adversity and leading her to transformative global adventures – studying abroad in Spain, Cambodia, and India, and completing yoga teacher trainings in Nepal and India.These life-changing experiences ignited Carole’s passion to help others embrace their true selves and unlock their full potential.
Since its founding in 2014, Free Spirited Wanderer has been dedicated to creating spaces where yoga, travel, and community intersect. Since then, FSW has hosted 30 retreats with over 350 participants worldwide, along with coaching containers, workshops, and courses designed to foster growth, connection, and self-awareness.
The yoga teachings of Free Spirited Wanderer are deeply rooted in the tradition of the 8-limbs of yoga, blending asana, pranayama, and meditation with a focus on building discipline, dedication, and devotion. Each class emphasizes breath, intelligent sequencing, educational hands-on assists, and alignment, fostering a deeper connection of body, mind, and spirit. The goal is for you to not only experience a transformative practice on the mat but to integrate these lessons into your daily life, living the practice as a holistic lifestyle.
At Free Spirited Wanderer, we believe life is a journey best traveled with intention, courage, and an open heart. Whether you're stepping onto your yoga mat, exploring a new corner of the world, or diving into self-discovery, we invite you to join us in creating a life aligned with your true self.
"Being a student of Carole is one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve been lucky enough to have in my life. Her vulnerability and open heart comes through if you’ve ever been fortunate enough to have a conversation with her or take her class. Putting into words what this sweet loving soul means to me as a friend and a mentor is quite difficult. To sum it all up, if you are lucky enough to share time with Carole you will take something away from it and I guarantee she’ll help you find something in yourself that you didn’t realize was there all the time." -Susan B.
MEET THE TEAM:
Carole Keefer
Founder, E-RYT 500 Yoga Teacher & Retreat Leader
Carole Keefer is based in North Carolina with her husband, Scott and bunny, Talulah. She is a passionate yoga teacher and student, lululemon ambassador, and founder of Free Spirited Wanderer, dedicated to helping others align with their authentic selves through yoga, travel, and community. With over a decade of experience, she has led 30 retreats worldwide, blending her deep respect for traditional yoga practices with modern teaching methods.
Carole’s training includes a 200-hour Hatha/Ashtanga certification in Nepal (2014), and advanced 300-hour training in India (2018) both with Rishikul Yogshala, a year long Ashtanga Apprenticeship with AYS Charlotte (2018), 40hr Marma (2019), 40hr Four Desires (2022), and 40hr Vinyasa Krama (2024) all with Para Yoga, a 2nd 200-hour teacher training with Y2 Yoga (2022),a 2nd 300-hour teacher training with Johnna Smith (2025) and multiple immersions and workshops.
Her classes are rooted in the 8-limbs of yoga and inspired by her love and appreciation for Ashtanga & Hatha Yoga, emphasizing breath, strength & grace, and personal growth. Carole creates a welcoming space for students to connect with their mind, body, and soul, leaving them feeling empowered and energized. She invites everyone to explore yoga as a path to discovering their innate potential, personal power, and higher purpose.
View Carole's Credentials: -University of Salamanca Business Program; Spain 2012 -Wisdom Tours Abroad: Buddhist Philosophy; India 2013 & Cambodia 2014 -Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management; Castleton University 2014 -200hr Yoga Teacher Training; Rishikul Yogshala, Nepal 2014 -Founder of Free Spirited Wanderer; 2014 -Student of Johnna Smith; 2017-Present -300hr Yoga Teacher Training; Rishikul Yogshala, India 2018 -Ashtanga Apprenticeship; Ashtanga Yoga School, Charlotte 2018-2019 -E-RYT 500 Yoga Teacher 2019 -30hr Marma Training; Para Yoga, Colorado 2019 -25hr Yoga & Social Justice Immersion 2021 -Bloom, Personal Development Course, 2021 Graduate -Yoga Business Ascension, 2021 Graduate -Conscious Business School with Natalia Benson, 2022 Graduate -200hr Yoga Teacher Training; Y2 Yoga, 2022 Graduate -25hr The Four Desires; Para Yoga, 2023 -lululemon Ambassador, 2024 -40hr Vinyasa Krama; Para Yoga, 2024
Laura Klauser
Retreat Coordinator & Photographer
Laura lives in Connecticut with her husband, three kids, cat, bunny, and her beloved flock of chickens. With over a decade of experience as a professional photographer and four years as a certified Vinyasa (200YTT w/ Cathy Madeo Yoga, 2021) and Yin (20hr Yin Training w/ Cathy Madeo Yoga, 2022) Yoga Teacher, Laura brings a wealth of talent and heart to every project she undertakes.
Since joining Free Spirited Wanderer in 2024 as our retreat coordinator and photographer, Laura has become an integral part of the FSW community. During retreats, she captures the moments—big and small—that embody the magic and connection of the FSW experience. Beyond her photography, Laura leads evening Yin yoga classes, offering participants a grounding and restorative practice. She also plays a vital role in international retreats, managing logistics to ensure everything runs smoothly and that every guest feels welcomed and at home.
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Haylee Salopek
Social Media Specialist
Haylee is from New Mexico, where she grew up surrounded by pecan trees and sunshine! She absolutely loves dancing, spending time in the mountains, traveling, building new connections, creating, and being with her people—her family and friends.
It was through travel that Haylee and Carole met at the Free Your Sol Women’s Retreat in Olhão, Portugal, and she is forever grateful for that connection and experience. Haylee says that Carole embodies that of a free-spirited wanderer, and she deeply admires her and what she has created.
She is so excited to help with social media and be a part of this incredible adventure and team!
Paige Mueller
Community & Partnerships Specialist
Paige is our Community & Partnerships Specialist, where she gets to do what she loves the most—build connections, foster collaboration, and bridge the gap between an amazing company and its incredible community. She is all about helping businesses she admires shine, creating authentic relationships, and bringing a little extra humanity into the professional world.
When Paige is not connecting people and ideas, you’ll probably find her at a hot yoga class, hosting a cozy dinner party for her friends, or hunting down the best farm-to-table restaurants (paired with a martini or a great glass of wine, of course). She is a total sucker for a magical sunrise or sunset and truly cherishes the soul connections she has built in this life.
Joining FSW Retreats has been such an exciting adventure, and there’s nothing she loves more than making meaningful connections and helping communities thrive. "Let’s make magic happen together!"
**If you are a wellness business interested in partnering and building a relationship with FSW please contact Paige: paige@freespiritedwanderer.com
Kaili Prescott
Ayurvedic Health Coach
Kaili’s journey into yoga began at a young age, inspired by her mother. It wasn't until 2018 that she truly deepened her connection with yoga, discovering it as a safe space to explore deep parts of herself and what it meant to be present and connected. Through retreats, workshops, extensive reading, and studying Kaili continued to unlock her path and her dharma along this journey.
In 2023, she completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Rishikul Yogashala in Rishikesh, India. Kaili is a 2024 graduate of Shakti Ayurveda School’s Level 1 program and is currently enrolled in their Level 2 training for 2025. By completing the level 1 training, Kaili will be a certified Ayurvedic Health Coach, enabling her to offer personalized guidance on diet, lifestyle, and wellness practices rooted in Ayurvedic principles, and to guide clients in empowering themselves in making informed decisions on their health and well-being.
Kaili believes that Yoga and Ayurveda are accessible to everyone and that these teachings have much to offer. She intends to help each student feel empowered, refreshed, and deeply connected to their true essence and inner truth.
Join Kaili in 2025 for 1:1 Ayurvedic Health Coaching. By joining our 'Interest List' below, you will be the first to know when this program launches.
