Rising Stars: Meet Kaylene Macias of South Metro Denver/Parker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaylene Macias.

Hi Kaylene , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
How I Found Myself Again—and Helped Others Do the Same By Kaylene Macias

It started the day I became a mom—ten years ago.
Night after night, violent nightmares dragged me back to my worst fear: watching my infant daughter slip away in front of me. I couldn’t save her. I just stood there—helpless—as it happened again and again. I’d wake up gasping, only to fall back asleep and be pulled right back into the nightmare.

I never told my doctor about it—I didn’t think anyone could fix it.

The second sign came three years later after my son was born. The nurse placed him on my chest—and I felt…nothing. No joy. No warmth. No love. Just a hollow detachment. Over time, that detachment grew into resentment, and I quietly blamed my baby for how broken I felt inside. I didn’t tell a soul—terrified that if I said the truth out loud, people would think I was heartless. Maybe I was.

After having my third child, the nightmares came back with a vengeance. Night became a horror-filled maze with no way out.
And the days? They were even worse.
Physical touch sent me into a panic. I couldn’t hold my children. Intrusive thoughts whispered inside my mind. I was trapped inside a mind that was no longer mine.

One afternoon, my sister stopped by and saw through the mask I had been wearing. She recognized the signs of a mental health crisis—signs I didn’t even fully understand myself. I had been hiding so much, even from my husband. I felt ashamed, confused, and terrified of what the truth might say about me. But when my sister asked if I was okay, something cracked open. I broke down and told her everything—the nightmares, the panic, the numbness, the unbearable distance I felt from my kids. She held my hand and calmly called a mental health hotline.

I got professional help that day.

It didn’t fix everything—but at that moment, I wasn’t alone anymore. And the shame started melting away.
I was diagnosed with Postpartum Psychosis. My doctor gave me a challenge: “Go to the gym to exercise. Spend time in the sunshine. And make friends to build your support network.”

It sounded so simple. But it wasn’t—not for someone still struggling just to get out of bed.
I had an idea: What if I combined all three? What if I invited women to exercise outside with me? I found eight women online willing to meet once a week. That meetup became the one day I could get out of bed and feel like myself again.

After a few months, something incredible happened.
I started smiling more. I started getting ready every morning. I gained control of my thoughts. Sunshine, exercise, and friendship really were making a difference.

There was one moment when I realized just how much of an impact. It was late at night, and one of my kids crawled into bed to snuggle with me. And for the first time in months, I didn’t panic. I didn’t pull away.
I held my son. I held my son! And I finally felt that love I had been missing for so long.

That moment was my turning point. I realized that getting outside, moving, and connecting wasn’t just a challenge from my doctor—it was a lifeline. And if sunshine, movement, and connection could do all that for me, I knew I needed to help others experience the same healing. I became determined to turn my little club into something bigger, something to help hundreds of women feel better.

So I got to work—alongside incredible women like Anne Sevilla, Michele Gratt, Kelly Phillips, Desiree Warren, and Liz Konley who gave their time, hearts, and energy to build something completely new and long overdue for the women in our community.

Fast-forward 18 months—we just celebrated the one-year anniversary The Women’s Adventure Club. We’re a nonprofit that offers countless opportunities to get outside, move your body, and build your support network.

The trifecta of sunshine, movement, and connection is at the heart of every event we host.
Sunshine lifts your mood and helps reset your nervous system.
Movement releases endorphins and eases anxiety.
Connection is the glue: It helps women feel seen, heard, and supported.

In a culture obsessed with exercise as a way to change how you look, we focus on how it makes you feel. For us, getting outside and moving isn’t about speed tests or burning calories. It’s a tool for healing—not a measure of fitness. We are movement for your mental health.

I am so proud of what we’ve created for our community of over 1,300 members! And while my mental health crisis was incredibly difficult, I’m grateful for it, because it led me here.

Today, I love my life. I love who I am. I’m confident. I’m proud to be a mom. I hold my head high, take up space, and know without a doubt that I can do anything I set my mind to.
And the most rewarding part?
I get to witness that transformation in other women every single day.
I’ve seen them rise from self-doubt to boldness, from silence to sisterhood, from barely holding on to fully becoming.

Because when women choose joy, healing, and strength, it doesn’t just change them, it changes everything. They become the kind of women who lift others just by being who they are.
That’s the real magic:
Not just surviving, but rising. Not just healing, but homecoming
So if you’ve been wondering where the real you went…

Come find her.
She’s out here, in the sunshine, on the trail, beside women who will hold space for you until you remember your own strength.
We’re already saving you a spot.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
There are fitness groups, hiking clubs, and women’s meetups everywhere—but none like The Women’s Adventure Club.

We focus on Movement, Community, & Mental Health—because mental health shouldn’t be a solo journey. WAC was born from the advice I received during a mental health crisis: “Get outside more. Build a support network. Start exercising.” Even knowing where to start felt impossible, which is exactly why we exist.

WAC is the bridge—a welcoming, supportive space where movement, outdoor adventure, and meaningful connection help women take those first steps toward healing. Our programs are diverse: you can train with a team and coach to meet an outdoor goal, try a new activity like cross-country skiing or pickleball, or join relaxed meetups to hike, bike, snowshoe, and more. All programs are led by experienced volunteers & coaches—you are never last, and you are never left behind. This is not competitive. We are here to support you.

Any big plans?
Starting this March, we’re launching a Mental Health Education Division, led by a team of volunteer mental health professionals. These bi-monthly educational meetups empower women with practical skills to understand mental health, break stigma, and support themselves and each other. Through workshops, guest speakers, and interactive exercises, members explore topics like setting boundaries, saying “no” without guilt, overcoming impostor syndrome, navigating menopause, managing stress, and boosting confidence. This isn’t group therapy; it’s group education, giving women strategies they can use immediately, all within a supportive community of women who get it.

As a nonprofit with free membership, we want all women to have access to support, friendship, and healing—because mental health, movement, and connection should never be limited by cost.

Here, women form real friendships, reduce stress, build resilience, and rediscover joy—all without pressure or comparison. That holistic focus on mind, body, and community is what truly sets WAC apart.

Pricing:

• Free Membership
• Free Weekly Events
• Paid Special Events
• Paid Training Programs
• Free Mental Health Seminars

Contact Info:

• Website: www.womensadventureclub.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wacparker/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555675064065

Image Credits
Aurica Halter with Aura Love Photography