The Team at Nest
Ana (she/her)
Co-Founder, Registered Social Worker (RSW)
Ana’s vision as a co-founder of Nest is to provide a space and community for people to access support and services they need to assist them during pivotal life moments.
As a Registered Social Worker, she excels at assisting her clients in navigating processes and systems such as Maternity/Parental Leave, health benefits/insurance, employment insurance, (short-term) disability, financial resources, housing resources, and more.
Ana is booking clients by appointment only. Please call our office at (780) 760-6378 or email info@nestinwellness.com
Karena (she/her)
Co-Founder, CLD, CPD, PE, BEd., BKin.
Karena’s passion for supporting growing families through every chapter of their journey has led her to teaming up with Ana and the incredible team at Nest.
As a certified birth and postpartum doula, you can find her teaching workshops and classes, and facilitating pregnant and parent+baby groups when she’s not handling the back-of-the-biz needs. Karena is also an instructor for Doula Canada, the owner of doula agency Bumps Upon a Time, the Chair of the Doula Association of Edmonton, and Advisory Board member of YBB Connect.
Candace (she/her)
Registered Acupuncturist (RAc.)
Candace found acupuncture through her own personal acupuncture treatments for pain management, asthma, and allergies. A caring Acupuncturist coached her through her fertility journey which allowed her to grow her family not once but twice. Through her own experience, she became fascinated with the applications of acupuncture in women’s health and hopes to be able to do the same for others.
Candace is passionate about all applications of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with a special interest in women’s health, fertility, pregnancy and postpartum. In addition to acupuncture, she also practices auricular acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, smokeless moxa, and tui na massage – all modalities which she incorporates in her regular Acupuncture treatment for clients. You can also book separate cupping sessions with her!
When she’s not supporting clients at Nest, you’re likely to find her checking out the newest food spots in town, cycling (indoor and outdoor), or catching theatrical productions with her friends!
Candace is fluent in English and French.
Halah (she/her)
Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RD)
Halah is a dedicated Registered Dietitian (also known as Nutritionist) who has been working in the clinical dietetics field since 2018.
She acquired her Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in nutrition and her expertise encompasses a wide range of care areas ranging from chronic disease management such as diabetes, to pediatrics and women’s well-being.
Particularly, Halah’s true passion lies in maternal health.
Halah is committed to providing holistic client-centered nutrition care. She recognizes each client’s situation and experiences, and collaborates with them to deliver optimal
nutrition care that meets their needs and goals. Halah is keen on providing compassionate individualized care that fits the client’s definition of health and well-being. She also ensures building of long-term nutritional skills away from food fads.
When she’s not supporting clients at Nest, you’re likely to find Halah spending time in nature, painting, enjoying crafts, and sharing delicious food experiences with her loved ones!
Halah is fluent in Arabic and English.
Crisia (she/her)
Certified Fertility Support Practitioner
Crisia has a background in biology and works in environmental policy and land management, most recently managing a unit that supports Indigenous communities in developing biodiversity monitoring programs.
After the birth of her first baby, she became passionate about using her biology background to empower women and people with uteruses to better understand their hormonal cycles and be in tune with their bodies. This led her to become a Fertility Support Practitioner specializing in cycle charting. She is also in training to become a Fertility Awareness Method educator.
Crisia is also a certified car seat tech, and loves answering car seat questions!
When she’s not supporting clients at Nest, you’re likely to find her silversmithing, identifying plants, spinning wool, or knitting!
Malisa (she/her)
Mental Health Therapist (MSW, BSW, RSW)
Malisa is a seasoned Registered Social Worker with over a decade of experience, and possesses a genuine curiosity about the profound interplay between life experiences and their impact on mental and physical well-being.
Malisa consistently seeks opportunities for professional growth, ensuring her methods remain contemporary and effective while firmly anchored in a dedicated ethical foundation.
Beyond her professional qualifications, Malisa’s personal journey has provided her with a unique perspective. Having navigated the challenges of fertility, experienced pregnancy loss, and grappled with perinatal health issues, she brings an empathetic perspective to her work. These experiences have deepened her understanding of the emotional and physical aspects of these struggles, fostering even greater compassion for those she assists.
Her life journey underscores the significance of kindness, continuous learning, and a caring heart in making a positive impact on others and contributing to a more empathetic world.
When Malisa’s not supporting clients at Nest you’re likely to find her spending quality time with her husband and 3 sons, practicing yoga, exploring culinary diversity, or traveling!
Paschia (she/her)
Mental Health Therapist (CCC)
Paschia is a warm and patient therapist who is also optimistic and realistic. She strives to create safe and warm environments for the people she works with to be vulnerable.
Her experience in counselling includes family violence, family support, and group care, and perinatal mental health.
When she’s not supporting clients at Nest, you’re likely to find her in the river valley, listening to audiobooks or podcasts, baking, or playing with others’ dogs (hopefully one of her own soon)!
Mackenzie (she/her)
Registered Massage Therapist (RMT)
Mackenzie offers relaxation and therapeutic (including deep tissue) massage options for the general population (babies, toddlers, adolescents, adults, and seniors), as well as those in their pregnancy. Her prenatal massages include the use of our pregnancy bolsters for those who wish to lay face down!
Mackenzie tailors the massage environment to each individual’s preferences – you can choose your music/sound, scent for the diffuser, amount of light, and to engage in conversation or not.
Along with English, Mackenzie can also communicate a bit in French and Swedish.
When she’s not supporting clients at Nest, you’re likely to find her practicing Swedish, playing with her cats Bean and Sprout, indulging in Grey’s Anatomy, or nerding over anatomy and physiology!
Katie (she/her)
Registered Nurse, Lactation Counsellor/Educator, Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (RN, CLE, CBS)
Katie is a Registered Nurse, Certified Lactation Educator, Certified Postpartum Doula and is currently completing her Breastfeeding Specialist Certification. She is passionate about supporting and educating families with compassion and evidence-based information through their perinatal journey. Katie is an experienced instructor with over a decade of teaching experience.
At Nest, Katie will be offering prenatal lactation classes, as well as individual lactation support and education. Please book a 15 minute free phone consultation if you are interested in one-on-one lactation support! Katie is dedicated to creating a safe, non-judgmental space for learning, questions and sharing in her classes. She is also working on developing a full roster of perinatal classes including infant safety, caring for a newborn and babywearing, so stay tuned for updates!
When Katie is not supporting clients at Nest, she can be found caring for her two young children, outside enjoying nature, or cooking up something delicious in her kitchen!
Ingrid (she/her)
Personal Trainer and Meditation Teacher
Ingrid is passionate about teaching people how to achieve their optimal health and vitality through fitness, nutrition and wellness. Ingrid has been a personal trainer for over 2 decades, and has trained clients with various goals, challenges and abilities. Over time, she came to seek an even more holistic approach to address the plethora of problems she saw.
Ingrid offers small group personal training classes, as well as 1-on-1 and 2-on-1 personal training. Keep an eye out in the near future for meditation classes for pre and postnatal populations and adolescents!
When she’s not supporting clients at Nest, you’re likely to find her swimming, biking, or hiking!
Tia (she/her)
Physiotherapist (PT)
Tia is driven most strongly in life by the desire to be part of the journey of self-empowerment of others, especially those who have been traditionally underserved or overlooked by the medical system. She proudly supports people from all walks of life, with a focus in musculoskeletal injuries, pelvic health, and pediatrics.
She has worked at both the Stollery Children’s Hospital and Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, honing her skills in pediatrics in areas ranging from brain injuries, cerebral palsy, chronic pain, and complex post-operative needs to torticollis, motor development, and more. While she loves working with children, Tia has been blessed with the opportunity to support people of all genders and ages with their pelvic health needs. She has training in incontinence, pelvic pain, prolapse, and those looking for support during their pregnancy and beyond. Alongside this, Tia has years of experience assessing and treating musculoskeletal injuries – think sport-related injuries, back and jaw pain, hurt shoulder or ankle, and everything in-between: Tia’s got you!
When Tia is not supporting clients at Nest, she can be found painting (water colour), weightlifting, checking out a local cafe, or on the hunt for the next pottery piece for her growing collection!
Asha (she/her)
Yoga Instructor (E-YT, PYT, KYT)
Asha is a yoga teacher, early childhood educator, birth and postpartum doula, and birth educator. Her yoga training began with a 200-hr teacher training, and she soon integrated prenatal and postpartum.
Asha holds inclusivity and equity to the highest standard and practices trauma informed care in all of her modalities of work. She strives to offer safety and grounding in her classes, and is an excellent support for families on their perinatal journeys.
When Asha is not teaching at Nest, you’re likely to find her being in nature, swimming, embroidering, and/or reading!
Isabelle (she/her)
Yoga Instructor, Yoga Therapist (RYT-500, C-IAYT)
Isabelle is a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher and 800-hour Yoga Therapist. Her interest in yoga began with mental health, exploring the slower interoceptive practices that support the nervous system.
Since the birth of her first baby, her interest in Pre and Post Natal Yoga and birth has really deepened. She is extremely passionate about supporting parents on their journeys, as well as children with mindfulness.
Isabelle prides her classes in being accessible and her mission is to offer an inclusive space for all to explore mind, body and breath.
When Isabelle is not teaching at Nest, you’re likely to find her cozying up with her cats and a book, sipping coffee, and/or advancing more knowledge/skills!
Shantelle (she/her)
Yoga Instructor (RYT-200, CPYT)
Shantelle has been teaching yoga for almost a decade, and is certified to teach prenatal and postnatal yoga, is a Reiki Master, and is also a certified birth doula.
Shantelle includes elements of energy play in most of her yoga classes, and infuses the wisdom of cyclical living into her practice as well. She is multi-passionate and loves to support others, especially during big transitions.
When Shantelle is not teaching at Nest, you’re likely to find her somewhere in the countryside, traveling, or spending time with her human and/or fur children!
Join our Team!
We are looking for the following practitioner to join our team at Nest. If you feel like you would be a good fit on our team, please email your resume and cover letter to admin@nestinwellness.com with the subject line “Application for (job title)”.
Registered Psychologist
We are looking for a part-time (up to 12 hours a week, with the potential to increase over time) Registered Psychologist who has skills and knowledge to support perinatal mental health. Some potential areas of expertise that we are seeking include:
- Perintal Mood and Affective Disorders (PMADs)
- Loss, grief, and bereavement
- Fertility counselling
- Birth trauma
- Relationship counselling for new parents
This is an independent contractor position with competitive compensation.
