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 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!

Indra (she/her)
Perinatal Educator, Birth and Postpartum Doula
Indra has always been interested in pregnancy, birth, and reproductive health. She has a certificate in sexual health education, has completed two out of three years of Somatic Experiencing (a trauma healing training), and is completing her Master’s of Counselling.
Indra had considered becoming a doula and perinatal educator for some time, and decided to commit to it upon the birth of her daughter. Her birth went nothing like what she had planned and hoped for, but due to her amazing supports, it was a wonderful birth.
Her hope as a perinatal educator and doula is to offer care, support, information, and space to others so that they have a positive memory of their birth, regardless of how closely it follows their birth plan.
At Nest, you’ll find Indra running social/support groups for pregnant folk and parents with babies. See what she’s got coming up on our booking page!
When Indra is not supporting clients at Nest, you’re likely to find her camping, road tripping, or spending time with her family!

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 will be offering pair and small group pre & postnatal personal training, as well as meditation classes for pre and postnatal populations.
When she’s not supporting clients at Nest, you’re likely to find her swimming, biking, or hiking!

Shanu (she/her)
Registered Physiotherapist
Shanu is a dedicated and experienced physiotherapist committed to improving
the physical well-being and quality of life for her patients. With a passion for helping individuals regain mobility, manage pain, and achieve their health goals, she has spent 20 years honing her skills and knowledge in the field of physiotherapy. At Nest, Shanu specializes in pelvic health physiotherapy.
Her approach to patient care is holistic, focusing not only on treating symptoms but also addressing the underlying causes of discomfort and dysfunction. She believes in personalized care plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs and goals, whether it’s recovering from an injury, managing a chronic condition, or enhancing overall physical performance.
Throughout her career, she has had the privilege of working with a diverse range of patients. She is dedicated to staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in physiotherapy and using evidence-based practices to provide the highest quality of care.
Shanu can communicate proficiently in English, Hindi, Urdu, and Malayalam.

Katie (she/her)
Registered Nurse, Lactation Counsellor (RN, CLE)
Check back soon to learn more about Katie!

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!

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 practitioners 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)”.
Pelvic Health Physiotherapist
We are looking for a part-time (up to 18 hours a week, with the potential to increase over time) Physiotherapist who has completed a minimum of 36 hours in pelvic health training (equivalent to 2 Pelvic Health Solutions courses). This is an independent contractor position with competitive compensation.
Registered Psychologist
We are looking for a part-time (up to 18 hours a week, with the potential to increase over time) Registered Psychoogist 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.