holistic practitioners, yoga teachers, karma yogis & the kirtaneers

The Holistic Practitioners and Yoga Teachers at Cave of the Heart are dedicated to providing the best care and guidance to all of our clients, students and members. With over a combined century of experience, each Practitioner and Teacher brings their education, training and wisdom to create a well-balanced atmosphere for healing to occur. Our Holistic Practitioners and Yoga Teachers may vary with respect to the form of treatment/teachings they provide, but each of them possesses the same unconditional love for their clients/students. For more information about each Holistic Practitioner and Yoga Teacher, please read each individual Biography.

Here at Cave of the Heart, we have a particular adoration for Sivananda Yoga. The lineage of Sivananda Yoga begins with Master Sivananda who was born in India in the 1800s and lived his life as a Saint and Guru. Sivananda Ashrams can be found all over the world, including Canada in Val-Morin, Quebec. This is where we found our most profound connection to Yoga, and where we continue to visit every year to polish her hearts a little brighter! We are deeply grateful for the experiences that we have shared with Living Sadhana (former Windsor Affiliate Sivananda Centre), House of Yoga (Berkley, MI), Sivananda Yoga Ashram (Val-Morin, QE) and Yoga Mahadevi (Windsor, ON). Thank You for sharing your teachings and your space with an open heart. Namaste’

Bhakti Yoga (Path of Devotion) is the core at Cave of the Heart. It is through weekly Satsang and monthly Kirtan that we are able to gather together and chant for Peace, Love and Happiness. Please join The Kirtaneers Bhakti Band at monthly Kirtan and help raise the good vibrations! Led by Nancy Dayā Drew (harmonium/lead vocals), Jessica Defoe (harmonium/vocals), David Pare (drum), Josie Burns (tambourine) and Kerrie Prema Riberdy (kartals/vocals), these Bhakti’s help to open hearts everywhere! Jai Ma!

JAI KRISHNA! JAI HANUMAN! JAI RAM!

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Kerrie Prema Riberdy
Cave of the Heart

Kerrie Prema Riberdy

Kerrie Prema Riberdy: Cave of the Heart

Kerrie Prema Riberdy (Owner Cave of the Heart) is a Licensed Holistic Practitioner offering over two decades of experience in Holistic Health Services. Her previous businesses include Sol Invictus (2000-2013) and Flower Power (2013-2018). Kerrie is a CFA (Canadian Federation of Aromatherapists) Health Practitioner and an RRCO (Reflexology Registration of Ontario) Reflexologist. Kerrie’s Treatments and Yoga Classes are both loving and nurturing. She has been blessed with the spiritual name Prema which is Sanskrit for Love, chosen for her by Swami Shivabhaktananda of the Sivananda Yoga Lineage. She has a strong adoration for Lord Krishna, Mother Mary and is a dedicated Crystal Skull Keeper. Her devotion to Bhakti Yoga has encouraged her to study the Hanuman Chalisa, a 40 verse poem written by the Indian Saint Tulsidas. Under the guidance of her teachers David Shiva Das and Abby Durga Devi, her Bhakti Soul Sister Nancy Dayā Drew and her beloved harmonium Sukhi, she has been able to open her heart and sing the names of the Divine. Cave of the Heart is a small space with a big heart! Nestled in the heart of Olde Walkerville, it is a healing sanctuary for those seeking refuge from the stress of everyday life. Services and classes are created with the intention of pure love thus polishing the heart so that we can all shine our light brighter! Love is the key to the door deep inside the Cave of the Heart. Namaste’.

I wish to Acknowledge and Thank all of my Teachers, past and present: Advanced Aromatherapy & Reflexology (Sara Rankin/Aromatica 1998-2000), Therapeutic Touch I, I & III (Flo Hartleib & Sharron Parrott 2000), Ear Coning Therapy (Sandra Yemm 2000), Hot Stone Massage (Deborah Cottam-Burjaw/Body & Soul 2001), Indian Head Massage (Chris Carrothers/Balnea Institute 2003), Reiki I & II (David M. Broad 2010/2011), Tuning Fork Therapy I (Kyle Glassford 2015), Registered Yoga Teacher (Mary Farrell/Blossoming Lotus Yoga 2015-2016), Certified Prenatal Yoga (Sivananda Yoga Ashram, Val Morin QE 2017), Hand Mudra Yoga Teacher (Sabrina Mesko 2020), Munay-Ki Andean Shamanism (Alice Soon/White Lotus Heart & Shaman Sisters 2020-2021), Certified Crystal Practitioner (Hibiscus Moon/HM Crystal Academy 2020-2022) and The Warriors Journey II (Durga Devi & Shiva Das/House of Yoga 2022). Much Gratitude!

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Nancy Dayā Drew
Yoga Teacher

Nancy Dayā Drew

Nancy Dayā Drew: Cave of the Heart

bio

Nancy Daya Drew’s introduction to the benefits and healing powers of Yoga, Chant and Meditation began unfolding in 1997. After several years working as a busy hairstylist and involvement in the music industry, stress in the body and mind was beginning to take its toll.

A beginner yoga class at a local community center began to reveal the benefits of Yoga and meditation and a true seeker was born. Many wonderful and inspiring teachers laid the pathway and a visit to a Sivananda Ashram (in 2003) filled in all the missing pieces. This is known as a Gurukulam lineage of yoga with deep roots, steeped in science, tradition and endless benefits to the practitioner. It is more than “exercise,” reaching all levels of human experience and self-study. It stands the test of time, and Nancy Daya joyfully teaches and shares all she’s learned in yoga classes, workshops, Satsang and Kirtan.

A perfect accompaniment to Asana (physical aspect), meditation, Jnana (knowledge aspect) of Yoga and Bhakti (devotional aspect) keeps the balance. Nancy recognizes and humbly bows to her many great (Gurus) teachers, family, friends, clients and mentors on this path of yoga and life. Om Namah Sivaya!

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Jenny Shakti Alderdice
Yoga Teacher

Jenny Shakti Alderdice

Jenny Shakti Alderdice

After fifteen years of practicing various styles of yoga and learning from many gifted and caring instructors, a longing for a deeper spiritual practice led Jenny Shakti Alderdice to India, deep in the Himalayas. It was there where she studied the teachings of Swami Sivananda and Swami Vishnudevananda at the Kutir Ashram. On the river banks of the great Maa Ganga she practiced daily meditation, studied Vedanta, and learned how to teach yoga. She has recently returned from India and is eager to share with the world the peace, love, and joy that has permeated her heart. She is certified to teach Sivananda yoga and outside of the studio she is employed as a nurse practitioner, striving to incorporate Eastern philosophies with Western medicine for a more holistic approach to not just health, but wellness!

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Jessica Defoe
Yoga Teacher

Jessica Defoe

Jessica Defoe, B.M.A, B.Ed, OCT. E-RYT (200); Level I Yoga-Nidrā Teacher; 300 hr Certified Jivamukti Yoga Teacher.

Website: https://www.yogajjdefoe.com

As a life-long musician, music educator since 2003 and sincere student of yoga since 2005, Jessica’s practice began as a way to manage stress and anxiety. Over the years, she has the blessed fortune of sitting with many teachers in the Jivamukti Yoga Method.  She completed her first 200 hour yoga teacher training in 2014, and her Level I Yoga-Nidrā Teacher Training in 2020 with Brenda Feuerstein. When in October of 2020 the opportunity arose to complete her 300 hour Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Training (Online/Italy 2020) with Olga Oskorbina, Camilla Veen, and mentor Jessica Stickler, it was indeed “perfect” timing. 

Jessica’s classes have a clear theme or focus based in yogic teachings and scriptures. She uses Nāda, music, chanting and sound at the core of her classes to uplift the practice, creating a space filled with love and compassion for all beings. 

Jessica’s endless and boundless gratitude to her holy teachers Sharonji (Gannon) and Davidji (Life) for the beautiful lens to view and move through life that is Jivamukti Yoga: joyful devotion opening her heart, endeavouring the absolute best she can to elevate the lives of all (human, animal and plant) Holy Beings.  As a teacher of both yoga and high school instrumental music, she humbly offers the many teachings she has been blessed with from her dearest teachers. Endless and boundless gratitude to the teachers who have come before us and who have so lovingly laid this path at our feet, for their teachings, friendship, love and mentorship.

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Jason Defoe (Love Bree Photography)
Jason Defoe
Yoga Teacher

Jason Defoe

Jason Defoe, B.A, B.Ed, OCT, E-RYT (200). 300 hr Certified Jivamukti Yoga Teacher.

Website: yogajjdefoe.com

A high school English teacher since 2003, Jason has been practicing Yoga since 2006. Though at first drawn to the practice through the healing benefits of asana, he later became interested in Yoga philosophy and meditation, and soon became deeply drawn to the Jivamukti method and its integrative approach to Yoga. He is grateful to have been part of the first online JYTT in 2020.

Jason’s classes and workshops are intellectually and physically stimulating, and present the asana practice as a metaphor for life: a place to dissolve illusions and master the skills that we can employ in every moment in order to live more mindfully and freely.

Jason extends immense gratitude to his gurus across time and space, who speak through their classes, their books, and their sheer generosity of spirit.

Jason also shares his writing from time to time at jasondefoe.com

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Jaylyn Bernachi
Yoga Teacher​

Jaylyn Bernachi

Jaylyn Bernachi , 500 Hour RYT in Jivamukti Yoga & Hatha Yoga // 20 Hour RYT in Yin Yoga

Om! My name is Jaylyn & I’m a full time Yoginī, practicing herbalist (at Sun Powered Soap Co.) & Womb Menstrual Doula (at innerswim). Over my years of devoted yoga practice I have been blessed to cross paths with some of the most respected spiritual leaders of today: Sharon Gannon & David Life (founders of Jivamukti Yoga), Dr. Uma Dinsmore-Tuli (author of Yoni Shakti and founder of Womb Yoga & The Yoga Nidra Network) and Krishna Das, to name a few. I’ve had the blessed opportunity to spend hours both training and immersing myself deeply in the teachings of these holy beings, and also in the wisdom of my own inner teacher. And it is from this place of embodied experience that I offer you my heart & my humble knowledge of this very sacred and ancient practice of Yoga.

Yoga – specifically Yoga that honours the naturally shifting energies of the earth & the cycle within my own body – has been the greatest healing modality & catalyst for inner transformation. My classes tend to focus on reconnecting to this wisdom of the body as Nature, and to the mind as inherently spacious and receptive. This re-membranceuncovers an innate sense of joy & harmony within us – the joy of uniting with life.

Sound (nada), devotion (bhakti), meditation (dhyana), postures (asana) & spiritual community (satsang) are all equally important aspects to a complete yoga practice - a practice that re-minds us just how whole, how powerful and how free we are.

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Rebecca Reagan
Rebecca Reagan
Yoga Teacher​

Rebecca Reagan

Rebecca Reagan, 200hr RYT/95hr RCYT

My path in yoga and spirituality began in my teen years after I learned about Eastern philosophy and was drawn to the practice of yoga and meditation. Yoga has since become a sacred practice to bring me in closer unity with my Divine self and with others, and I have witnessed the transformative effects of the practice over the past 10 years.

I have taught children’s yoga for two years and received my certification in 2020 with Young Yoga Masters led by Aruna Kathy Humphreys. I then went on to complete my 200 hour yoga teacher training at the Ashiatsu Training Centre with Dr. Son Nguyen in 2021 after many years of ‘waiting for the right time’, and finally feeling in my heart and spirit that I was ready to devote myself to deepening my yoga practice.

In the summer of 2021, I launched my small family yoga business called Lumina Family Yoga – where I teach mindfulness-based yoga classes to children and families. Helping others feel empowered to express the fullest version of themselves is why I love to teach yoga, and I believe that being in community and breathing with others has enormous healing power.

I am eternally grateful to my mentors and teachers in this practice as well as the wonderful Cave community. In my classes, I work to create a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere for my students to look inward and listen to the words of the Divine that lives within them through heart-centered yoga and meditation. Looking forward to sharing in this space and community with you, both on and off the mat.

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Elle Serafim
Yoga Teacher

Elle Serafim

Elle Serafim, Certified 200YTT & Yoga Nidra

Hi! I'm Elle! I'm so happy to be here! I truly believe in the benefits of yoga and meditation and want to help others experience the beauty of the practice.

I started my yoga practice in 2015. I wanted to try something new, find more calmness and build strength. I wasn't expecting it to lead me down a path that gave me so much more spiritual growth and awareness, allowing me to find inner peace and happiness and learning to deal better with my emotions and my life situations. I am eternally grateful to my practice and the things it has taught me, and that is what I hope to share with others.

I have 2 beautiful children. I love running and traveling and being outdoors. I make natural bath and body products and I love baths! Mostly, I love finding silence and stillness and connecting in yoga, breath, and with nature. I really look forward to being apart of the Cave family and sharing and connecting with you all ☺️🙏♥️

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Gina Wasserlein
Yoga Teacher

Gina Wasserlein

Gina Wasserlein, Yoga Teacher

Gina was introduced to yoga in 1997. Her friend shared a Bryan Kest video with her; yes VHS while she was teaching elementary grades in the school system. After practicing for a while she noticed how much peace she felt within. Gina wanted everyone to feel this way and asked for a leave of absence to take a yoga teacher training course. She became a yoga teacher in 2002 and opened up a yoga studio and ran it with the help of her mom for 15 years. She took several more trainings and now teaches 200 hr and 300 hr Yoga Alliance recognized trainings. After travelling to India in 2015, 2016 and 2018 Gina was given the blessing from her Teacher and was Authorized as a Level 1 Ashtanga Teacher.
Gina's love and passion to share the benefits of yoga has only strengthened over the years because of her personal practice, experiences and commitment to self-care. Watching others learn and grow from what yoga has to offer is also something that ignites her desire to share the many layers of this ancient system called YOGA .

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Hannah Bound
Spiritual Comfort

Hannah Bound

Hannah Bound - Spiritual Comfort

My desire and purpose for creating my healing Malas and Bracelets is to offer comfort to you on your life's journey and for those on the spiritual and awakening path.

Gemstone Malas and Bracelets can offer us comfort by bringing us into the present moment by using them for mantras (Japa), affirmations, prayers or for healing by attuning ourselves to the energetic properties or symbolic concepts of the Earth's ancient gemstones📿.

Malas and Bracelets can also offer an opportunity to express parts of our personality and style. Deities and Spiritual Masters can offer us comfort by showing us the light. They remind us who we really are 🙏 and ultimately help us tune in to and resonate with our own self-compassion, healing, comfort, wisdom and love♥️.

Through my own challenging experiences of breaking away from familiar conditioning and healing repressed pain, I learned how to be compassionate to myself and understand the importance of providing comfort for myself and embracing things that brought me hope and encouragement. I hope to mirror some of this wisdom to others and offer malas that will facilitate ones own self empowerment, healing and transcendence.

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Karma Yogis
Cave of the Heart

Karma Yogis

Karma Yogis

Meet our Beloved Karma Yogis from Cave of the Heart! These Beautiful Devis help us immensely with the care of our Holistic Centre and Yoga Studio. Out of the pure kindness of their hearts, these Lovely Ladies serve our space to assist in maintaining positive vibrations. Boundless Gratitude to our Karma Yogis: Cheryl Carpenter, Annie Bison, Janice Beemer, Christina Bombardier and Sam Williams. Namaste’ Sweet Sisters!

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The Kirtaneers
Cave of the Heart

The Kirtaneers

The Kirtaneers

Meet The Kirtaneers, our in-house Bhakti Band consisting of Nancy Dayā Drew (Harmonium/Lead Vocals), Jessica Defoe (Harmonium/Vocals), David Pare (Drum), Josie Burns (Tambourine) and Kerrie Prema Riberdy (Kartals/Vocals). These Beautiful Bhaktis help ignite the spark in your heart through devotional chanting and live musical instruments. This is called Kirtan, a form of Bhakti Yoga (Path of Love and Devotion). By chanting the many names of the Divine, we unite our true Self with a Higher Power, God. It is said that when people come together and chant, their hearts beat as one. No experience is required, just come with an open heart! Kirtan is held the last Sunday of each month from 7-9pm and is by donation. This is done in the service of Seva, to help all beings (animal, plant and human) in need. OM NAMO NARAYANAYA!

The Bhakti Path has allowed us to be in the company of so many extraordinary Kirtan artists and we are forever grateful for their Love and Devotion. Boundless Gratitude to Vishnu Blue, Naren K. Schreiner and LopaMudra Bose, Krishna Das, Bhagavan Das, Jai Uttal, Girish, David Newman, MC Yogi, Michael H. Cohen and our Canadian Kirtan Soul Sister Brenda McMorrow. May our hearts beat as one, may we serve all and may we love all. As our Dear Maharaji Neem Karoli Baba once said: “All One”. There are many paths but there is one truth. RAM RAM

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