What you'll experience:

Co-Founder Alexandra Jai hails from Santiago, Chile and is a hand drumming and yoga teacher, rhythm and movement facilitator and performer with over 30 years of experience. Initiated in her teens into the healing power of the drum by Yoruba master drummer Olatunji Babatunde from Nigeria, Alexandra plunged heart-first into the study of hand drumming, learning traditional West African, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and Middle Eastern drumming from master percussionists across the globe. Called to share the healing she’d received, in 2003 Alexandra co-founded Rhythm Bliss (formerly “Drum Mama Studios”) where she began integrating hand drumming instruction with yoga philosophy, mindful movement and breath practices.

Guest Artist/Teacher Born the son of a chief of the Waama people of North Benin, Yoro Noukoussi is a multi-instrumentalist and learned the art of storytelling and drumming from his family as they traveled the region sharing their cultural traditions. Now living in Vancouver, Canada, Yoro is in great demand as a teacher and performer, having mastered the donga (talking drum), kokomba (congas), and djembe. Yoro is also an amazing Audio Engineer/ Singer/ Song writer/ Music Producer/ Owner Director at Waaba Music Studio.

Guest Artist/Teacher Yato Noukoussi is a supremely talented and extremely hard working live drummer, beat maker, Session/recording drummer, and Drum Tech living in Vancouver, BC.

Accompanist Rachelle has been a fan of world music for most of her adult life and was drawn to hand drumming in her later years when she began to experience a deeper connection to rhythm and its therapeutic value. After some years of exploring percussion with a diverse selection of teachers, she became a regular student of Alexandra’s and gradually found her passion in helping others benefit from the powerful nature of rhythm as it continues to be a profound guide in her life ~ She is thrilled to be part of the Rhythm Bliss Team!

Retreat Mascot Layla has been with the Rhythm Bliss family for the last 11 years, is hypo-allergenic, adorably fuzzy and is always willing to offer a nuzzle of support to whomever may need it.

Co-Founder Michael is co-founder and Chief Beat Keeper of Rhythm Bliss Mindful Hand Drumming & Movement, a global online rhythm meditation program and community with hundreds of members worldwide. A reformed corporate lawyer turned award-winning creative director, songwriter and videographer, Michael is a passionate musician, community builder and storyteller having produced the campaign video to successfully re-elect Jody Wilson-Raybould, Canada’s first Indigenous Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

Guest Artist/Teacher Celso Machado is a world-renowned Brazilian guitarist, percussionist and multi-instrumentalist who lives in Gibsons, British Columbia. For over forty years he has delighted audiences from concert stages throughout Brazil, Western Europe and Canada, as well as in the United States and is a tremendously engaging and entertaining performer, facilitator and teacher.

Music Director Benjamin Millman is a pianist, producer and multi-instrumentalist hailing from Vancouver BC. He’s been playing and creating in the Vancouver scene since he was a child, and completed his bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance/Composition with a major in Jazz Piano from Capilano University. Specializing in a large range of genres and instruments, Benjamin’s performance credits are vast – you may have heard him leading RnB, Funk, Pop or Jazz groups at countless Vancouver venues such as the Vogue and the Fox Cabaret, singing in choirs to sold out crowds at the Rogers Arena and PNE Forum Stage, or touring with a variety of different acts on the keys, guitar or percussion around Canada and the US. His mission is to make honest, artful, and groovy music, and to pay homage to the great legacy of the Black American and African Diasporic Music he loves!

Producer/Accompanist Jesse is an accomplished musician, dancer and athlete in his own right, having recently captained his High School basketball team to their first ever provincial championship, winning tournament MVP honours. Jesse is currently studying Arts & Sciences at Montreal's McGill University where he also plays bass and drums in the indie rock band "Poster Child".