On February 22, 2026, a fire destroyed the building that housed Jess Kilbourn's "Rest Nest" in Ypsilanti, along with the spaces of several other practitioners.
Jess’s space was obliterated. Both the treatment room and restorative studio. Gone.
When she returned to the site, there was nothing left but ash and scorched debris. No-thing from her 30-year practice is usable. A few crystal singing bowls were found outside the building — somehow having made their way out — but even those have been heat-compromised and cannot be relied upon for practice.
The fire was dramatic. The loss is total.
The Rest Nest was more than a studio. It was a sanctuary. A portal. You walked through a narrow doorway, and your nervous system softened before you even sat down. It invited you to lay down what you were carrying.
For decades, Jess has served this community through trauma-informed bodywork, grief work, Reiki, restorative yoga, Yoga Nidra, retreats, and circles. She has always prioritized accessibility — offering sliding scale pricing and free practices so that no one is turned away for lack of financial means.
The fire destroyed nearly every physical tool that supported that work, including:
- A professional massage table and treatment equipment
- Therapeutic oils, lotions, and bodywork supplies
- Singing bowls, drums, and sound instruments
- Yoga mats, bolsters, blankets, blocks, and props
- Furniture, rugs, lighting, and furnishings
- Books, teaching materials, and sacred tools gathered over decades
The building is covered under the landlord’s insurance. The contents were not.
This means Jess is fully responsible for replacing what is needed to begin again.
She will rebuild slowly and intentionally as she feels into what the next iteration will become. But essential equipment must be replaced immediately in order to resume sessions and sustain her livelihood.
Our goal of $25,000 reflects the minimum needed to replace core tools, restock supplies, and stabilize income during this in-between season.
Jess does not want to recreate the past exactly as it was. She wants the capacity to build forward — in truth, possibility, and alignment.
If you have ever been held in that sanctuary, stepped through that portal, attended a retreat, joined a circle, or been supported by Jess’s care, this is an opportunity to stand with her now.
Thank you for holding her as she has held so many.
With care and courage,
Val
(All funds go directly to Jess.)
Organizer and beneficiary
Jess Kilbourn
Beneficiary