NEIGHBORnotable

Jessica York

SCS resident for 7 years

Favorite Spot: The Serendipitous Soul (indoors) & Alexander Park (outdoors)

Occupation: Spa Owner of Breathe: Bodywork and Beautification in Ferndale and Breathe East at Greater Chiropractic

Hobbies: Reading, walking my two rescue dogs, working out at MAC gym with my Dad, taking care of my vast garden, singing, cooking vegan food and resale shopping

Last Book You Read: “Braiding Sweetgrass”

by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Brings Me Joy: Those rare moments when it’s quiet outside, the dogs are laying in the sun, peoples’ kids are at school, and I’m enjoying reading a book or gardening. I really value peace and quiet.

Proudest Moment: Placing Top 3 in Hour Detroit Best of Detroit the past two years for massage and podcast (2022), I’m hoping [to place] for the third year in a row.

Personal Motto: “It is what it is.”

Three Words That Describe Me: Resilient, Multi-passionate, Observant

You’re Most Likely to Find Me: At work or in bed watching "The Simpsons"

Obstacle I Overcame: Being poor! In 2012, I lost my house, my car and job and had to start from scratch. It was a long, long journey to overcome. I don’t know if you ever really get out of that mindset.

Thirty-seven-year-old Jessica York refers to herself as a “multi-passionate entrepreneur,” juggling spa ownership, producing a podcast and managing a networking group. A common thread among all her endeavors is health and wellness, both mental and physical.

Jessica’s certifications in massage and cosmetology allow her clients to benefit from higher self-esteem and a better quality of life. Her business, Breathe: Bodywork and Beautification, has a new St. Clair Shores location (in an annex within Greater Chiropractic downtown) and a three-year-old location in Ferndale. Facials, waxing, makeup and massages are some of her specialties – “pretty much everything but nails.”

“When Survival looks like Success,” the podcast Jessica began in 2021, is a way to “reach out to people to let them know that they're not alone and to have a safe space to share both professionally and personally.”

“I'm a huge mental health advocate, which led to the start of my podcast, and I'm very transparent in it,” Jessica says. The podcast which can be found on all streaming platforms and YouTube, features fellow Metro Detroit business owners as well as some solo episodes by Jessica. It tackles difficult topics such as infertility and miscarriage; money problems; eating disorders; and how society and corporate America fail when it comes to grief.

In addition to the podcast and spa locations, Jessica dedicates time to the monthly networking group she formed in 2022, Coterie Detroit." "I want to make sure it's not some flowery networking group. We have great business advice from local experts, because not everybody can afford a business coach.”

Jessica’s natural ability to bring professionals together is shown in another way – how she co-founded the Ferndale Wellness Fair for the third time this May. She hopes similar events will become more commonplace in St. Clair Shores.

“The wellness community in St. Clair Shores is humongous,” Jessica says. “...People want more things that are artistic and creative. There's the opportunity for so many great events in the future. ...So, I am definitely looking forward to that. Because it's been on my radar for a while. Don't be surprised if you see stuff coming up within the next year.”

The Shores

St. Clair Shores

Volume Two • Issue Three

PUBLISHER

Kimbriel Towar

EDITORIAL

Editor: Anna Swartz

Copy Editor: Patricia Austin

Assistant: Mary Ann Simmerer

Contributer: George Arsenault

DESIGN

Creative Director: Stephanie Zeoli

Graphic Assistant: Brooke Lady

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Scott Whiteman

SALES

Account Executives: LeighAnn Hildinger, Jessica Zachara, Rebecca Reyes

DISTRIBUTION MANAGERS

Dave Colton, Mary Ann Simmerer

Office Manager: Mary Fitch