67% of Gen Zers and 65% of millennials report feeling lonely right now. This creates a wellness crisis that traditional gyms and solo meditation apps cannot solve. Othership represents LA's answer to this isolation epidemic. It's a wellness club that combines heat, cold and breathwork in a social setting. The global wellness market is expected to reach nearly $10 trillion by 2030. The timing for community-centered wellness experiences has never been stronger. Los Angeles residents already spend more on integrative health services than any other major city. They average $52 monthly on wellness practices. This piece explores what Othership is, how Othership breathwork classes work, Othership membership options and Othership locations. We'll also examine how it compares to concepts like Othership bathhouse and whether this social wellness model truly delivers on its promises.
LA's Wellness Revolution: From Solo Practice to Social Connection
The Rise of Third Spaces in Los Angeles
Sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined the term "third places" in 1989 to describe spaces beyond home and work where people gather. Libraries, coffee shops and bars filled this role and offered low barriers to access with opportunities for diverse groups to connect. The pandemic eliminated most social gatherings and redefined them for good. Los Angeles wellness clubs now represent this concept's premium development, where spaces combine recovery, fitness and social connection under one roof.
These venues position wellness as a communal experience rather than an isolated practice. Clubs like Remedy Place and Heimat charge $350 monthly for access to multi-floor facilities that house Pilates studios, saunas and dining options. Members spend entire days at these locations. They conduct business in meditation rooms and form friendships in cold plunges. This move reflects what Equinox chairman Harvey Spevak describes as "health is the new luxury".
Why Millennials and Gen Z Are Choosing Wellness Over Nightlife
Just 18% of young adults aged 18-29 go out several times a week. Most prefer evenings spent resting, exercising or recovering. Only 17% of Gen Z find drinking and nightlife appealing, compared to 43% drawn to health and fitness. This demographic change has given birth to "daylife," a term describing daytime social outings with alcohol-free fitness as a way to meet people with similar interests.
Fitness has become central to how younger generations structure their social lives. 56% of Gen Z consumers in the United States say fitness is a very high priority, compared with 40% of US consumers overall. Movement-based gatherings at run clubs and Pilates classes create baseline connections through shared interests and geographic proximity.
The Business Boom Behind Wellness Communities
The global wellness economy reached $6.8 trillion in 2024 and grew 7.9% from 2023-2024. Gen Zers and millennials, representing just over 36% of the adult US population, drive more than 41% of annual wellness spending. Bathhouse in New York expects $120 million in run rate revenue with approximately 1,000 daily customers across two locations. Wellness real estate expanded at an average annual rate of 19.5% from 2019-2024, making it the fastest-growing wellness sector.
What Is Othership: Breaking Down the Wellness Club Model
The Othership Concept and Core Philosophy
Othership operates as a modern bathhouse equipped with large-capacity saunas and multiple cold plunges. The brand avoids that traditional categorization by blending performance with group experiences. CEO Robbie Bent and co-founder Emily Hunter started hosting sauna parties in their Toronto backyard during COVID. They assembled a team that included Harrison Taylor, a certified breathwork coach, Amanda Laine, a cold exposure therapist, and Myles Farmer, who brought hospitality experience from restaurants and nightclubs.
The philosophy centers on curbing the loneliness epidemic through device-free, alcohol-free social wellness. Bent and Laine consider avoiding spiritual language and base classes on psychotherapy techniques rather than chakras or energy concepts. Classes can take months or years to develop, with research from therapists to craft precise language. The approach asks participants to feel emotions for 75 minutes without intellectualizing them.
Othership Locations and Expansion Plans
Othership operates four locations: two in Toronto (Yorkville and Adelaide) and two in New York (Flatiron at 23 W 20th Street and Williamsburg at 25 Kent Avenue). The Flatiron location opened July 2024, followed by Williamsburg in October. A third NYC location will debut on the Upper East Side in 2027. It spans 14,000 square feet with a 4,000-square-foot social spa that features a neutral-temperature pool, communal cold plunge, hot tub, ritual sauna, steam room, and experiential showers.
Inside the Facilities: What to Expect
The Flatiron location houses a 75-person cedar-lined sauna. Williamsburg features a 100-person sauna with two sunken communal cold plunge pools. Saunas maintain temperatures from 175°F to 190°F, and cold plunges range from 32°F to 40°F. A circular tea lounge with fireplace seating provides recovery space between sessions. Members receive two towels, complimentary herbal tea, and free locker access.
Othership Membership Options and Pricing
Drop-in classes cost $65. Memberships start at $333 monthly, with simplified tiers that include 1x, 2x, 4x, and unlimited options. New policies feature a three-month commitment period, credit rollover with one-year expiry, and 22% merchandise discounts. First-timers access a two-week intro pass for $135. This allows one session daily.
The Othership Experience: Heat, Cold, and Breathwork Combined
How Othership Breathwork Classes Work
Guides lead participants through 75-minute sessions that treat breathwork as an active form of meditation. Participants control their breath to regulate the autonomic nervous system rather than passively observing natural breathing rhythms. Sessions range from 3 to 30 minutes and address specific emotional states: soothing anxiety, releasing emotions and elevating mood. Classes incorporate choreographed towel movements and aromatherapy snowballs thrown onto hot stones with beat drops. Body gua sha tools move to music. Participants perform arm movements overhead while breathing to the beat.
The Contrast Therapy Method: Sauna to Cold Plunge
Sessions begin with 15-20 minutes in saunas heated to 175-185°F. Participants transition to cold plunges at 32-40°F for 30 seconds to 3 minutes after showering. Guides coach controlled breathing during immersion: deep inhale for four beats, hold, deep exhale for five beats, hold. Most protocols involve 2-4 rounds of alternating heat and cold.
Health Benefits Backed by Science
Cold exposure triples dopamine and norepinephrine levels nearly, and boosts mood and alertness. Sauna sessions improve cardiovascular health by increasing heart rate and blood flow like exercise. Regular use reduces inflammation and accelerates muscle recovery while strengthening the immune system. Contrast therapy creates vascular pumping through alternating vasodilation and vasoconstriction.
Personal Stories: Member Experiences and Transformations
Members report sleeping better after sessions. One participant described reaching "pure bliss" after 30-40 seconds in cold water and experienced mental quietness not felt since quitting alcohol. Another called it "a game changer for personal wellness" for anxiety and mental health conflicts.
Othership vs. Traditional LA Wellness: Bathhouse, Spas, and Beyond
Othership Compared to Bathhouse NYC
Othership resembles other NYC bathhouses in its architecture with large saunas and cold plunges, yet it avoids that label on purpose. Competing venues offer varied price points. Lore Bathing Club charges $225 monthly with a cozier, marble-accented atmosphere. Moss NYC demands $480 monthly plus a $1,500 initiation fee. Othership's $333 unlimited membership positions it mid-range.
How Othership Fits Into LA's Wellness Landscape
LA's wellness scene features players like Pause Studio, which operates Social Sauna rooms that hold eight people with communal cold plunge access. Heimat reimagines the wellness club as a five-story sanctuary that combines fitness and workshops on stress management. These spaces emphasize recovery modalities within neighborhood settings that are available to all.
The Social Element That Sets It Apart
Members report they form genuine friendships through repeated visits. One participant credits reduced social anxiety to the vulnerability of being in bathing suits. This removes defensive posturing. Another visits six times weekly and makes five connections with people who share wellness investments.
Is the Membership Worth It?
Dr. MaryEllen Eller, a board-certified psychiatrist, acknowledges these clubs help strangers connect but cautions they remain luxuries, not loneliness remedies you just need. Corporate partnerships exist for companies with 50+ employees. For those who love to entertain, the right home makes all the difference. If you're thinking about a purchase in the near future or beginning your search, I'd be delighted to help you find spaces designed for raised living and effortless hosting. Christina Pope 
310-404-9931 
[email protected]
Conclusion
Othership represents the most important move in how wellness addresses the loneliness epidemic. The model's success depends on whether members connect beyond scheduled sessions. Premium pricing definitely limits accessibility, yet those who commit report meaningful friendships and improved mental health. The social atmosphere creates accountability and community alongside traditional recovery benefits. This approach changes wellness from isolated practice into shared experience, though affordability remains a barrier for most.
Key Takeaways
Othership is revolutionizing wellness by transforming isolated health practices into community-driven social experiences, addressing the loneliness epidemic affecting 67% of Gen Z and 65% of millennials.
• Wellness is becoming the new nightlife: Young adults are choosing daytime fitness and recovery over traditional bar scenes, with only 17% of Gen Z finding drinking appealing compared to 43% drawn to health activities.
• The social wellness model combines heat, cold, and breathwork: Othership's 75-minute sessions blend saunas (175-185°F), cold plunge (32-40°F), and guided breathing exercises to create both physical benefits and genuine human connections.
• Premium pricing reflects luxury positioning: At $333 monthly for unlimited access, Othership sits mid-range among NYC wellness clubs, though this limits accessibility while targeting affluent millennials driving 41% of wellness spending.
• Community formation happens through vulnerability: Members report forming real friendships by sharing vulnerable experiences in bathing suits, creating accountability and reducing social anxiety through repeated interactions.
• Science backs the physical benefits: Contrast therapy nearly triples dopamine levels, improves cardiovascular health, reduces inflammation, and accelerates recovery, making the experience both socially and physiologically rewarding.
The wellness economy's growth to $6.8 trillion reflects a fundamental shift where health becomes a social connector rather than solitary pursuit, though affordability remains a significant barrier to widespread adoption.
FAQs
Q1. What facilities and amenities does Othership provide? Othership features large-capacity cedar-lined saunas (accommodating 75-100 people depending on location), multiple communal cold plunge pools maintained at 32-40°F, a circular tea lounge with fireplace seating, and non-gendered changing facilities. Members receive complimentary towels, herbal tea, and locker access during their visit.
Q2. Where are Othership locations currently available? Othership operates four locations: two in Toronto (Yorkville and Adelaide) and two in New York City (Flatiron at 23 W 20th Street and Williamsburg at 25 Kent Avenue). A third NYC location is planned for the Upper East Side, opening in 2027 with expanded facilities including a neutral-temperature pool and hot tub.
Q3. How much does Othership membership cost? Drop-in classes cost $65 per session. Monthly memberships start at $333 for unlimited access, with tiered options including 1x, 2x, and 4x monthly visits. First-time visitors can purchase a two-week intro pass for $135, allowing one session daily. All memberships require a three-month commitment.
Q4. What happens during an Othership breathwork class? Classes are 75-minute guided sessions combining controlled breathing techniques with heat and cold exposure. Participants alternate between 15-20 minutes in saunas heated to 175-185°F and 30 seconds to 3 minutes in cold plunges. Sessions incorporate choreographed movements, aromatherapy, and music to address specific emotional states like anxiety or fatigue.
Q5. What are the proven health benefits of Othership's contrast therapy? The alternating heat and cold exposure nearly triples dopamine and norepinephrine levels, improving mood and alertness. Regular sessions enhance cardiovascular health, reduce inflammation, accelerate muscle recovery, and strengthen the immune system through vascular pumping created by alternating vasodilation and vasoconstriction.
