On The Immersive Experience at Othership with Robbie Bent

Welcome to In Conversation with… where Melaina, our wellness and travel editor, connects with thought leaders, vision seekers and changemakers in the wellness industry to lean into all of the feelings, emotions and memories that come with understanding our core wants in needs through different healing modalities. From learning about Human Design to the benefits of cold plunges, Melaina meets with folks who are changing the landscape for the better. Read on, for here are there stories. 

Meet Robbie Bent, Co-Founder + CEO of Othership

Website
Follow Othership on Instagram: @othership
Locations: Two in Toronto (Adelaide and Yorkville), two in New York (Flatiron, which opened in 2024, and Williamsburg, opening September 2025). More to come!

Photo credit: Graydon Herriott

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I co-founded Othership with my wife Emily and our friends Myles, Amanda, and Harry. We started during the pandemic in Toronto with the simple idea of helping people feel more connected to themselves and to each other, away from alcohol and their phones. What began as a backyard ice bath and sauna evolved into an immersive experience that blends evidence-based health practices with the energy of nightlife and the connection of community. Today, we have locations in Toronto and New York, an expanding breathwork app, and a growing team dedicated to helping people feel better in their bodies and more connected to others. We come from different backgrounds—wellness, hospitality, art, music—but share a common goal: to create spaces where people can be vulnerable, regulate their nervous systems, and leave feeling better than when they arrived.

We love what you’ve created at Othership (and LOVE visiting while we’re in Toronto), tell us what inspired the vision behind it.

Thank you so much! The vision for Othership was born from our own need for healthier social spaces (i.e. not bars)  that fostered authentic connection. It started with friends coming together for hot and cold therapy sessions in our backyard. The feeling we had after those nights was electric, and we wanted to bottle it. We looked to sauna and bathhouse traditions around the world, the science of breathwork and nervous system regulation, and our own desire to build experiences that support emotional wellness.  Othership was designed to offer guided, multi-sensory sessions featuring breathwork, music, lighting, and aromatherapy that help people move through emotions, spark connection, and feel a sense of belonging.

Photo credit: Graydon Herriott

The design feels equal parts Scandinavian spa, art installation, and underground club—what unexpected sources inspired the look, sound, and energy of the space?

We wanted Othership to be fully immersive and transportive. We took cues from Scandinavian sauna culture for functionality; Broadway shows, churches, and the art installations Burning Man for immersive sound and lighting; and we drew on the transformative power of nature, purposefully designing Othership as a sanctuary where guests can feel grounded and open to connecting with themselves and others. Every design choice, from custom cedar-lined saunas to glowing orbs and candlelit sconces, is meant to heighten the senses and transport you to another world.

Photo credit: Graydon Herriott

What are some feelings people may walk away with after a session at Othership?

A sense of clarity, lightness, and emotional release. Many people describe feeling more open-hearted, energized, and deeply connected, whether to their own body or to the strangers they shared the session with.

If you could offer one tip for a first timer, what would it be?

Come with an open mind and no expectations.