Is Othership NYC the wellness escape we need?

Where wellness meets community — one plunge at a time

Image via Conde Nast Traveler

Othership. A health and wellness experience that seems to be all the rave these days. It’s taken over my TikTok For You Page, hyped up by influencers and wellness gurus alike. But like most paid ads and sponsorships, I figured it was just another overhyped trend.

That is, until a couple of weeks ago.

I met up with some friends for Omaske (unrelated but oh my god I will have to write about the experience some other time). A friend of a friend showed up as we all chatted — spilling life updates and soy sauce and somewhere between our laughter and conversation, I caught a faint but familiar word—Othership. My head snapped so fast I practically gave myself whiplash.

"It’s the most amazing experience. You HAVE to go—I’ve been four times already."

There it was: the word-of-mouth validation I’d been waiting for served up between conversation and salmon sushimi. That was my sign to book.

Image via Othership

The Othership Experience

As Condé Nast Traveler puts it, Othership is “a self-care sanctuary in the heart of Manhattan, combining the health benefits of saunas and ice baths with social programming designed to encourage community building.”

Their sessions fall into three categories: guided group classes with live music, breathwork, and meditation, or a “Free Flow” option that lets you move through the space at your own pace. A friend and I chose the Free Flow, excited to catch up while soaking in the wellness benefits—literally. It was both our first times, and we sure did not know what to expect.

Walking in, we were greeted by a staff member—bright-eyed, charismatic, and sporting a wool sauna hat. He introduced himself, and we helped ourselves to tea and cold water as the space filled up with other participants. The vibe? Somewhere between a luxury spa and a very zen gymnasium.

We made our way to the sauna, opening the door only to find 50+ people inside, chatting like students in bleachers waiting for the game to start. The energy was warm, social, and open—groups of friends, couples on dates, and solo participants all settling in. As we caught up on our latest running routes and career updates, a staff member poured water and essential oils onto the sauna rocks, whipping towels toward us in what they called a “snowball.”

Then, it was time for the cold plunge.

Neither of us had ever done one before, so we opted for a guided experience. The staff member led us through breathwork to center ourselves before we stepped into the ice bath—a staggering 32–40 degrees Fahrenheit.

It was a shock to the system, an unnerving cold that disrupted the guided exhales and moans of the breath work. It was piercing sensation that left my toes and body feeling completely numb, paralyzing every wavelength of my being. Let’s just say I lasted 30 seconds, and my friend Mei? She lasted 2 minutes. Her piece of advice on how to endure the biting pain—surrender to it.

Image via Othership

The Takeaway

Walking into Othership, we giggled at the almost dystopian vibe of it all. Had every influencer and wellness guru in New York City fallen for some kind of wellness cult? Turns out, no—it’s not a cult. It’s an experience. One designed to pull you out of the city’s chaos, center you, and—if you’re open to it—connect you with strangers on the same journey.

Mei was right all along—surrender to it. Let the experience be what it is—an experience. Because once you do, you’ll realize Othership is more than just saunas and ice baths. It’s a space designed to make you feel good, to recharge you, and to create a community of like-minded individuals all in search of that elusive third-party space—a place outside of work, home, and the constant noise of the city. And unlike the usual city rituals, it doesn’t revolve around overpriced cocktails or waking up to a hangover. It’s a chance to connect and recharge, and experience.

So, am I adding fuel to the fire? Validity to the hype? Absolutely. If you were waiting for a sign like I was, this is it. Step in, let go, and experience it for yourself.