The Founding and Growth of Othership From Backyard Sauna to Urban Oasis:
1. Who are the founders and what in their lives caused them to have the vision of Othership? There are five of us: me, my wife Emily Bent, and our co-founders and best friends Amanda Laine, Harrison Taylor, and Myles Farmer. We started Othership based on a mutual interest in developing healthier communities. My wife Emily introduced me to the practice of saunas and cold plunges at the beginning of my sobriety journey in 2017. We both found these experiences so impactful that we did it across our travels together for four years, even bringing groups along instead of going to a bar for drinks. Amanda and Harry had also traveled and experienced different sauna techniques as well, and Myles had worked in hospitality for years. plans of Othership, highlighting how a simple, impactful idea has evolved into a transformative experience. pandemic has blossomed into Othership, a revolutionary wellness venture. Founded by Emily Bent and her co-founders—Amanda Laine, Harrison Taylor, Myles Farmer, and the author—Othership emerged from a shared desire to enhance emotional well-being and community connection. This article delves into the origins, rapid growth, and future bath in Toronto during the W hat started as a backyard sauna and ice
At the height of the COVID pandemic, the five of us decided to build an ice bath in my backyard in Toronto. Every night, one of us would work and host a guided ice bath with a fire. And every day, you could just come and use it for free. If you knew where it was, you could just let yourself in. There was a neighbourhood Whatsapp group that grew to 300 people. We added a sauna and began to integrate emotional wellness programming and classes. We discovered that the combination of hot and cold immersion acted as a powerful social tool, breaking down barriers and fostering connection. This became the basis for Othership.
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