When Robbie Bent first stepped into a Russian bathhouse on a date with his now-wife, he had no idea he was beginning the next chapter of his life. Freshly sober and searching for connection, he wasn’t thinking about entrepreneurship—he was looking for an alternative to bars and booze. That cold plunge turned into a weekly ritual. Then into a WhatsApp group. Then a DIY garage sauna in Toronto. Today, it’s Othership—a growing wellness space built around ice baths, saunas, and something much deeper: emotional wellness.
See also: Stronger for longer: How Peloton is powering the future of low-impact fitness and longevity
From addiction to ice baths
“I loved drinking. Being around people. But things escalated,” Robbie admits. “It went from weekend partying to disappearing for 40 hours straight.” By 30, he was broke, living in his parents’ basement, and staring down the fallout of a failed startup and substance abuse. Rock bottom wasn’t just a metaphor—it was his zip code.
ADVERTISEMENT |
That turning point led him to a 10-day silent meditation retreat, followed by an ayahuasca journey in Peru. But Robbie is quick to clarify that psychedelic experiences weren’t the full solution. “What really made the change stick was having alternatives,” he says. “I needed fun that wasn’t destructive. Cold plunges and bathhouses gave me that.”
Cold therapy wasn’t just therapeutic—it mirrored the dopamine rush of drugs, but with a healthier, sustainable effect. And it became the foundation for what Othership would become.
The rise of Othership
Othership wasn’t created in a boardroom. It was forged in a garage with friends, fire pits, and handwritten signs. There were no investors at first. Just vibes. Robbie and a few others built the space from scratch—literally. What started with drop-ins and QR codes evolved into structured classes and a full-blown community.
ADVERTISEMENT |
Today, Othership runs over two dozen “emotional wellness” classes in immersive sauna and ice bath settings. Think breathwork meets Burning Man meets therapy session. “We’re talking DJs, comedy nights, eye-gazing, and yes—sharing your first date story in a sauna.”
Designing experiences with soul
“We obsess over every detail,” Robbie says. And he means it. Every towel is cut to a specific size. Every playlist is timed to emotional peaks. Even the scents are custom-blended in-house. “We script and test every single line in our classes,” he adds. “We ask, ‘Did 50 people cry? Why not?’ Then we tweak.”
This attention to detail isn’t about aesthetics—it’s about creating a space where people feel safe to be real. Where men can talk about what’s actually going on in their lives, without judgment or performance. “Community is being yourself with others,” Robbie explains. “It’s a place where you’re fully seen, and that’s what we’re building.”
ADVERTISEMENT |
What’s next for the Othership crew?
With two Toronto locations and a New York expansion in the works, Robbie’s vision is ambitious. But it’s grounded in a simple goal: make emotional wellness as common as fitness. “Imagine if 50% of people did a weekly emotional wellness class. Processing gratitude, anger, acceptance—together,” he says.
“We want hundreds of locations where people can connect and grow.” Long-term? Think mega nature retreats, group travel with your local Othership crew, and a global community centered around real connection and personal growth.
The journey
Robbie’s story is more than a redemption arc—it’s a call to action. For anyone feeling stuck, ashamed, or out of place, his message is clear: “You can change your life. But sometimes, you have to go big to do it. New environment, new patterns and new people.” And maybe, just maybe, a cold plunge.
ADVERTISEMENT |
Feature image credit Ian Patterson
