Othership Yorkville

Othership Yorkville occupies about 5,000 square feet at 110 Bloor Street West in Toronto, near the Gardiner Museum. The format is the same as at its other locations: a Western Red Cedar performance sauna heated to as much as 85°C, eight ice baths kept at 0–4°C, a cold plunge pool, a tea room and a Social Commons where guests gather between rounds.

A visit follows a loose sequence of heat, cold and rest. Othership suggests 15 to 20 minutes in the sauna, one to three minutes in the cold, then ten minutes in the tea room, repeated as many times as you wish. Guided classes run about 75 minutes under a facilitator, Free Flow is a 75-minute self-paced session suited to newcomers, and an evening Social runs 120 minutes. Guests bring a swimsuit and a water bottle, leave phones in lockers, and change in non-gendered stalls.

Sessions are sold singly, in packs and as monthly memberships. Entry is for adults only, and anyone with a cardiac condition, blood-pressure problems or a history of fainting is asked to get a doctor's approval first. It suits people who want contrast bathing as a regular, sociable habit; it is a poor match for someone looking for quiet, private time, since the whole format is built around a shared space.