Othership Yorkville offers a modern, wellness-focused take on a bath house experience that is quickly redefining what a night out in Toronto means.

As the second location from the burgeoning local brand, the Yorkville space is more expansive and somehow even more intentional in its details than the flagship on Adelaide near Spadina, which itself only opened in 2022.

People attending one of the many specialized sessions that Othership offers happily trade in boozy drinks for intensive hot and cold therapy and a different type of socialization, mixing group saunas and shared ice baths with music, focused breathwork, and what could be considered a bit of psychotherapy as well.

The company's rapid expansion speaks to the uniquely transformative aspect of the programming it defines itself by, all in a space designed to "shift your state."

The new outpost feels nearly identical to the Adelaide location (but larger), encompassing, as both do, the brand's ethos in very thoughtful ways.

Lighting from the entryway all the way to the sauna and ice baths is creative and strategic, illuminating spaces in a calming, warm glow that really sets the mood of the practice guests are about to embark on.

After arriving via a subterranean escalator facing the dramatic beacon of Othership's doors, members check in for their scheduled session at the front desk, grab two towels and make their way through a large changing area that includes lockers, individual changerooms and washrooms.

The touches of complimentary earplugs, hair elastics, and eco-friendly bags to transport your wet bathing suit home after class are very much appreciated.After you've suited up, you head through a candlelit passage into a tea room built for communing with your fellow journeyers while sipping tea or water on cushioned, amphitheatre-style seating.

The room centres around a fireplace, and is where introductions and de-briefings take place.

The therapeutic hot and cold usually starts with the sauna, which takes place in Othership's 90-person cedar room, the largest sauna in North America.

This space is designed for performances by the guides taking charge of your journey, who will smash sizzling snowballs full of essential oils on the hot rocks, rhythmically wave their towels to diffuse the scents, and take you through collective breathwork and mindfulness exercises, all with a curated playlist bumping in the background.

After you've tested to your physical and mental limits in the heat of the sauna, it's time to shower off and head to the well-appointed ice bath room, outfitted with eight large tubs that feel luxurious despite the fact that they are full of 0-4 C water.

For those afraid they may not be able to withstand this part of the Othership experience, it is phenomenal how the power of the group can prompt you to just let go and immerse yourself.

It may feel unbearable at first, but dunking as a collective instills a newfound strength and energy. After the initial shock, the water really brings about a Zen-like state, and can have mental and physical benefits, even after you emerge.

In my most recent journey in the Rose, Thorn, Bud session, we focused on some of our hardest (the thorn) and proudest (the rose) moments in the past month, as well as something we can be hopeful for in the weeks ahead (the bud).

Understandably, group screaming to release anguish, cheering to express joy and excitement, and even tears on both ends of the emotional spectrum are not rarities at Othership, and are even welcome as part of the transformation.

Along with thoroughly guided sessions with a range of themes and aims — from "cultivating resilience and exploring the thrilling edge of aliveness" to inspiring "loving-kindness for ourselves and all living beings" — there are also 75 minute choose-your-own-adventure free flow classes.

And then there are Othership's signature socials that embody the facility's founding ideals of providing a sober-curious, healing way to spend a weekend night as an alternative to hitting up a bar or club.

These run for two hours in the evenings and are more energetic, with a DJ, dancing, and many opportunities to connect one-on-one — latter of which is really what Othership is about, with its distinctive sense of community that first-timers especially will really pick up on (and want to be a part of) right away.

Othership Yorkville is located at 110 Bloor Street West.