When I sat down to write my goals and resolutions for 2026, I looked back at the year before and realized that none of my goals had ever centered around community and connection. As a Capricorn, I’ve always been a career-driven resolution girl, and I love health and wellness. But reading an article in Vogue made me realize I could do all the above. According to the article, wellness-focused private member clubs will be one of the biggest wellness trends in 2026. Jonathan Leary, the CEO and co-founder of Remedy Place, a NYC-based social wellness club, shared that these spaces are about to become the number one destination to foster community and connection.
And the growing interest in combining wellbeing, networking, and community makes sense: In 2025, we saw a lot of conversation about the need for a “third place” amid a world of remote work and a growing loneliness epidemic. The rise of AI and TikTok has led us to a tech-focused world, and instead of just feeling like we should step away from all the tech in our lives, people have begun to crave spaces where they can leave their phones on Airplane mode (it’s no surprise that the brick has become a bestseller this month). We’re also seeing a decrease in alcohol consumption, so Gen Z and Millennials are not looking at bars or restaurants to find community like we used to; they want a space that embodies their healthy lifestyle—and maybe the answer is social wellness clubs.
Unlike your classic gym membership or a Soul Cycle class, a social wellness club is a place where people gather and socialize, with the space intentionally designed to promote wellbeing and foster community. The word can elicit a sense of exclusivity, and while some social wellness clubs are more expensive than others, I’ve seen a wide range of them pop up over the last few months, with some even available for more affordable drop-in sessions on apps like ClassPass.
For example, there is a growing variety of social bathhouses all over the country, which are spaces that offer a saunas, cold plunges and hot tubs, otherwise known as contrast therapy, which is designed to help with muscle recovery, detoxing, inflammation and improve circulation. Others might offer red light therapy, hyperbaric chambers, IV drips, or massages, creating a more spa-like atmosphere, and a few spaces aim to combine the co-working and social atmosphere of a members club with the wellness aspect firmly intact. Moss, located in NYC, has a piano lounge and library bar, along with wellness-and fitness-focused activities. Needless to say, there appears to be a social wellness club out there for everyone, and more are popping up every day.
“I came with a friend, and we did talk to and meet new people. Another friend of mine even met her now partner there.”
When deciding which social wellness club to test out, I wanted one within my budget that offered contrast therapy. I chose Othership (they have a 1-week intro deal for $64, or an intro 3-pack that’s $45 per session), with locations in New York and Toronto. Othership offers three music-driven sauna and ice-bath experiences: free flow, quieter free flow, and evening social.
For my first time, I booked a free-flow session on ClassPass. Upon arrival, it feels very much like checking in for a spa session. You’re handed two towels and led to a changing room with lockers and showers. The session is 75-minutes, and once you enter, you are greeted by one of their staff members who explains how they recommend using the time: starting with the sauna for ten to fifteen minutes, before showering off and moving to the cold plunge for one to two minutes, and then relaxing in their lounge area for as long as you’d like and completing the cycle again. They also have a selection of tea and water available, as it’s important to stay hydrated during the experience.
While I found the session very relaxing and beneficial for muscle recovery, what surprised me most was how lively and social it was. Some people had come in groups, while others were there on their own but chatting with other patrons, and it reminded me a lot of the social atmosphere you experience at a bar or restaurant, but instead of eating or drinking, everyone was sauna and cold-plunging.
Throughout the experience, the staff also led some short guided meditations and movements in the sauna and cold plunge which you can opt into or out of. The second time I went, I tried the evening social, which was surprisingly less crowded than on my first visit. I came with a friend, and we did end up talking to and meeting other people. Another friend of mine even met her now partner there.
Why wellness clubs are worth the investment
Joining Othership has not only allowed me to find another “third place,” but it has simultaneously helped my physical and mental health. Instead of “drinks with the girls” every Friday, some Fridays are spent at Othership, which allows me to foster community, while still feeling healthier. I know it comes with a price tag (that is extra hard to justify in this economy), but I have met more people IRL than on a dating app or at a bar. I have actually gotten work opportunities by meeting new people, and my stress levels have also gone down.
As an introvert and someone who works from home, there is a natural fear of getting outside of your comfort zone. I’ve always envied the girls who love a solo dinner date, because while I’ve tried it, I’ve never been someone comfortable sitting at the bar chatting up strangers. A social wellness club feels like the natural middle ground. Some days I go and bring a book and don’t talk to anyone, some days I bring a friend, and am more social.
Either way, both experiences get me out of my apartment and into a space that is focused on wellness and community, which is the end goal. I think now, more than ever, it’s important for us to try and reconnect with one another outside of technology, and social wellness clubs feel like positive spaces intent on fostering that.
Calissa Kirilenko, Breathwork Facilitator & Contributing Wellness Writer
Calissa is a Wellness Writer for The Everygirl who specializes in covering subjects surrounding mental health, meditation, and self-care. She is also a Certified Breathwork Facilitator and works with clients to heal through the power of their breath.
Feature images credited to: Scarlette Alexandra De Gregorio | Dupe, Alba Colmenares | Dupe, Georgia Donaldson | Dupe, Shai | Dupe, Hailey Nolin | Dupe, Madison Milliken | Dupe
