You’ve heard the old trick about picturing the audience in thier underwear to calm stage fright… but what if you were stripped down to your skivvies too?
On Tuesday night, four standout comedians did exactly that, performing not on a stage but on the steps of a sauna at one of the city’s buzziest bathhouses, delivering the hottest show at this year’s New York Comedy Festival.
Between punchlines, guests at Othership in Flatiron swapped sweat for shivers, plunging into icy pools and turning the night into a wild fusion of comedy and contrast therapy – one of the trendiest practices in wellness.
Founded in Toronto, the social schvitz has developed a cult following in both Canada and New York.
The buisness got its start during the pandemic,when Robbie Bent was suddenly flooded with interest from people eager to “experience the transformative powers of hot,cold and community” in the sauna,ice bath and tea lounge he’d built in his three-car garage,the co-founder and CEO previously told The Post.
Clearly, people were craving both warmth and connection. So Bent and his four co-founders took the plunge, turning the homegrown setup into a full-fledged brand: Othership.Fast forward to today, the company curates a robust lineup of alcohol-free events that aim to reimagine nightlife through the lens of wellness, including sober DJ performances, live music, singles mixers and comedy sets.
Last night, I joined fellow festival-goers in a cozy lounge centered around a fireplace, sipping steaming chamomile tea in our bathing suits as we mingled and chatted.
The vibe was relaxed yet energized – impressive for 9:30 on a Tuesday night.
Before long, we made our way to the cold plunge room. I braced myself as guides led us through three icy 30-second dips in pools that ranged from freezing to frigid – 32 to 40 degrees – rotating groups to keep the momentum going.
immersed in icy water, I followed the guides’ breathwork instructions. I came to the event solo, but before I knew it, a small crowd had gathered around my pool, counting down the seconds and nudging me to stay in just a little longer.
All the while, a guide pounded on a drum head while another circled a tuning fork over our heads, the vibrations humming through the room.Thrill aside, I reminded myself that research