Alternate immersive wakeup

INSIGHT (what we need)

Waking up the body shouldn’t routinely be just shutting down sleepiness. 

I’ll never forget the day I was gratefully staring down at my coffee, this wonder drug that had just helped me write my college thesis in 3 days, and curiously looking up ‘how caffeine works in the body.’ As the world’s most popular stimulant, coffee not only boosts our dopamine levels to give that incredible drive you crave daily – but mostly works by blocking the A1 adenosine receptor in the brain that promotes sleepiness.

Wow. All this time I thought my reliable sleepy, foggy brain remedy was additive…but really it was robbing me! This is why coffee is always able to help us kick off that lingering feeling of fatigue (but can wane on the motivation front after tolerance builds up). Caffeine is a wonder drug: it enhances cognition, increases power output, helps burn fat, and gives us that ooh so satisfying feel good feeling when we sit down to a nice hot cup to feel relaxed yet focused at the same time. When used right (ie. not three days straight to make up for procrastination), it can be a highly beneficial natural remedy.

When used poorly, apart from some of the physiological pitfalls of drinking too much, we have our habitual nature to blame. That one-dimensional switch off of our sleep hormones to feel alert coupled with the warm, cozy wind up of coffee culture makes our morning cuppa the addictive neurobiological phenomenon it is. And rightly so. As a ritual, coffee culture has many wonderful dimensions. Starbucks named this ‘third place’ strategy of feeling warm, cozy and connected way back in the mid-2000s, recognizing our desire as humans to carve out a social watering hole that was not work, nor home, to feel like our busy work lives have more dimensionality. But trade that slow sit down for take out, increasingly large sizes, ordered several times a day: and the receptors that activate dopamine wane. Though we’re seemingly in a rush to get ignited by that fuel, it can actually hinder our motivation rather than ramp it up. Requiring, of course, more coffee. 

Neurobiologically, the best way to wake up the system is through an immersive experience that engages the whole body-brain complex; not just the fancy trick of select receptor sites. Ideally, we’re getting sunlight first thing in the morning to increase cortisol levels by 50% to increase alertness, boost immune function, and regulate our circadian rhythm for better sleep at night. We feel energized with light exercise and a contrast in temperature to stimulate the whole nervous system to send a surge of adrenaline for increased mental clarity and energy. Drinking water and replenishing vitamins and minerals synthesized during our sleep is also ideal to do on an empty stomach. So when we’re bee-lining to darkened, warm coffee shops, playing slow jazz to ease into our day with a caffeine fix, we are effectively making it that much harder to ramp up our systems to do the hardest work first thing! Whereby drawing on waning energy later in the day to make up for lost productivity, and often needing another cuppa that will interfere with our sleep that night.  

How might we create a more immersive experience to wakeup en route to work that is stimulating without the addiction?

INSPIRATION (what we want)

Othership: immersive sauna and ice bath experiences for every mood and intention within a supportive community.

A new ‘third space’ that habitualizes the need for more active recovery routines where you can gather with like-minded individuals.

• Three peak experiences to shift your state in communal sauna, ice bath and group breathing sessions.

• Self-guided journeys to experience the spa or group immersions with visualization, vocalization, breathwork or accompanied music. 

• Expert guides to help you decide on the journey that is right for you. 

• Ambient essential oils to awaken senses and guide the mood along with the music. 

• Sign up for drop ins, regular classes, or private events to start mastering the skill of self-regulating body temperature among a welcoming, high vibrancy community. 

INNOVATION (what we wish for)

Flyby: naturally stimulating urban spaces designed to wakeup customers in a 10-minute flyby session for shots of nutrients, cold and joy.

• Open spaces with lots of natural light. Backup sunlight-mimicking indoor light available to ensure customers are getting their daily spectrum needs on sunless days.

• Artfully placed indoor plants emitting phytoncides – the volatile substances with antibacterial anti-fungal qualities to help fight disease. (Our bodies respond to these chemicals but increasing the activity and quantity of natural killer cells in our own bodies).

• HEPA purification with enriched oxygen ventilation ensures the cleanest air while boosting oxygen intake as if outside the city in nature.

• Minimal sit-down spots to deter lingering as clients just come to the bar and purchase one of three options: 

  • Shot: concentrated green shot of wheatgrass and spirulina for a fast in-and-out experience.

  • Boost: functional seasonal juice of choice

  • Zing: 3-minute communal seasonal contrast therapy chamber (ie. cold blast room or infrared lounge)

  • The Works: all three

• A DJ on site plays a series of sets that invigorate the body and mind first thing in the morning and invites anyone to dance if they want to get the heart pumping. Staff regularly dance to normalize this behavior.

• You can be in and out of Flyby within 10-minutes or the shot is on us!