| 59 Wellness focus of O-Studio Kelly Deeks O-Studio’s focus is on mental well-being and includes sauna, yoga, meditation, ice baths and massage. BUSINESS O-Studio New Zealand’s fastest growing wellness business, O-Studio, is now offering nationwide franchise opportunities for passionate people to get on board with one of the fastest growing industries in the world. O Studio on Welles Street in Christchurch was established two years ago by Sam Thomas and Tim Bateman, after Tim had brought flotation therapy to Christchurch with Cloud 9 Float Club in 2016. Sam is a well-being expert with a degree in psychology and philosophy from the University of Canterbury, while Tim has played professional rugby for 17 years with the Crusaders and as Captain of the Māori All Blacks. Flotation therapy is an holistic health tool that works on many different facets of the mind and body simultaneously. Floating produces an intense relaxation response in the body and mind, a novel sensation in this modern world, which contributes to a diverse range of positive mental and physical health effects. If floating is the entry point into the world of well-being, O-Studio is the evolution of that into multiple modalities, including yoga, meditation, ice bath, sauna, massage, recovery space, coaching, and even an online offering. Sam says there are some really good conversations going on now around mental health and well-being, but what can people do and where can they go to work on these? “From most street corners you can be within a kilometre of a gym, and these are world-class facilities to work on your physical well-being. But where can you go to work on your mental well-being? We want to be the answer to that.” In fitting out O-Studio, Sam and Tim deferred to the research around the importance of environment for mental health. “We worked from the ground up,” he says. “From the moment you step into our space, we wanted the environment to be working for you. Lots of light, lots of open space, lots of colour, texture, and even smell. We engaged some awesome designers to make sure every touch point has a purpose and adds to the sense of being part of that holistic goal of trying to improve people’s mental well-being.” The fit-out design, led by Three Sixty Architecture, has won both a Gold pin at the 2020 Designer’s Institute of New Zealand Best Awards for healthcare, and the overall Healthcare winner at the 2021 National Interior Awards. Governers Bay chocolatier She Universe has also got involved in O-Studio’s offering, providing an organic, hand made chocolate Swiss ball to indulge the senses of clients following the total sensory deprivation of a float session. When Cloud 9 opened six years ago, it was only the second flotation therapy centre in the whole of New Zealand, but in the six years since, there are now more than 30. Sam and Tim are ready to harness this exponential growth and believe there is room for another 30 O-Studios around New Zealand. “This concept lends itself equally to small towns and larger centres,” Tim says. “We have already signed the lease for our second O-Studio in Rolleston, and are looking to be open this year in December.” Sam and Tim have a goal of five new O-Studios for 2022, and while Auckland and Wellington are prime strategic location, they will go where the people with the passion are. “We want to find the five best people first. This is all about community, and we want people who will be hands-on, in the thick of it, and leading that community.” There is a gap in the market, and O-Studio is filling that gap with well respected, well evaluated processes that can help people to live lives that are closer to what they want. “We are just starting to realise how important mental well-being is, and we think we are the first New Zealand company to say this is what you can do to be more mentally well.” Level 1, The Yard 173 St Asaph Street Christchurch 03 366 3349 Threesixtyarch.co.nz THE ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE EXPERIENCE ♥ Retail ♥ Wholesale ♥ Corporate ♥ Events sheuniverse.com
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