A New Approach to Wellness in Austin
I’m excited to share news about one of Austin’s most innovative wellness concepts coming to our community! Bathe Austin, founded by visionaries Danyl and Lisa Magick, is reimagining the traditional spa experience with their community-focused bathhouse set to fully open in early 2026.
Unlike conventional spas that often promote solitary relaxation, Bathe Austin embraces a refreshingly social approach to wellness. This “anti-spa,” as founder Danyl describes it, creates a space where wellness and community connection intertwine, offering more accessible pricing and a vibrant atmosphere where you might run into friends or make new ones while nurturing your wellbeing.
Beyond Bathe: The Outdoor Garden Experience
While we eagerly await the complete bathhouse opening next year, Bathe Austin has already introduced us to Beyond Bathe – their beautiful outdoor garden space that launched in April 2025. This first phase offers a taste of what’s to come with:
- Multiple Harvia saunas (including Finnish dry, wood-fired, and infrared hybrid options)
- Invigorating Fjord cold plunges for contrast therapy
- Relaxing Nordsprings hot tub
- Heated Cowboy Pool for year-round enjoyment
- Comfortable lounging areas furnished by Fatboy
The outdoor space gives us our first glimpse into the founders’ vision of creating a wellness destination that brings people together rather than isolating them.
The Complete Bathhouse: Coming in 2026
The full indoor bathhouse, located in a thoughtfully converted auto body shop on the East Side (at Pleasant Valley Road and Cesar Chavez Street), will feature an impressive array of amenities designed for both physical and mental well-being:
- Austin’s largest Finnish dry sauna, accommodating over 30 people
- Soothing thermal mineral pools
- In-ground cold plunge for contrast therapy
- Eucalyptus-infused steam room
- Therapeutic salt cave lined with Himalayan salt bricks
- Immersive sound lounge featuring vibrating beds
- Elixir lounge serving functional, health-focused beverages
- Dedicated treatment rooms for massage and biohacking experiences
- Device-free environment (except in designated coworking areas)
- Alcohol-free social spaces for genuine connection
The design embraces an “industrial forest” aesthetic, integrating abundant plant life throughout the space to create a unique urban oasis.
Join Me at Bathe Austin Events
I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be attending several events at Beyond Bathe this summer! As someone passionate about holistic wellness and community building, I’m excited to experience this innovative concept firsthand and share my insights with you.
Stay tuned to my social channels and this blog for updates on specific dates when I’ll be at Beyond Bathe, and perhaps we can connect there to experience this new wellness approach together.
Membership Options
For those interested in regular access, Bathe Austin offers “The Bathe Society,” a private social club with limited membership that provides access to the outdoor garden space. Members even receive a special NFT created by renowned artist Android Jones.
Visit batheaustin.com for the latest information on membership options and upcoming events.
A Note From Summer
As an Austin native, I very much love all things water in our hill country.
Both Dallas and Houston have Korean Spas where someone can go for a true spa experience, but Austin has been lacking in this option.
Also, as a Watsu Practitioner in Austin for 15 years, myself and all of the Austin Aquatic Bodywork Community have been seeking and dreaming about Austin having a place for Aquatic therapy for many years.
So from my standpoint, this is long-awaited – to be able to have a pool for aquatic therapy in Austin.
My intuition is that more therapy pools will be opening in and around Austin once people start to enjoy Watsu more.
Also I love the creativity, artistry and vision that Meow Wolf projects have created; experiences that transport you from the mediocre… I am intrigued to see what kind of unique bathhouse experience this will be.