What does it take to build a profitable hydrotherapy spa brand in three different markets and scale it to $10 million in annual revenue?
In this episode, Harmony Oschefski and Cedar Hwang share how the bodhi spa grew from a bold idea sparked in Maui to a multi location wellness company rooted in contrast therapy, operational discipline, and community driven growth.We explore how sauna culture, cold plunge therapy, and a thoughtfully designed water journey can become the foundation of a scalable spa business model. This conversation goes beyond wellness trends and dives into infrastructure, financing, Department of Health compliance, maintenance systems, staffing strategy, and brand positioning in a rapidly growing wellness economy.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to design a hydrotherapy spa business model that balances water journey revenue with massage and facial services
- Why contrast therapy and cold plunge trends are only sustainable when supported by serious infrastructure and maintenance systems
- What it takes to secure SBA financing for a first time concept and how to successfully appeal a denial
- How to scale from one spa location to three while maintaining brand consistency and operational excellence
- Why weekly pool draining, state of the art filtration systems, and a dedicated maintenance manager protect long term profitability
Episode Highlights:
- 03:12 – Growing up with sauna culture and cold plunges in Nova Scotia
- 11:48 – The Maui moment that sparked the bodhi spa business idea
- 18:27 – Getting denied for SBA financing and how they successfully appealed
- 26:04 – What a hydrotherapy water journey includes and why contrast therapy works
- 34:15 – Rebuilding the entire operating model during COVID to satisfy Department of Health requirements
- 41:22 – Scaling to Providence and Norwood and what changes with each new market
- 47:36 – Why weekly pool draining and a full time maintenance manager are non negotiable
- 53:18 – Reaching $10 million in revenue and building infrastructure for long term brand sustainability
Meet the Guests:
Harmony Oschefski is Co Owner and Managing Partner of the bodhi spa. With a background in life sciences and functional health, she brings a complementary wellness perspective to spa development and operational strategy.
Cedar Hwang is Co Owner and Managing Partner of the bodhi spa and a former 12 meter yacht captain. Her leadership experience and operational discipline inform the systems, staffing, and execution behind the brand’s growth.
Together, they have built three bodhi spa locations across New England and employ nearly 100 team members.
Tools, Frameworks, and Strategies Mentioned:
- The bodhi spa Water Journey hydrotherapy circuit
- Contrast therapy using sauna and cold plunge sequencing
- SBA financing and structured loan appeal strategy
- Dedicated maintenance management with weekly full system resets
- Infrastructure first scaling model with General Managers at each location
- State of the art filtration, HVAC, and pool monitoring systems
- Gender inclusive design and dual temperature cold plunge strategy
Closing Insight:
The bodhi spa’s growth story shows that the wellness industry rewards both inspiration and precision. Sauna culture and cold plunge therapy may attract attention, but long term success depends on disciplined maintenance, regulatory compliance, staff training, and operational infrastructure.
As Harmony shares in the episode, the goal was never just to open a spa. It was to build a company that could stand on its own.
Looking for expert advice in Spa Consulting, with live training and online learning?
Spa Consulting: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-consulting
Live Training: wynnebusiness.com/live-education
Online Learning: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-courses
Other Links:
Visit the bodhi spa at https://thebodhispa.com/
Connect with the bodhi spa: https://www.instagram.com/thebodhispa/
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