To counter the busy and hectic city life in a place like London, one must ensure they find a place that gives them a sense of calm and stillness—both mentally and physically. Although the idea of finding true peace and quiet is somewhat difficult for most Londoners to solve, there is a new hideaway in town that will actually help with this. Slightly tucked away from the city noise and hidden on the quaint St Vincent Street in Marylebone, London’s new home of social wellness, Rebase Recovery, can be found.
With a comprehensive menu of well-being remedies and a wide range of rejuvenating services, such as ice baths, saunas, cryotherapy, contrast classes, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, breathwork, yoga, vitamin infusions, as well as other classes and events, Rebase is the ultimate wellness sanctuary to visit when you need some stillness by yourself or to enjoy with friends for a social gathering. You can either join one of their memberships (choose between three different levels), or stop by for a walk-in. The Communal Member Suite is a great place to start if you want to experience contrast therapy with ice baths and saunas together with seven other members. Whether you want to get a dose of energy, slow down and recharge your batteries, or hang out with your friends, Rebase has got you covered.
Founded earlier this year by two friends and business partners, Alex Rebeiz-Nielsen and Waldo Ramsay, there is a deeply personal story behind the concept. Six years ago, Alex was hospitalised, fighting for his life after undergoing emergency surgeries and immense pain, followed by a severely inflamed body and intestines. The whole experience forced him to rebuild his health from scratch and instilled a deep appreciation for life, which led to a growing curiosity about the body, wellness, and living a healthy lifestyle. “I just wanted to do everything I could to contribute to my health in a positive way after going through this horrible experience,” says Rebeiz-Nielsen. Therefore, he decided to study Naturopathic Nutrition, Homeopathy, and Naturopathy for four years, as well as pursue personal training and try everything from breathwork and yoga to contrast therapy. The ice baths and sauna sessions ended up being what helped him the most when it came to recovery and getting his body back on track, both physically and mentally. “Both the cold and the heat helped me move my body more easily after my surgeries, which was incredible. I also discovered how great it feels to experience contrast therapy together with others. In addition to the increase of dopamine feelings in the body, the connection you have when you do it with somebody else and feel like you’ve gone through something together is amazing,” explains Rebeiz-Nielsen.
Growing up with a Danish father and half-Swedish mother, the Scandinavian lifestyle, with saunas and cold ocean swims, has also inspired Rebeiz-Nielsen and Rebase’s focus. “I’ve always had that Scandinavian upbringing and influence in my life. Whenever we went to Denmark, my dad and I would always go swimming in the sea, no matter how horrible the waves looked or how cold the ocean was. So, the Scandinavian lifestyle has essentially been bubbling in the background throughout my life, but I never fully explored it until now,” says Rebeiz-Nielsen, and continues: “When doing research before the opening, we also travelled to India to practise breathwork, went to Mexico, and to Finland, where we sat in every sauna you can think of.” He also mentions another reason why he felt Rebase had to be born: “What we felt was that people in this city, particularly, had lost that connection to water and swimming. People here used to view that as something totally separate from their lives, as though it was only possible in the countryside. In Scandinavia, you have bathhouses and places to swim even in bigger cities, so we wanted to integrate that here as well.” Bringing these ancient practices and healing methods to an urban environment became the result of years of study, experience, and research, and Rebase was born, officially opening in May 2024.
In addition to all the incredible services downstairs, a visit to the little bar and curated shop by the entrance is a must. Enjoy smoothies, teas, superfood lattes, and a great range of supplements, skincare, and other wellness goodies to take home. Even the menu and product range at Rebase show how every detail is thought through and carefully chosen. Every service, product, and treatment you find here has a purpose and reason, which is why you easily feel the trust and authenticity this place exudes. Yes, the entire space, with its stunning design and high-tech apparatus, really makes you want to be a part of it all; however, not just because it’s trendy, but because it’s all backed by science, research, and a health transformation journey—a living testament to what these ancient practices can do for our well-being.
words by Matilde Wergeland
images: Louis Waite
