In an era of spiralling disconnection, a new paradigm of wellness is emerging. From the intersection of immersive technology, neuroscience, and healing practice comes immersive wellness: multi-sensory environments and experiences that allow people to access deeper states of connection, awareness, and wellbeing.
At the vanguard of the emerging movement is Submersive, a startup founded and led by Corvas Brinkerhoff, formerly cofounder at art collective Meow Wolf. Part-bathhouse, part art museum and part wellness destination, the first location is due to launch in Austin, Texas in 2026.
At SXSW 2025, Brinkerhoff shared his vision for wellness spaces that act as a catalyst for transformation. "You could think of Submersive as a kind of massive state change machine with a collection of rooms that are engineered to draw us into these high value states: states like awe, wonder, euphoria, transcendence, unburdening, inspiration, connection,” said Brinkerhoff. The experience he said, will offer “deep connectedness to oneself, to others, to nature, to imagination, to our humanity." The goal is to build ”environments that don't just entertain us, but that have measurable, repeatable, therapeutic impact.”
