Vancouver's wellness scene has welcomed a monumental new player with the opening of Tevah Wellness, a contrast therapy spa that now houses what is claimed to be the largest sauna in North America. The facility, which opened its doors on December 1, 2025, represents a deeply personal mission for its founder, Andrew Ao, whose own life was transformed by health and fitness.
From a Dark Past to a Healing Mission
The story behind Tevah Wellness is as compelling as the facility itself. Founder Andrew Ao, a 37-year-old Vancouverite, openly shares that wellness literally saved his life. He recounts a youth spent on a dangerous path. "I used to be an ex-gang member and an ex-drug dealer," Ao states, reflecting on the limited outcomes of that lifestyle. Facing a critical crossroads, he made a pivotal decision to change, discovering fitness and bodybuilding as catalysts for his transformation.
"When I encountered health and fitness, it began to transform who I was," Ao explains. This journey into holistic health led him to become a gym owner—A. Live Fitness and Wellness in Fairview—and now, the founder of a state-of-the-art wellness spa. His drive stems from a belief in the potential for change in others. "I just know the potential and the possibility for others, which is why I find so much purpose in it," he says.
Inside North America's Largest Sauna
Located at 955 Pacific Blvd., the 4,200-square-foot Tevah Wellness centre is built around community and contrast therapy. Its crown jewel is a massive red cedar sauna measuring approximately 725 square feet. After extensive research, Ao and his team believe this makes it the largest of its kind on the continent. The sauna can accommodate up to 60 guests simultaneously, which is the maximum capacity for the spa's hot-cold circuit at any one time.
Ao emphasizes that the scale is intentional, designed to foster connection and shared experience. "We believe that, when you’re able to come into a space where people are able to experience or endure challenges together, but also breathe together, there is such a strong sense of community," he notes.
A Complete Contrast Therapy Experience
The circuit at Tevah Wellness is designed for a full sensory and physiological journey. After the intense heat of the giant sauna, guests can move to one of three cold-plunge pools, each set to varying, invigorating temperatures. The spa also features "cold body jets" for targeted hydrotherapy.
Notably, the facility has been designed with accessibility in mind. It offers extra space in the sauna for wheelchair users and has installed accessible cold-therapy jets in an open-shower area. This inclusive approach ensures the benefits of contrast therapy are available to a wider audience.
The opening of Tevah Wellness taps into a growing trend in Vancouver and beyond, where people are increasingly seeking the documented benefits of hot-cold exposure for circulation, recovery, and mental resilience. For Andrew Ao, this spa is the culmination of a decade-long exploration of over 40 saunas across Asia, Canada, and South America, finally bringing his ideal vision for community-focused wellness to life in his hometown.
