Today we’d like to introduce you to Gerardo Larios
Hi Gerardo, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m originally from Mexico City, and I moved to the US in 2001 to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston. After I graduated, I moved to Austin to pursue music. I have siblings that have lived here since the mid 90’s, so I had been coming every summer when I was younger and I was in love with Austin, so it just made sense for me to move here.
I was involved in countless musical projects throughout my early days here and eventually after 11 years of playing in local bands, I had the incredible opportunity to join Spoon. For a little over eight years I toured the world with the band and it was an unbelievable experience to say the least – performing on stages all over the world, recording an amazing record (Lucifer On The Sofa), and even getting a Grammy nomination. But life on the road was intense. Being away from my family, the constant travel, unpredictable schedules, and unhealthy habits started taking a toll on my mental and physical health.
At a certain point, I knew I had to make a change. I started focusing on wellness and mindfulness. I quit drinking, started eating better, exercising, and taking care of myself.
At the center of all of this was the constant use of saunas. On the road, if the hotel had a sauna, I was there every day. What began as a way to detox and de-stress, quickly became kind of a sacred ritual for me and eventually a way of life. I built a sauna for my house, and there it became a beautiful way to connect with my wife and kids in a way that was really meaningful. It completely changed my life for the better, and I realized I wanted to share that experience with others.
That’s what led me to start Öli Saunas. I wanted people to experience the massive physical and mental health benefits that sauna use brings in a way that’s accessible and fits into everyday life. My hope is that Öli Saunas helps others find the same balance, healing, and connection that it gave me.
We started out as an e-commerce store serving customers across the US, but quickly realized it made sense to open up a physical location in Austin. Our first retail store opened at the end of October and things are going really well. I couldn’t be happier.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s been wild. The decision to quit the band after so long was very hard to make. I sat with it for over a year and I had some pretty low moments in the process. After dedicating my life to music for over 25 years and relentlessly chasing my dreams in music, here I was walking away from all of it. Being able to be home more often and watch my children grow up in person rather than via FaceTime was the biggest factor in making the decision of course, but also something inside me was propelling me to take better care of myself, to be healthy and present.
I essentially made some of the biggest decisions of my life all at once. Quitting my music career of 25+ years, starting a business in a completely new area of focus, and evolving personally into a healthy lifestyle by shedding old habits and acquiring new healthier ones. There have been lots of struggles, and now there are the struggles of being a business owner. I take it all in stride, and the sauna helps me center myself and helps give me clarity in finding a way forward every day.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Öli Saunas?
At Öli Saunas, we’re all about making wellness something you can actually fit into your real life. We offer saunas and cold plunges that bring all the health benefits of a spa into your backyard. What makes us different is that we focus on everyday people, parents, professionals, and families who are juggling a lot but still want to take care of themselves and spend meaningful time with family and friends.
We’re not just here to sell you a sauna. We’re here to make the whole process easy, from choosing the right sauna to getting it set up, so you can focus on your health and your family, and all at a reasonable price.
What I’m most proud of is how personal this is for me. Saunas completely changed my life. They helped me navigate a tough transition period, feel healthier, and reconnect with my family. That’s what drives us. I’m also really proud of how well my wife Chas and I are able to work together as a team, and how we’ve built this brand from the ground up.
If there’s one thing I’d want your readers to know is that saunas aren’t just for pro athletes or luxury spas. They’re for anyone who wants to feel better, create meaningful moments with family, and make health a priority without overcomplicating things, and we’re here to help make that happen.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I am the youngest of five. Four boys and my sister the oldest. Growing up we didn’t have much. We lived in a small three bedroom house – my parents in one bedroom, my sister in another, and then four boys packed in another. We only had two beds in our room, shared by the four boys. There’s a seven year difference between me and my next sibling, so I was the baby but I didn’t feel like I got special treatment. I had to fend for myself and had to fight to establish my boundaries.
I was pretty rambunctious and got in trouble at school quite a bit, but always had excellent grades. My parents left post-war torn Spain and moved to Mexico in the 70’s. Growing up we were seen as foreigners and I never really felt like I fit in. On a side note, I remember my mom’s uncle Castor who had also moved to Mexico from Spain, would go to the sauna daily which wasn’t typical in Mexican society. He had slick back white hair that had yellowed with time, and he would drink “two fingers” of scotch every single day. The man had the smoothest skin I’ve ever seen and he lived to be 101 years old. I’d like to think the sauna had a lot to do with that!
Anyway, I remember the first time I knew music would be an important part of my life. I was seven years old and I had a song stuck in my head “Sin Documentos” by Los Rodriguez. I remember grabbing a little 10 string instrument called a “charango” that my brother had, and without any knowledge of what I was doing, working out the melody to that song. It came easily to me, and from that day on I picked up that charango every single chance I could. Eventually I moved on to guitar, drums, bass, and keyboards and by the time I was 14 or 15 I spent every waking hour playing music.
Looking back, those moments taught me a lot about persistence and following what truly excites you, which is something I’ve carried with me ever since.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.olisaunas.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olisaunas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olisaunas/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@%C3%96liSaunasStore
Image Credits
Record signing photo: Michelle Shiers
