TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In the serene landscape of Traverse City, amidst its scenic beauty and tranquil ambiance, lies a haven unlike any other. Here, amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life, tourist sightseeing and commerce, individuals can find solace in an unconventional yet profoundly therapeutic practice – smash therapy.
Nestled within a discreet business complex on the outskirts of the city, Mi Smash Therapy (MiST) offers a unique opportunity for individuals to break free from the shackles of stress and unleash their inner wrecking ball in a controlled and constructive manner in what many refer to as a “rage room.”
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At first glance, the concept of smash therapy might seem perplexing – after all, what could possibly be therapeutic about smashing objects to smithereens? However, if you delve deeper, you might uncover the profound psychological benefits that lie beneath the surface. Rooted in the principles of catharsis and release, smash therapy provides participants with a safe and structured environment to express their emotions and alleviate pent-up tension and frustration.
How did smash “therapy” begin?
The origins of smash therapy trace back to the early 2000s when a group of Spanish entrepreneurs sought to alleviate the stress and monotony of office life by introducing a novel form of stress relief – destruction therapy.
However, it wasn’t until 2008 that dedicated spaces for smashing things began to emerge, with Tokyo, Japan, leading the charge. Frustrated businessmen, grappling with the economic downturn, found solace in hurling crockery against the insides of a van, igniting a global phenomenon that would soon spread to the shores of the United States – as entertainment.
Fast forward to the present day, and smash therapy has evolved into a popular form of stress relief, with Traverse City emerging as a new hub for this transformative practice.
Traverse City business offers a smashing good time.
Spearheading this movement are owners Mandie Carpenter, 38, and Adam Barlow, 42, the visionary married duo behind Traverse City’s MiST. With a shared entrepreneurial spirit, Carpenter and Barlow set out to create a sanctuary where individuals can confront their stressors head-on and emerge rejuvenated and empowered.
What’s it all about?
The premise of MiST is simple. Participants are equipped with protective gear from the “Gear Room” – coveralls, face shields, safety glasses, and gloves – before stepping into one of MiST’s three dedicated smash rooms.
Within these rooms, a plethora of smashable items can be pulverized: electronics, glassware, wine bottles, figurines, sinks, lamps, flower pots, remotes, telephones, windshields, plates and other household items.
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Armed with bats (a recently retired one is pictured above), hammers, frying pans, golf clubs or other provided “weapons,” two participants per room at a time are encouraged to unleash their stress by wreaking havoc on these objects, letting go of their inhibitions and embracing the raw power of their emotions. And they can do so to “destructive” songs like Limp Bizkit’s “Break Stuff” or other requested songs.
It’s fun – but there are rules.
Of course, the journey towards healing by destruction isn’t without its rules. Before embarking on a session, participants are required to sign a waiver and adhere to a set of rules designed to ensure their safety and well-being.
From prohibiting certain behaviors, such as swinging smash tools at others or damaging the room itself, to enforcing strict guidelines on attire and conduct, MiST maintains a vigilant stance on safety, prioritizing the welfare of its participants above all else.
The age limit even allows youngsters to have some fun, allowing kids as young as 12-years-old to partake in the smashing as long as they have a supervising parent or guardian.
MiST can accommodate groups and parties for smashing.
In addition to individual sessions, MiST offers a range of packages tailored to suit different preferences and group sizes. From solo smash sessions to tandem experiences for friends, family members, couples and co-workers, there’s something for everyone at MiST. Carpenter said that their top demographic, according to Facebook analytics, are females ages 25 to 45. “They’re angry,” she quipped.
Prices vary depending on the package chosen, with solo sessions starting at $40 and double sessions priced at $65. With each package, participants are provided with a set number of smashables, ensuring a fulfilling and fun experience for all involved. Customers are also allowed to bring in some of their own smashables that will need to get approved before they enter their smash room. MiST also provides additional items customers can choose to smash like windshields and TVs.
Open 7 days a week.
Carpenter and Barlow have a busy life seven days a week. While keeping up with their regular jobs during the day (Carpenter is a kennel assistant at Aunt Tara’s and Barlow is a massage therapist at Pavlova) then they have to hustle over to MiST from 5 to 10 pm Monday through Thursday, 5 to 11 pm Friday, 2 to 11 pm Saturday and noon to 6 pm on Sunday. The afternoon hours and weekends make them thoughtful neighbors to the businesses around them who might not want to hear the smashing all day long.
Where did Carpenter and Barlow come up with the smashing idea? Carpenter’s teenager had asked to go to a smash house as a birthday present more than a year ago. When the birthday came around in February, the smashing idea was still at the top of the list of things to do so Carpenter and Barlow headed to Grand Rapids, the closest smash therapy business they could find. Although the couple didn’t participate in the smashing, they found the whole thing very entertaining and watched as hordes of customers went in and out of the business including couples, groups and parties.
Three months and it’s off and running!
Barlow, with his entrepreneurial spirit, said, “We could totally do this.” As I mentioned above, that was in February. Yes, February of 2024. Their grand opening was May 7th. When they set their mind on something, the couple goes for it – although they said the grand opening could have happened a lot sooner if there wasn’t so much bureaucratic red tape and so many people who were on spring break during the time the duo needed to communicate with them in order to get the business open.
While the couple is busy working inside of MiST, a lot of their time is spent cleaning up. Cleaning up after all of the customers are done with their sessions, cleaning up after the business closes and cleaning all of the glass items that will be smashed – from using their industrial bar bottle cleaner to hand washing dishes.
Traverse City location is one of the new smash houses in the state.
Being the only smash house within 150 miles makes their location a great spot for tourists and locals alike. The couple says that there aren’t many businesses of their kind in Michigan, citing one in Grand Rapids, two in Ann Arbor, two in Detroit and one in Lansing.
So far, Carpenter and Barlow haven’t had to advertise much as they’ve gotten plenty of attention from word of mouth, Facebook, local news media and radio. They said their first group to come in was the staff from “Charles and Reid Detroit Pizza” whose company treated them to some smashing after a long day of working.
Destroying things is actually quite a workout.
For bigger groups like the pizza joint, there are three rooms available and with two people allowed in a room at a time, they can swap in and out, taking a break when needed. And they will need breaks. Carpenter says, “It’s more of a work-out than I think people come in anticipating,” she explains, saying that some folks come in all nice-looking and leave a “sweaty mess.”
A happy mess though…Customer Lydia Potthoff says about the great time they had with a group of friends at MiST, “We went to Mi Smash Therapy for our friend’s 40th birthday surprise party. It was a really memorable, bonding way to celebrate a dear friend by smashing things. They had no problem accommodating our large group, had excellent safety measures in place, and had plenty of items to smash.”
Carpenter says about the locals who have been visiting MiST, “We’ve have a really positive response from the community.”
For those who want to historically document their visit to MiST, they can pay for a video from the company. They also provide a photo op banner to pose in front of – with bottles, bats and other props. (The photo below is one of Carpenter and Barlow in front of the banner).
And for those who might be apprehensive about going into a smash room, Barlow said, “After the first couple of bottles, you kind of get the hang of it.” Carpenter concurred, “Once you smash a bottle, you’re pretty sold on the idea.”
To see a video of the MiST experience, click here.
