We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Helen Yin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Helen below.
Helen, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Finding my purpose was a journey. Raised by a single immigrant parent who sacrificed everything to support me and my sister, I believed my purpose was to earn enough to make her proud—to ensure her sacrifices were not in vain.
But at the peak of my career running my 7-figure innovation consultancy, I faced two long years of depression and anxiety. I tried every remedy I could find—natural treatments, therapies, even prescription pills—but nothing seemed to help improve my mental and physical state. During my lowest moments, I often thought back to my childhood in Asia, where family visits to bathhouses brought relief and renewal. These spaces used healing teas and herbs and infused it into the waters to calm the mind, uplift the spirit, and rejuvenate the body.
When I searched for products to recreate that experience at home, I found nothing authentic—so I decided to create it myself. I began documenting my journey making tea baths on TikTok, and after just four videos, it went viral. Overnight, 600,000 saw the video and thousands of people joined a waitlist for the tea baths I was creating. That’s when I realized my purpose – to help this generation prioritize their well-being.
Today, more than ever, people are searching for ways to reconnect with themselves and find peace amidst the chaos of daily life. That’s why I founded Inoki Bathhouse—not just as a luxury, but as a way to transform the most accessible place, your home, into a sanctuary of healing and renewal. It’s the product I wish my mom had when she worked long days to give me the life I have today.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
At Inoki Bathhouse, we create luxurious tea bath blends inspired by global bathing traditions, combining premium teas and botanicals to transform everyday baths into deeply rejuvenating experiences. What excites me most about what we do is how we bring heritage and modern self-care together, allowing people to reconnect with themselves through rituals that calm the mind, uplift the spirit, and refresh the body.
What makes our brand special is our dedication to authenticity and quality. Each tea bath blend is thoughtfully crafted to emulate the essence of traditional bathhouses while creating a unique self-care experience, as each of our tea baths are paired with guided breathwork and a curated music playlist.
Beyond tea baths, we’re also stepping into the world of tea drinking with the launch of our Royal Tea Ceremony Advent Calendar exclusively available for the holidays with 25 tea journeys sourced from the finest estates across Asia. This new offering reimagines the joy of self-care with an elevated tea-drinking experience that complements our bath rituals, making it a perfect gift for the holiday season.
Our mission is to create the world’s best bathing experiences, and we’re excited to keep innovating and expanding to bring even more ways for our community to embrace self-care and find moments of peace.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, three qualities that shaped my journey were authenticity in storytelling, product intuition, and creativity in design.
Authenticity in storytelling has been the foundation of everything I’ve built. When I shared my story on TikTok and Instagram—how I created tea baths inspired by my childhood memories—it resonated deeply with people. That openness created a community of like-minded individuals who cared about my journey and connected with the purpose behind Inoki Bathhouse. Authenticity allowed me to not only build a brand but also foster genuine relationships with our audience.
Product intuition was key to creating an experience that truly stands out. I approached every detail of our products with care, from the premium ingredients to the ritual they inspire. My goal was to offer more than just a bath; I wanted to create the most unique self-care experience for our customers. This dedication to the product experience is why we have such a high repeat customer rate—it’s not just a product; it’s an experience people want to revisit.
Creativity in design brought the vision of Inoki Bathhouse to life. I worked hard to build a beautiful, cohesive brand that people resonate with and love. From the packaging to the brand storytelling, every element reflects thoughtfulness and care. This creativity has helped Inoki Bathhouse stand out and become something our customers are proud to share with others.
Advice for those early in their journey:
Be authentic: Share your story openly—it’s what makes your brand uniquely yours. People connect with real experiences, so don’t be afraid to let them see the person behind the brand.
Focus on the product: Pay attention to every detail of your customer’s experience. Thoughtfulness and care in product creation will always shine through and earn loyalty.
Invest in design: Your brand’s visuals and messaging should reflect its heart and purpose. Create something people not only use but also feel proud to display and share.
By leaning into these qualities, you can build something that truly resonates with others and stands the test of time.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
One of the biggest influences on my journey has been my mom’s incredible work ethic. As a single immigrant parent, she worked tirelessly to provide for me and my sister, often sacrificing her own comfort so we could have a better future. Watching her determination and resilience left a lasting impression on me—it taught me the value of hard work, persistence, and never giving up, even when faced with challenges.
Her hustle inspired my own. Early on, I believed the best way to honor her sacrifices was by climbing the corporate ladder and achieving financial security. But as I pushed myself in my career, I realized that her work ethic wasn’t just about working hard—it was about creating opportunities for growth and transformation. That realization is what eventually led me to pursue entrepreneurship.
Being an entrepreneur has allowed me to channel the hustle and grit I inherited from her into something deeply personal and meaningful. Building Inoki Bathhouse has been my way of carrying forward the lessons she taught me: working hard, staying resilient, and creating something that brings value to others. My mom’s example is a constant reminder that success isn’t just about what you achieve—it’s about how you uplift others along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://inokibathhouse.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inoki_bathhouse/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inokibathhouse
Image Credits
Inoki Bathhouse
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