Aescape’s fully automated robot massage tables for personalized recovery are now available at the Spa at Equinox.
Picture this: You’re lying on a cushy table, receiving a massage with your ideal level of knot-relieving pressure, all while soothing nature sounds play to settle your anxious mind. The catch? The massage therapist responsible for melting your tension away isn’t a human — but a robot.
That experience might sound like it's straight out of a science-fiction novel, but machine-driven massages are now a reality thanks to lifestyle robotics company Aescape. After seven years of development, the company is putting its massage table — equipped with two robotic arms — on the market, and it’s teaming up with The Spa at Equinox as a launch partner. The goal is to offer members a massage that’s tailored to their individual recovery needs.
Here’s how it works: You’ll book your appointment on the app and, upon arrival, change into a provided spandex long-sleeved shirt and leggings rather than fully stripping down. Once you’re settled on the table, the machine will rapidly take a scan of your body so that its robotic arms can give you a massage catered to your needs.
“We scan the body and create a 3D model from over 1.1 million data points on the body that then empowers us to create a treatment that’s hyper-personalized to the person on the table,” says Aescape founder Eric Litman. “We're not just poking in space; we're very specifically targeting the treatment to their body. The arms themselves have very sensitive sensors inside of them that allow them to feel and adapt to you as you're breathing and adjusting and living in the moment of your treatment.”
That’s not to say you’re completely relinquishing control. You can opt for a lower-body or upper-body massage that ranges from 15 to 60 minutes. Throughout your treatment, you can choose different music options and adjust the level of pressure to your liking.
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While human touch, along with details like aromatherapy, is usually part of the appeal of traditional massages, some members may find it off-putting. That’s where a machine-driven spa experience can be beneficial. According to Litman, many people are comfortable with the thought of receiving an Aescape massage but not a human-led one. “We've done a lot of research on this and found that for 20 to 25 percent of the population, massages are an absolute no-go,” says Matthew Moran, the director of product research at Aescape. “People don’t always have accessibility to their preferred gendered masseuse, they may feel uncomfortable stripping down in front of a total stranger, or may not feel comfortable speaking up during a session to provide feedback.”
Plus, Aescape massages offer an alternative for members who want to optimize their recovery routine but don’t want to book a regular massage or work around a therapist’s packed schedule. “There are times when clients want to do something self-guided and quick to address a certain area but [still] want or need something more than using a massage gun on their own,” notes James Gu, the senior director of Spa at Equinox.
To that end, the massage table is designed to provide a more efficient massage than is feasible for a sentient massage therapist. “We have two arms that can apply equal force and equal pressure to the body simultaneously, and they don't have to lighten up,” says Litman. “So they can press really firmly in one direction, really firmly in the other if that's what you're looking for, delivering at least twice the amount of work in an equivalent period of time.”
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Whether you’re drawn to Aescape because you’re apprehensive about traditional massages, need a quick fix, or find yourself filled with curiosity, you won’t have to wait long to experience the relaxing new offering.
Click here to book your session.
Images provided by Aescape