Cover photo: aescape
Aescape, a robotics company based in New York City, has created a robot that can scan your body and give you a full body massage. Currently, you can book an early access to a robot massage in NYC. But I expect these machines to gradually spread across the United States. They have partnered with Equinox, and the luxury gym/spa enjoys a wide reach.
The way it works: the machine scans the body and creates a “map of your muscle structure.” It uses machine learning to then create a personalized massage plan. Then you get a massage.
The New York Times
The New York Times published an article documenting the experience.
Are You Excited to Get a Robot Massage?
A robot massage can eliminate some of the human elements of a massage experience that one might find unpleasant: chatting, taking off your clothes, wrong pressure. Aescape doesn’t see their robot replacing the human masseuse. It’s an addition to the traditional massage experience. I can see this working.
There are advantages to a machine masseuse that doesn’t get tired and doesn’t judge. I also like the idea of having a map of my muscles. This means that I can get a truly custom massage based on my needs that day.
The Near Future
Like most technology that start off as enterprise-use, I can see this machine in people’s homes in the near future. Think about cappuccino makers and how they have become more common at home. As someone who loves getting massages, I’m excited. I have a theragun, which works for some parts of the body. But to get a full body massage experience at home, anytime–that’s a treat.
What I have learned from technology is to not judge quickly and to not fear it. But I not only need to understand how it benefits my life, but also the unintended consequences. If this technology does become a home staple, that’s a game changer. Thinking ahead, although I’m excited for the possibility of getting a massage whenever I desire, I can’t help but think about the things I might lose.
In the book, The Comfort Crisis, Michael Easter reminds us that a little discomfort goes a long way in improving physical and mental health. The chat with the front desk, the drive to the spa, eye contact and smile from strangers, maybe the little things that make us feel uncomfortable and get us out of our bubble, are worth the trouble. I’m one who likes to keep silent during a massage, but I find that when a masseuse talks to me, I’m not bothered at all.
Reading about the robot massage made me think about the popularity of online yoga. Since the pandemic, I have cancelled my yoga studio membership. I used to have yoga studio buddies, but that is no longer the case. I wonder if having easy access to massage might mean I’ll do less yoga and more massages instead to relax my body.
