Soothed rigidity, melted knots, relaxed muscle groups — getting a therapeutic massage is an funding in your well being. But many individuals don’t make therapeutic massage a daily a part of their wellness routine, whether or not it’s as a result of they view it as a luxurious, don’t have the time, or are hesitant about some a part of the service.
Aescape, a pioneering life-style robotics firm, is aiming to vary the therapeutic massage recreation with an clever, intuitive expertise that’s utterly managed by you.
“That is the first-to-market robotic therapeutic massage that interacts safely and autonomously with human our bodies,” says Molly O’Connor, head of communications and content material at Aescape. “Past that, it’s additionally the primary that permits you to management the whole expertise from stress factors and goal areas to music and ambiance. It’s utterly custom-made to every particular person’s wants.”
To study extra about this new service, we requested O’Connor and Shannon Kinney, head of companion administration for Aescape, to reply a couple of questions concerning the expertise.
Life Time | What’s Aescape precisely — and the way does it work?
Shannon Kinney | Our CEO and founder, Eric Litman, was impressed to construct Aescape after coping with a literal ache within the neck. After a yr of fixed journey, he developed a bulging disc and struggled to seek out dependable, constant bodywork to ease his discomfort. Language obstacles, lack of availability, and variations in most well-liked method made it troublesome.
So, Eric got down to create an answer that might make therapeutic massage remedy extra constant and accessible. Lower to our launch in 2024 and Aescape is now the No. 1 automated therapeutic massage expertise that delivers therapeutic massage customized to your wants. The desk makes use of superior sensors to map, perceive, and adapt to your physique’s distinctive contours and areas of rigidity. The system scans your physique to exactly map your muscle construction and create a novel blueprint for a extremely customized therapeutic massage. It captures 1.2 million information factors.
The touchpoints that are available in contact together with your physique replicate the seven surfaces of the human hand, simulating the knuckle, thumb, cupped hand, blade of hand, palm, forearm, and elbow. Every touchpoint on the machine is heated to 95 levels F to offer a soothing and pure feeling therapeutic massage expertise.
All through the therapeutic massage, you may have full management of the stress by way of a management display. You may as well change the show on the display to satisfy your preferences (like music and stress stage), wants (areas massaged), and temper (change up the display interface to point out a sleepy forest or calming ocean).
MO | Aescape has been designed from the start with the experience of therapeutic massage therapists. They’re those doing the analysis and placing collectively the precise therapeutic massage programming and customization choices out there on the tables. This implies the touchpoints on the Aescape desk are mimicking the modalities of an precise licensed therapeutic massage therapist.
LT | By bringing Aescape to LifeSpa, what advantages does it provide Life Time members?
SK | Aescape exists to assist our bodies reside higher longer. We’re partnering with Life Time and LifeSpa to supply an on-demand therapeutic massage answer, in addition to the power to get shorter remedies with the identical advantages as a hands-on, human-touch therapeutic massage. An Aescape therapeutic massage can match extra seamlessly into your day, as it may be carried out in 15 to 60 minutes and doesn’t require any lotion or oils in your pores and skin. You’re totally clothed through the therapeutic massage (you’re offered a top-and-bottom Aerwear attire set, which specifically works with the touchpoints). It’s additionally a beautiful answer for any Life Time members who aren’t snug with therapeutic massage or who’ve by no means gotten a therapeutic massage earlier than.
MO | A fast therapeutic massage is good post-workout to assist restoration. In the event you’re an early morning exercise particular person and also you need to squeeze in a 15-minute therapeutic massage publish leg day, for instance, we’ve that choice. You’ll be able to shortly get out and in and on together with your day.
And know you’re not short-changing your self by solely doing quarter-hour. As a result of the desk has a number of touchpoints, it’s in a position to work each side of your physique without delay (whereas a human therapeutic massage therapist would solely be capable of do separately). So it’s such as you’re getting half-hour of physique work in that 15-minute timeslot.
LT | How can an Aescape therapeutic massage be custom-made to satisfy my particular wants?
SK | The wonderful thing about Aescape is that you simply’re in management the whole time by way of the management display. You begin by choosing the areas of your physique that you really want it to work on. You then management the stress by way of a slider that means that you can enhance and reduce it at any level. There are a variety of stress choices you could regulate all through the whole period of the therapeutic massage.
The physique scan firstly additionally maps out your particular person muscle construction, so it identifies these knots and tight spots and may effectively work on the areas the place you want it most.
LT | I’ve by no means had a therapeutic massage earlier than — why ought to I strive Aescape?
SK | Therapeutic massage is a part of a holistic wellness routine, and Aescape is a superb entry level to that world of self-care. Many people work at desks all day or are sometimes hunched over our telephones or gadgets, so we feature a variety of rigidity and stress in our our bodies. Therapeutic massage helps us launch that rigidity and decompress our sympathetic (fight-or-flight) nervous system.
Aescape makes it a extra accessible choice by providing shorter time durations, and in lots of instances, extra reasonably priced choices beginning at $30 at LifeSpa. Some folks even have the choice to not be touched by a human or to remain totally clothed all through a therapeutic massage.
LT | I get common massages from a therapeutic massage therapist — is Aescape one thing I ought to strive? How does it complement a hands-on therapeutic massage expertise?
SK | Most individuals who get massages from therapeutic massage therapists aren’t getting them greater than as soon as per week, so for those who desire a extra frequent cadence, Aescape is a superb device for that. It can be nice to make use of as a fast 15-minute warm-up earlier than your common therapeutic massage.
Folks additionally typically decide to make use of Aescape for deeper trigger-point work after they don’t have time for a full service with a therapeutic massage therapist, however their physique wants some additional assist.
LT | Are you able to stroll me by way of a service? What do I have to know earlier than moving into?
SK | On the time of your booked service, a LifeSpa workforce member reveals you to the room with the Aescape desk. From there, you select your sizing and alter into the offered form-fitting high and backside (proven within the above picture). This outfit permits the touchpoints to easily glide throughout your physique.
When you’re modified, you’ll lie face down on the desk together with your head on the headrest and arms on the arm relaxation. You will note the management display under your face. The display will immediate you thru a couple of questions to begin, together with asking concerning the physique areas you need to give attention to, in addition to prompting you to regulate the bolster, headrest, and armrest to your consolation. The choices for physique areas of focus span from the higher again all the best way right down to the glutes and hamstrings.
On the display, you’ll be capable of choose your visible choices in addition to your music. For instance, you possibly can select to take a look at a display that reveals precisely the place the touchpoints are in your physique — or you possibly can select from a number of nature scenes. Music choices embody something from nature sounds and lo-fi beats to right this moment’s hits or simply about any style you possibly can think about. You’ll be able to change your stress, music, and visuals all through the whole therapeutic massage. It’s time to sink in and calm down!
LT | What would you say to somebody who’s skeptical about “robotic therapeutic massage”?
SK | Skepticism is completely honest as a result of there’s nothing else like this on the market. We simply encourage everybody to strive it, and Life Time members obtain a complimentary 15-minute therapeutic massage to take action in areas the place it’s out there. LifeSpa workforce members can be found to information you in utilizing the Aescape desk and to reply any questions you’ll have.
MO | Lots of people expertise that nervousness earlier than attempting it, after which as quickly as they’re on the desk and so they get that first stroke, they get it. Our No. 1 precedence is making certain everybody has a dependable and secure expertise — each time. Our security options embody a “pause” operate, permitting you to quickly halt a session, and an “emergency cease” button, so you possibly can instantly finish your session if wanted.
LT | How do you advocate becoming Aescape into my health or wellness routine?
SK | Aescape is a device that may be added into your routine in the best way that works greatest for you. Let’s say you energy practice and are doing a leg day exercise twice per week: A fast post-workout glute and leg therapeutic massage might help loosen up your muscle groups.
Or for those who’re a runner, for instance, and also you need to loosen up your muscle groups earlier than a run, you possibly can add Aescape into your pre-workout routine. It’s all about your personal preferences and wishes.
A 30- or 60-minute Aescape session is a superb choice so as to add to your self-care routine. Permitting your self that point to calm down and decompress can result in so many well being advantages.
LT | I’m able to strive it! What are the steps to reserving a service as a Life Time member?
SK | Aescape is at present out there on the LifeSpas at Life Time in Chanhassen, Minn., Life Time in Backyard Metropolis, N.Y., Life Time Dumbo in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Life Time Summerlin in Las Vegas, Nev.
To ebook a service, use this hyperlink to open the Life Time app, which can take you to the Aescape service providing. Click on “Guide Now” and from there, you’ll be directed to the Aescape reserving web page the place you’ll create a profile the place all of your preferences and historical past are saved. When you arrange your account, you possibly can choose your most well-liked time period (15, 30, or 60 minutes) and the date and time you need to ebook.