In the run-up to my ‘robot massage’ I was filled with a vague feeling of fear and considered canceling.
I kept having visions of the machine malfunctioning and pummeling me to death – but the lure of a free test massage proved too strong.
While I was mildly terrified, I was quite intrigued to know how much knot-busting potential these machines had.
And the idea of not having to chit-chat to a masseuse throughout the experience and be free to fully relax was also a draw.
Those are two of the main selling points touted by Aescape – the company behind the pioneering tech which runs 10 massage machines in New York.
I booked a 30-minute massage (priced at $60) via the Aescape app at the Equinox gym in Soho. From the reception, I was shown to the massage room which is located in the spa area of the swanky gym.
The receptionist escorted me to a dimly-lit room with two giant robot arms looming over the massage table, which looked more akin to a surgical hospital bed.
Already I was uneasy.
There are currently 10 Aescape massage machines in New York and DailyMail.com’s Sadie Whitelocks checked in for a 30-minute knot-busting session
After tying my hair up, I took the plunge and lay down on the table in my tight-fitting workout leggings and T-shirt and an iPad-sized touch screen above my head ran me through what was happening.
Before the massage begins, you can adjust the bolster, headrest and armrest positioning to fit your body, and this was an upgrade from the standard massage table, which has a one-size-fits-all approach.
The next step was a body scan. While I was wearing clothes, I couldn’t help but feel naked as the machine used infrared sensors to produce a 3D model of my body.
Aescape says the scam generates over 1.1 million 3D data points which ‘accurately map the body’s position on the table and identifies key anatomical points for targeted massage.’
It all felt a little like I had been abducted by aliens, with the robotic sound of the female voiceover, the spaceship-like lights hovering over my body and the strange arms looming above me.
A picture of a body popped up on the screen with all the muscles on show. I had been turned into something which looked like an exhibit in the Body Worlds show, with my skin peeled back to reveal the nuts and bolts underneath.
Once my body was scanned, we were off.
With the Aescape machine, you can also select your own music.
So in lieu of the traditional massage room sound of wind chimes and such, I opted for some Ibiza-esque ‘beach house’ tunes.
On the left hand side of the touch screen display, it showed me exactly what the machine was doing with text explainers such as ‘releasing knots and tension’ and ‘lengthening the spinal column’ lighting up.
Meanwhile, in the center of the screen was a 3D image mirroring my body, showing where the robot ‘hands’ were positioned.
Everything seemed to be going well – the massage pressure was perfect, as I was able to select a harder touch.
However, not that long into the massage, my worst fear came true and the malfunctioning started.
At random points the machine stopped working and I had to restart it again, which caused my anxiety levels to spike.
Directly above the Aescape massage tables are infrared sensors powered by AI that produce 3D models of the body
Then, as the robot arm swooped in for a really deep pummeling, it went down on my back and stopped. I was literally pinned to the table.
I couldn’t help but feel the robot had a mind of its own and it was having some fun scaring me, a bit like a cat pouncing on a mouse for fun.
I was very relieved I hadn’t programmed the machine to ‘max pressure’, as it would have been really uncomfortable.
Fortunately, the Aescape machine is very easy to stop and restart, so I wasn’t pinned down for too long.
But after that, I decided to finish my 30-minute massage early and head to the gym instead.
One perk of the Aescape booking, I discovered, is that you can access Equinox gyms.
These are usually only available to members, with monthly fees topping $200.
So if you are traveling in New York City, $60 for a massage and gym access isn’t a bad deal.
Following my massage escapade, I talked to Aescape and they revealed that the robot was having trouble because I wasn’t wearing the right clothing.
Sadie said the massage pressure was ‘perfect’, as she was able to select a harder touch
Apparently, customers are advised to wear the specially designed Aescape apparel.
The company went about designing a long-sleeved top and leggings made out of a specialized fabric to help the system detect the body and move smoothly.
Clearly, I’d forgotten this memo.
In light of this, I thought I would give the product another whirl, and I booked in for another Aescape massage at an Equinox in the Lower East Side.
Similarly, the massage room was located in the spa area of the gym and this time around, I changed into the Aescape branded leggings and log sleeved top that was provided to me on check-in.
On round two, the machine worked like a dream, and I stayed put for the entire 30 minutes as the looming ‘hands’ worked their magic.
Overall, the massage strokes were more consistent than a human massage and the firm pressure was great, as was the plush bed.
There was also no awkward conversation from the machine, which can sometimes happen during a traditional human-to-human massage.
However, I think I prefer my local Chinese massage spot, where $60 gets me an hour slot.
There, there’s no risk of being pinned down and there’s something to be said for the healing power of human touch.