As ‘Robot Massage’ was about to start, I was filled with a vague sense of dread and thought about cancelling.
I continued to find Views of the breakdown of the machine And whipping me to death – but the free trial massage was too strong.
While I was a little nervous, I was excited to find out just how much knot-breaking potential these machines have.
And the idea of not having to chit-chat with so many people throughout the experience and being free to completely relax was also intriguing.
Those are probably two of the major selling points. Escape – The company behind pioneering technology In 10 massage machines new york.
I booked a 30-minute massage (worth $60) through the Aescape app at Equinox Gym in Soho. From the reception, I was shown to the massage room in the Swanky Gym Spa area.
The receptionist led me into a dimly lit room with two giant robotic arms hovering over the massage table, similar to a surgical hospital bed.
I’m not bothered already.
There are currently 10 Escape massage machines in New York, and DailyMail.com’s Sadie Whitelocks signed up for a 30-minute knot-busting session.
After tying my hair up, I lay down on the table in my tight workout leggings and t-shirt, and the iPad touch screen above my head gave me a glimpse of what was happening.
You can adjust the body position, headrest and armrest before the massage starts, and this was an improvement from the standard massage table, which is a one-size-fits-all approach.
The next step was the body scan. While I was clothed, the machine created a 3D model of my body using infrared sensors, and I couldn’t help but feel naked.
Ascap says the massager generates more than 1.1 million 3D data points that ‘accurately define the body’s position on the table and identify key body points for targeted massage.’
Everything felt a little alien abducted, with the sound of a robotic female voice, spaceship-like lights hovering over my body and strange hands hovering over me.
An image of the body appeared on the screen, showing all the muscles. I was transformed into something like an exhibit at the Body World Show, my skin peeling back to reveal the nuts and bolts underneath.
Once my body was scanned we left.
You can also choose your own music with Aescape Machine.
So instead of the traditional massage room sounds of wind chimes and such, I opted for some Ibiza-esque ‘beach house’ tunes.
On the left side of the touchscreen, the machine showed me exactly what it was doing by flashing text explanations like ‘Releasing knots and tension’ and ‘Spinal column lengthening’.
Meanwhile, in the center of the screen was a 3D image reflecting my body showing where the robot’s ‘hands’ were.
Everything seemed to be going well – the massage pressure was perfect, as I could have chosen a heavier touch.
However, shortly into the massage, my worst fears came true and the breakdown began.
At random points the machine stopped working and I had to restart it, which added to the stress level.
Directly above the Escape massage tables are AI-powered infrared sensors that generate 3D body models.
Then, as the robot arm went in for a really deep stroke, it landed on my back and stopped. I was really stuck on the table.
I was having a bit of fun with the robot having a mind of its own and scaring me, I couldn’t help but feel like a cat pouncing on a mouse for fun.
If I didn’t program the machine to do ‘high pressure’ I was much more relaxed, because it was really uncomfortable.
Fortunately, Escape Machine is very easy to stop and restart, so I wasn’t stuck for long.
But then I finished my 30 minute massage early and headed to the gym instead.
I’ve found that one of the perks of booking Aescape is that you get access to the Equinox gyms.
These are usually only available to members, with a monthly fee of over $200.
So if you’re traveling in New York City, $60 for a massage and gym access isn’t bad.
After my massage escape, I spoke with Escape and they explained that the robot had a problem with me not wearing the right clothes.
Sadie said the massage pressure was ‘perfect’ as she could choose a heavy touch.
Obviously, customers are advised to wear the specially designed Aescape clothing.
The company has worked on designing a long-sleeved top and leggings made from a special fabric to help isolate the body and help it move smoothly.
Apparently, I had forgotten this note.
With that in mind, I thought I’d give the product another spin and booked another Aescape massage at Equinox on the Lower East Side.
Similarly, the massage room is located in the gym spa area and this time, I changed into the Aescape brand leggings and log sleeve top that was given to me at check-in.
On the second lap, the machine worked like a dream, and I stayed the entire 30 minutes while the hovering ‘hands’ worked their magic.
In general, the massage stroke was more consistent than a human massage and the firm pressure was greater, like a soft bed.
There was also no awkward chatter from the machine, which can sometimes occur during human-to-human massage.
However, I think I prefer my local Chinese massage place, where $60 gets me an hour slot.
There, there is no danger of pinning down and there is something called the healing power of the human touch.
