Robotic massage, binaural beats—these hotels offer high-tech wellness

National Geographic

3 days ago

Natural treatments and products have long been wellness buzzwords—think of aromatherapy sessions using plant-derived ingredients, or skin-smoothing immersions in mineral-rich volcanic mud. But now, a different approach is on the rise.
'What's becoming more common is a model where everything is scientifically calibrated,' says Amy Larocca, author of the recent book How to Be Well: Navigating Our Self-Care Epidemic, One Dubious Cure at a Time, a skeptic's take on wellness culture in the United States.
On a visit to the Manhattan health club Remedy Place, Larocca noticed treatments ranging from oxygen-rich hyperbaric chambers to clamshell-like light beds glowing red. 'It's a sort of high-tech experience, one that infiltrates the world of biohacking into the world of spas,' she says.
Now, such space-age wellness treatments are also appearing at hotels around the world, where guests can schedule treatments like robotic massage, intravenous nutrient drips, and cryotherapy facials.
'We're seeing more guests turn to technology as a tool for self-care,' says Ara Patterson, the vice president of food, beverage, spa at Equinox Hotels, whose New York City spa is a leader in the high-tech wellness world. Even when tech doesn't replace traditional treatments, Patterson noted, it can be a powerful supplement. '[It's] the alchemy of high tech and high touch,' she says.
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While some wellness treatments—high-tech or otherwise—can be fun and relaxing, Anne Chapas, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, and a fellow at the American Academy of Dermatology, says it's important to be cautious. Take marketing language with a grain of salt, Chapas says, keeping in mind that some claims of benefits may not be vetted. And, be realistic about results.
'If you want something transformative, wait until you get home and meet with someone who's going to work with you in the long term,' she says. Chapas also suggests steering clear of anything that could negatively impact your trip. 'If you do any chemical peels, or things that are going to make your skin more sensitive, then you really shouldn't do that on a sunny vacation,' she says.
Curious to try one of the space-age treatments trending around the world? Here's how five hotels around the world are merging wellness with tech. Equinox Hotel New York, New York The red light sauna at the Equinox Hotel in New York City. Photograph by Joyce Wang, Equinox Hotel
The tech: Temperature therapy
Perhaps it's no surprise a hotel founded by a luxury fitness brand puts the focus on fine-tuning the body and mind. And while spa visitors at Equinox Hotel New York can get traditional treatments—such as a deep-tissue massage—the hotel specializes in more innovative offerings, like intravenous drips and polynucleotide skin treatments derived from the DNA of salmon.
'Technology allows us to deliver results-driven experiences,' says Patterson, highlighting the spa's 'temperature therapy' circuit designed to invigorate with contrasting heat and cold. Cryotherapy sessions deliver a short-but-intense blast of frigid temperatures, while the spa's MLX i3Dome promises 'detoxification' through infrared light that gradually raises body temperature. Euphoria Retreat, Greece
The tech: Cellular repair nanotech
Don't be fooled by the spectacular forested backdrop of this wellness resort in Greece's Peloponnese Islands. Guests here come not just for nature, but also for access to high-tech wellness interventions, like NanoVi, a device that purports to repair cells and slow aging.
Attendees at this summer's Wellbeing Festival can try the tech, along with red-light therapy and metabolic testing analyzing your body's oxygen and calorie use. 'Biohacking is just finding technological or scientific ways to help the organism function,' says Euphoria Retreat founder Marina Efraimoglou, of the approach.
The rest of the year, the retreat offers themed programs interweaving tech and tradition. At Immunity Reset retreats, for example, travelers might follow acupuncture—an ancient, UNESCO-recognized practice originating in China—with ozone therapy, intravenous treatment, and scans intended to detect heavy metals and minerals. They might not be as different as they seem, says Efraimoglou: 'Acupuncture is technology, too."
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The tech: Binaural sound healing
'Binaural beats' channel different sound frequencies into each ear, with possible benefits that range from anxiety reduction to cognitive enhancement. It's one reason binaural beats are part of sound healing treatments at a growing number of spas—including many Six Senses properties around the world.
'Certain sounds activate the parasympathetic nervous system—the part of the body that regulates rest,' says Mark Sands, the Six Senses vice president of wellness. 'Introducing sound in the right way can be an additional tool for overcoming stress and anxiety.'
At the Six Senses Douro Valley, for example, travelers can try floating sound therapy pool sessions along with a binaural beats listening session in the spa's 'biohacking recovery lounge,' a center for tech-assisted wellness that also features infrared treatments, oxygen deprivation, and vibrating back wraps. Grande Lakes Orlando, Florida The robotic massage at Grand Lakes Orlando is designed to mimic human touch. Photograph Courtesy of Aescape
The tech: Robotic massage
Some travelers love the soothing touch of a massage—others, not so much. 'People may not feel comfortable working with a traditional masseuse,' says Tony Angel, spa director at The Ritz-Carlton Spa at Grande Lakes Orlando, which has partnered with tech company Aescape to offer robotic massages on tables equipped with jointed 'arms' guided by sensors.
With a surface temperature set to that of human skin, the Aescape machine is designed to mimic a wide range of touch, ranging from the sharp pressure of an elbow to the gentler feel of a cupped hand. Angel explained that guests can adjust settings to tweak everything from music to massage intensity and area of focus. 'The guest is in full control,' he says.
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The tech: Plant biorhythms Devices, like PlantWave, attach sensors to plant leaves and turn their biorhythms into music. Photograph by Ashwani Sarda, Getty Images
Spending time around plants has powerful wellness benefits for body and mind, research shows. And in recent years, scientists have been tapping into plant 'biorhythms' to see what humans can learn by eavesdropping on growing things—like pioneering company PlantWave, which designs sensors that convert plants' electrical activity into sound.
At Salishan Coastal Lodge, on the shores of Oregon's Siletz Bay, travelers can tap into that natural music by staying in the Plant Listening Suite, letting a collection of native plants wired with PlantWave technology set the soundtrack for meditative wellness stays. Jen Rose Smith is a Vermont-based writer covering adventure, sustainability, and culture—she's reported stories from six continents and in places spanning the Sinai Desert and Bolivian Andes. Her work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Afar, CNN, and other outlets.