Latest news with #Aescape
Boston Globe
18-07-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
The robots will massage you now
The just-opened Beacon Street spot uses a machine called the Aescape, which has been hailed as both the future of massage therapy and also a vexing reminder of how AI is coming for our jobs — even ones that rely on the most hands-on of interactions, human touch. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up For owner Derrick Young, the Aescape is an opportunity. Advertisement Young (as in Forever Young) has worked in public health in Boston for a decade and now runs a nonprofit, Derrick Young looked at the AI-enabled massage robot, called the Aescape, at Forever Young Spa in Boston. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff Enter the Aescape. The robotics company first launched its devices in some Equinox gyms last year and has raised some And, no, they don't envision a wave of spas staffed solely by robots, framing their machines more as an extra set of hands (arms?) as a 'complimentary tool' to support the human masseuse. Advertisement Lynne McNees, the president of trade group the International SPA Association, said she doesn't view Aescape as a threat, but rather a smart solution for the $22 billion industry, which is struggling to recruit enough licensed professionals to meet demand. As of 2024, McNees said, an iSPA industry report calculated a 17,760-person massage therapist shortage nationwide. And in surveys, 55 percent of customers indicated they're interested in incorporating cutting-edge technology alongside traditional treatments. 'The Aescape robotic massage is not going to ever replace the human touch,' she said. But 'spa owners and operators have had to get creative and put in touchless amenities to not turn people away.' Aescape rents its devices to vendors like Young for about $5,000 a month, but only if they also employ human therapists. Young sees his Aescape as 'a co-creator and a colleague,' and an option for potential customers who might be disinclined to seek out a massage from a stranger. 'So many people have told me that they don't like humans touching them, or taking off their clothes' for a treatment, he said. 'This is a great alternative for people who don't like traditional massage therapy.' It's also less expensive; an hourlong Aescape session is $150, while Forever Young's traditional, human, massages (if that's how we need to distinguish them now) start at $200 an hour. Advertisement Of course, I had to try it out. So what is it like? After a cup of tea upon arrival, customers are asked to disrobe, and then put on Aerwear — a body-hugging T-shirt and leggings that provide friction for the robot arms. Aerwear is not optional. 'Without it,' Aescape's website warns, 'the robotics will feel like rug burn.' The massage table itself is shaped like a lower-case 'i,' with robotic arms situated on either side, each with a half-dozen 'joints' allowing for a wide range of mobility. Like a traditional massage table, your face rests on a small circular pillow with an opening to breathe and see through. But here, a tablet that controls the robot is placed several inches from your face, allowing you to adjust the height of the pillows, the placement of the leg bolster, and ultimately the massage experience itself. A demonstration of the AI-enabled massage given by Aescape at Forever Young Spa. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff There's also a big red button that acts like an emergency brake, should the robot get too grabby. It's not unlike the abort button on a treadmill; indeed, the Aescape has the aesthetic of high-end fitness equipment. Once the attendant leaves the room, it's just you and the device. No small talk, no weird moment of tucking your naked body under a blanket and waiting for the door to reopen. There's no Ayurveda oil, warm stones, or eucalyptus-scented candles. Instead, there were two phone tripods, a phone camera remote, and lens-cleaning wipes, presumably for the influencers who have been early visitors to the spa. When you lie down on your belly, the device uses four cameras to create a full-body scan before the start of the treatment. On the screen in front of my face, an image of my backside appears, and a triangle of muscles on my right shoulder that seemed larger than the ones on my left. A good sign after weeks of right shoulder and neck pain, I thought as I hit the start button and held my breath. Advertisement The robot's first touch was warm, and felt like a series of purposeful footsteps down my back. I imagined an actual robot, not two disembodied arms, traversing down my backbone at a steady, methodical pace. I switched the screen before me to a video of a rainstorm soaking a forest. Calming music played as the robot arms danced along my shoulders and upper back. At first, the sensation felt familiar, a bit like a massage chair at a nail salon. Then the pressure changed, and for a moment, the robot's nubby nodes felt like fingertips pushing into a hollow between my shoulder blade and spine. It actually felt good. For a few minutes, the robot's arms twirled like an orchestra conductor's along my back and shoulders. The pressure was consistent, but the motions were unpredictable, and felt, with eyes closed, much like a real massage. When I toggled the tablet screen to the digital image of my back, and saw that there was a menu tracking the stages of the treatment. Two firefly-like circles, representing the robot's 'hands,' traversed my spine, glowing brighter as more pressure was applied. Watching the screen, it felt like a game to see where the flies would land next. It was time to see what this robot could do, and I upped the pressure. Advertisement As the robot's arms moved toward the small of my back, I wondered, for a quick moment, if its AI-enabled brain was wise enough not to completely squash me like a bug. Does anyone ever have to push that red button to avoid being pinned by these robotic arms? I wondered. But then my mind shifted and I realized that it had begun its massage of my butt. The massage moved steadily down my body — I'd signed up for a 45-minute treatment that involved glutes and hamstrings, so this wasn't a complete surprise — but by the time the robot arms began to reach my hamstrings a few minutes later, I was feeling the downside of not having a human in the loop. I wanted more work on my stiff shoulder, but there was no way to reprogram a massage once it has begun. You can skip through a part you don't like, but you can't pick where the massage goes next. The tablet lets you tap a heart to 'like' when the robot is getting you at the good spot, to help program future massages. But on this day, there was no verbal feedback loop, no way to have the machine focus on a given area (like my shoulder) unless you'd set it up ahead of time (Young said an upgrade to allow for such requests was installed this week). And despite Aescape's AI-enabled smarts, at this point at least, the body scan doesn't seem to inform any kind of diagnosis on what problem areas need more attention. Young acknowledges that the Aescape may not be for everyone. 'At the end of the day, there is something about he human touch that a robot just won't be able to meet,' Young said. 'At the same time, it allows us to cater to a different audience, those folks not comfortable with someone touching them.' Advertisement After 45 minutes, the robot arms began easing up, giving my back gentle pressure to reset my muscles. My shoulder begged for a few more nudges, but alas, the massage was literally out of my hands. The massage ended, the screen went dark, and the machine reminded me to sip some water. Out in the lobby, 'Forever Young' was again playing on the radio. 'Do you really want to live forever?' the song asked. If you do, maybe the Aescape will be there too. Janelle Nanos can be reached at
Mint
09-07-2025
- Mint
I pitted an AI robot massage against the real thing
The spa attendant ticked off a few instructions ahead of my 11:15 a.m. massage. Change into this wetsuit-like outfit. Pull your hair back. Hit the start button whenever you're ready. 'It'll do a couple onboarding things,'' she said, 'and then you're good to go.'' Onboarding? Was this a new-hire orientation or a hotel-spa appointment? I had signed up for a new robot massage at the W Scottsdale. The 241-room hotel in the city's downtown entertainment district recently added Aescape, an AI-powered machine touted as the next generation of massage. Robots aren't new to hotels. You've probably seen them cleaning, delivering room service or gliding through the lobby. Now they're coming for the spa. Aescape (the A is silent) has massage tables at a handful of hotels, including the Four Seasons Resort Orlando in Florida and the Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara, Calif. They are also popping up in other cities at fitness centers and day spas. There are no deepfake concerns with AI massages. You can see the massage table and the giant white arms with fat paws ready to pound your back. The question for spa guests: How does the robot compare to a professional spa massage therapist and is the value there? That's where your trusty travel columnist comes in. I tried both at the same W Hotel Away spa, 24 hours apart. The Aescape massage, 60 minutes, was $120. My 50-minute de-stress massage was $190, $228 with service charge. Both did the trick in their own ways. But let's just say Erik, my real massage therapist, doesn't have to worry about job security. Maybe you've plopped into one of those Sharper Image massage recliners or high-tech massage chairs at an airport lounge or mall. Get those images out of your head. The Aescape robot massage at the W was set up like a traditional spa appointment. There was a treatment room, table and background music. Except there's no massage therapist and you disrobe not to your undies but the tight-fitting loungewear Aescape provides. The company says it's designed to limit things getting bunched up during the automated massage. It also helps the robot read your body during body scans. (Mine told me my left foot was out of position at one point.) Customers start the massage face down on a wide massage table, peering through the traditional face pillow to an iPad-like screen below. 'Welcome, Dawn," mine said, and noted I was there for the 60-minute total back, glutes and hamstring massage. The device is the massage control center. It's where you adjust the pressure, pick the music, move on from a particular body part and heart any robot move you particularly like. I found this all pretty distracting. But that's probably because it was my first time and I was taking mental and voice notes for this column. (The company says there's a way to set it and forget it and simply enjoy the massage. It's called immerse mode.) I'll admit to taking a few deep breaths during the first minutes the robot was pressing deep into my back. Yes, I was thinking about the online comments from naysayers who feared getting crushed. The worries went away after I reduced the pressure level. The robot can't reach two areas that are most enjoyable for me, the head and neck. And, in this particular case, I had a wicked stiff neck that needed attention. So I was more than done with the back section 30 minutes in when the robot turned to my sore glutes and hamstrings. (You don't turn over on these massages, either; the entire time is spent face down.) The glutes-and-hamstring section was the best part of the massage. A bonus: I rocked out to AC/DC's 'Thunderstruck" as the robot worked out the kinks. You don't find that soundtrack diversity during traditional spa massages. I even turned up the pressure past the halfway mark. When it was done, I wouldn't say I was in that dreamy, postmassage haze—but I was more relaxed. Another plus: My hair wasn't a greasy mess and I didn't have to shower off any oils or lotions. I didn't even have to check out because it was prepaid through Aescape. Given the areas it doesn't reach, though, 60 minutes was too long for me, even on the company dime. And I don't think the value proposition is there, either. (Two young guests checking out spa treatments that same day asked if the robot massage was free!) An Aescape spokeswoman says the price includes extras like access to the hotel's popular pool. David Cronin, general manager of the W Scottsdale, said a comparison between traditional massages and a robot massage misses the point. The robot massage isn't designed to replace humans, he says. They are for people who maybe don't want the personal touch of a massage therapist or just need a 30-minute recovery after a hard workout. The shorter massages have been popular, he says, with guests and locals. He's a cyclist and says that's the sweet spot. For an extra 70 bucks plus tip, I'll take all the extras that came with my traditional massage. That one started with robe, slippers and a hand-delivered elixir made with three juices, spearmint tea and prickly pear syrup while I waited for my appointment. The biggest extra, of course: Erik. The hulking message therapist has worked at the W for three years. He won me over as soon as the clock started in treatment-room six. His hands and elbows dug into everything that hurt ('It's going to feel worse before it feels better,'' he warned early on) and the head and foot massages were the treats they always are. I was just a few doors down from the robot's home at the hotel, but miles away, mentally and physically. When time was up, Erik was waiting outside my door with a glass of cold water. The robot only asked me to rate the massage (4 out of 5) and simply told me to remove my belongings from the table to make way for the next guest. Write to Dawn Gilbertson at
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
iCRYO Co-Founder and CEO Named Finalist for Power Players Award, Invited to be Panelist at Athletech News Innovation Summit 2025
NEW YORK, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- iCRYO, a leading international longevity and wellness franchise, is proud to announce that its co-founder and CEO Kyle Jones has been named a finalist for Franchise Executive of the Year by Athletech News as part of its Power Players Awards. Jones will also be a featured panelist at the upcoming Athletech News Innovation Summit 2025, where award winners will be named and honored. The summit, which will take place at Center45 in New York City, NY, June 16-18th, is this year's premier gathering for executives, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry professionals across fitness, sports, wellness, and health. Attendees will hear from industry leaders, as well as explore emerging trends in performance science, cutting-edge technology, and consumer wellness behavior. The event is expected to draw thousands from across the US and the globe. Headlining the summit is renowned biohacker and wellness expert Gary Brecka, who will deliver a keynote address on bio-optimization and longevity. As a finalist for Franchise Executive of the Year, Jones joins a short list of elite company. Crunch Fitness' President Chequan Lewis, D1 Training's Chief Operating Officer Dan Murphy, Retro Fitness' Chief Operating Officer Todd Scartozzi, and The Picklr's Chief Development Officer Chris Walker are the four other finalists. Notable finalists across other categories under the Power Players Awards include Oura's CEO Tom Hale, Grüns' Founder & CEO Chad Janis, Function Health's Co-founder and CEO Jonathan Swerdlin, Whoop's Founder and CEO Will Ahmed, EGYM's Co-founder and CEO Philipp Roesch-Schlanderer, Othership's Co-founder and CEO Robbie Bent, and Aescape's Founder and CEO Eric Litman. "I'm honored and humbled to be part of the Athletech News Innovation Summit as both a Power Players Award finalist and a panelist," said Jones. "Regardless of who wins the award, being named in such company and being a panelist are honors enough. This event offers an incredible platform to collaborate with other leaders and pioneers in the space. I'm mostly eager to share how iCRYO continues to raise the bar as a global wellness brand." As a panelist, Jones will represent iCRYO in a discussion of "Revenue Growth Opportunities: Using Longevity to Increase Lifetime Value." He will round out a worldclass roster of leaders from Aescape, Tru Niagen, and One Hyperbaric. The panel, which will begin at 11:20 am on June 18th, will explore how new modalities and therapies not only play a vital role in making people healthier, but how they can also drive serious revenue for operators as services. While the other panelists represent product manufacturers, Jones is uniquely positioned to discuss how these services — and many others — can be stacked on top of each other to augment a wellness center's offering and enhance its appeal to new and returning guests alike. Jones' participation underscores iCRYO's prominence in the longevity industry and the recognition it has earned from its steady growth and innovative offering of wellness services. As a brand that continues to expand rapidly in both domestic and international markets, iCRYO is at the forefront of delivering premium cryotherapy, IV therapy, and other regenerative services to health-conscious guests. About iCRYO Founded in 2015, iCRYO's mission is to elevate the quality of life of its team members, guests, and franchisees by providing affordable, professional, and convenient personal health services while raising the standard as a global wellness brand. To learn more about its services, locations, and franchise opportunities, visit iCRYO Media Contact Robbie JenkinsDirector of View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE iCRYO Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
05-05-2025
- Forbes
Book A Robotic Massage At These Luxurious US Hotel Spas
In today's fast-paced world, luxury hotels are redefining relaxation by integrating cutting-edge technology into their spa offerings. Aescape, a pioneering robotic massage system, is at the forefront of this transformation, providing guests with personalized, AI-driven massage experiences. Here are six top hotels that have embraced Aescape treatments, offering unparalleled relaxation and innovation: Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort – Orlando, Florida Nestled within the enchanting Walt Disney World Resort, the Four Seasons Orlando offers guests a unique blend of magic and relaxation. The resort's spa features the Aescape robotic massage system, delivering fully customizable, technology-driven massage experiences. Guests can personalize every aspect of their session, from pressure and intensity to targeted muscle focus and ambiance. After a session, guests can enjoy the spa facilities — including a relaxation room, sauna, and steam room. Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore – Baltimore, Maryland Overlooking the scenic Inner Harbor, Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore combines urban luxury with innovative wellness. The hotel's spa has introduced Aescape's advanced massage therapies, allowing guests to tailor their treatments to specific areas such as the lower back, glutes, and hamstrings. Sessions range from 30 to 60 minutes, offering flexibility for both travelers and locals seeking rejuvenation. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa – San Antonio, Texas Set amidst the rolling hills of Texas, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa offers a serene escape with its Lantana Spa. Guests can experience the transformative Aescape massage, designed to provide ultimate relaxation and renewal. Kimpton EPIC Hotel – Miami, Florida In the heart of downtown Miami, the Kimpton EPIC Hotel's Privai Spa + Fitness has partnered with Aescape to offer on-demand, fully customizable robotic massages. Starting at $40 for 15-minute sessions, this accessible luxury caters to both busy professionals and leisure travelers seeking quick yet effective relaxation. The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes – Orlando, Florida Complementing its luxurious accommodations, The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes has embraced the Aescape robotic massage system within its spa offerings. Guests can indulge in this state-of-the-art treatment, which utilizes AI and 3D imaging to create personalized massage experiences, enhancing the resort's commitment to wellness and innovation. Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel – Worley, Idaho As the first in the Northwest United States to introduce Aescape, the Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel offers guests a personalized and private alternative to traditional massages. The Aescape system combines advanced AI technology with a human-centric design, delivering highly customized massage experiences that redefine relaxation and rejuvenation
Bloomberg
04-03-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
AI Massage Startup Raises $83 Million, Brings Robots to Equinox
The long, white, mechanical arms and sleek grey bed suggests a futuristic dentist's office — but the Aescape robot is designed to deliver a more relaxing experience. The unusual machine, now slated to be installed in 60 Equinox gym locations, is actually an artificial intelligence-powered robot that administers massages. The robot is the product of a New York-based startup called Aescape Inc. On Tuesday the company plans to announce that it raised $83 million in a new funding round led by Valor Equity Partners, in addition to its expanded partnership with Equinox. Other investors participating in the deal include NBA All-Star Kevin Love, Fifth Wall and Alumni Ventures.
