We Tried Minnesota’s First Robotic Massage—Here’s How It Went - Minnesota Monthly

[Macy Harder]

Close your eyes and try to picture your ideal massage experience. Are you by yourself in a dimly lit room, fully clothed? Are there several music options and relaxing soundscapes to choose from? And can you easily increase or decrease the pressure with the push of a button? If this sounds like your dream scenario, Aescape might be for you.

New York City-based lifestyle robotics company Aescape is focused on redefining self-care as a consistent, accessible, and personalized experience—and with the help of cutting-edge technology, the company has created a robotic, AI-powered massage with the hopes of doing just that.

While the service was previously available in select locations, like New York and Los Angeles, Minnesotans can now experience Aescape for the first time at Life Time’s Chanhassen location—the club recently added the massage to its wealth of recovery tools and spa services.

When I was invited by Life Time to try out the new tech, I was immediately intrigued. Aescape markets itself as “The World’s Most Advanced Massage,” promising double the body work in half the time. Sign me up! Options range from quick 15-minute express massages to 60-minute sessions targeting specific areas. I opted to try out the 45-minute Power Flow, which hits most of the large muscle groups and starts at $90.

The massage area is located near the back of Life Time’s LifeSpa, a full-service spa and salon offering hair, skin, nails, and massage services (and you don’t have to be a club member to book an appointment). We headed back into the “White Magnolia” room and there it was—my masseuse for the day, a robotic contraption with two large “arms” standing at the ready.

Aescape Massage

Photo by Macy Harder


I was given the rundown by a LifeSpa team member and instructed to change into my Aerwear, a pair of high-compression leggings and a long-sleeve top intentionally designed to give the machine a smooth surface to glide over. The set is intended to act as a second skin, so consider sizing down to ensure a tight fit. Being able to stay fully clothed for the massage was a huge plus in my book—no awkward undressing, no messy oil, and no need to jump in the shower immediately after.

Then, I was alone with the robot. Clad in my grey spandex suit, I hit the dimmer for the overhead lights, climbed onto the table, and settled in for the experience. And yes, the whole thing does feel like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.

Here’s how it works: Once you’re laying face-down on the table, a tablet (the Aerview Interface) nestled within the armrest prompts you to adjust the position of the headrest, armrest, and bolster (ankle cushion) to your liking. Then, infrared sensors mounted above the table take a 3D scan of your body, generating over 1.1 million data points to create a digital model—this maps each user’s unique muscle structure and body contours for a personalized massage experience.

The “hands,” or Aerpoints, are designed to replicate seven touch techniques of a human massage therapist: the knuckle, thumb, cupped hand, blade of hand, palm, forearm, and elbow. Once the service begins, the Interface provides a tracking view of the Aerpoints’ movements on your digital body scan, and you can increase or decrease touch pressure at any time with a simple tap of the screen.

Aerview Interface

Courtesy of Aescape


I appreciated the ease at which you can customize most of the settings, which will likely be a major draw for many users. It can be uncomfortable to ask massage therapists to apply a little less pressure when it becomes too much to bear—but with Aescape, you can adjust the strength as many times as you wish without feeling confrontational. And if a certain technique isn’t to your liking, simply tap the “move on” option to advance to the next step.

Speaking of customization, the Interface also allows you to choose your preferred music genre or soundscape to listen to, and you can toggle between immersive visual settings and the body scan view. I settled on the “Sounds of Nature” playlist and flipped between relaxing visuals of waves and the rainforest.

Aerview Interface

Photo by Macy Harder


As the robotic arms descended upon my shoulders, the first thing I noticed was a relaxing warmth—a pleasant surprise, as I was expecting a cold, plastic touch. According to Aescape’s website, the Aerpoints are heated to 95 degrees to simulate a natural and soothing experience, which helped ease the first layer of tension from my muscles.

Then, the machine really got to work, digging deep into my shoulders and upper back before moving down through my lower back, glutes, and hamstrings. Its movements were precise, and thanks to the infrared scan, it knew exactly where to pinpoint the major muscle groups and avoid hitting my spine and other bones. It was fascinating to watch its movements on the Interface below—the fact that Aescape knows exactly where to go during each section of the massage, no matter the user’s height or body shape, is pretty incredible.

Depending on the session you book, you can feel the Aerpoints shifting between different techniques in each muscle group, from deep-tissue pressure to longer, energizing strokes. When there was a movement I particularly enjoyed (and there were many), I tapped the heart icon on the screen—before the session, I was told that Aescape will keep track of what you “like” and incorporate this feedback into your future sessions.

One of the downsides to opting for a robotic massage is that unlike a human, Aescape can’t determine where you are particularly tight or sore and give increased attention to those areas. While a massage therapist can often find hidden knots buried deep in our muscles and make sure to relieve the tension, Aescape sticks to its programmed movements. You also can’t flip over onto your back, unlike a traditional massage, leaving your chest, abdomen, and quads untreated. Still, I left the table feeling thoroughly relaxed and pleased with my experience, my muscles holding significantly less tension than when I walked in.

So, was it better than getting a massage from a human? Not really, but it’s not trying to be. Aescape isn’t meant to replace or draw users away from real massage therapists (LifeSpa itself has several other kinds of massage by certified, human practitioners to choose from). It’s meant to be a quick, accessible, and personalized wellness option to supplement the rest of your self-care routine—users can squeeze in a short session after the gym, before work, or anything in-between.

My takeaway? Aescape will be a great option for folks who are on-the-go, prefer to remain fully clothed during sessions, or simply want a moment of relaxation completely by themselves—you can’t really get those benefits and a great massage anywhere else.