No need to undress, no need to explain where the knots are — the machine already knows. That’s the promise of Aescape, a fully automated massage system now in use at three Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa locations in Jacksonville.

“It’s called Aescape, a high-tech, touch-free wellness experience that performs a full-body massage while fully clothed,” said Desirée Stovall, regional manager for Hand & Stone in Jacksonville. “It helps customize the massage and adjust the pressure throughout the massage.”

The system officially launched locally on June 19 and is part of a pilot program testing interest at seven locations in Florida with the spa chain’s Atlantic Boulevard, Mandarin and St. Johns Town Center locations among the first to offer the experience.

Unlike traditional massage, Aescape is designed to remove some of the barriers that keep people from booking a session in the first place. Guests remain fully clothed and face down, they and can watch the system perform a body scan before the massage begins.

“It’s really unique because there is a body scan it does first that the client can see,” Stovall said. “Wherever the heated paddles are on the body, they can see on the figure. I get a lot of feedback that clients like to see when the machine finds knots and it shows you.”

The scan maps out the body and allows the machine to customize pressure and movements. Heated paddles then work across the body, automatically adjusting in response to the client’s tension points.

Sessions can be as short as a 10-minute “discovery mode” for first-time users or extend to 15, 30 or 50 minutes. Pricing runs between $1 and $1.25 per minute, making a half-hour service comparable to a budget massage at a traditional spa.

For Hand & Stone, adding the machine is less about replacing therapists and more about giving clients options. Some may use Aescape for maintenance between regular visits, while others may prefer it as a lower-barrier alternative to disrobing.

A screen welcome a client on Hand & Stone's new AI massage bot is called Aescape that performs an almost full-body massage while fully clothed, Monday September 8, 2025. The pilot launched June 19. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]

A screen welcome a client on Hand & Stone’s new AI massage bot is called Aescape that performs an almost full-body massage while fully clothed, Monday September 8, 2025. The pilot launched June 19. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]

Stovall said she’s heard positive feedback from the massage therapists that they enjoy using the machine between clients as well.

The spa chain is closely watching how Jacksonville responds to the service.

“We are piloting to see how the guests are enjoying it,” she said. “We’ve seen really great feedback about it. Guests are impressed with the technology. Some say they would only use it, and there are some that say it doesn’t replace their usual people.”

That split, she added, is exactly what the pilot is designed to test: whether clients view the automated experience as a novelty, a supplement or a full-on replacement for at least some of their massage needs.

By blending technology with personal wellness, Hand & Stone hopes to strike a balance that makes massage more approachable without undermining the value of human touch.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville among first cities to try new AI-powered massage at spas