I've been practicing massage therapy for almost 30 years. I'm aware, likely more than most, how important touch is. Social affective touch: the kind massage therapists offer ― the kind we get from a friendly hug or a compassionate hand on our shoulder ― has been shown to reduce feelings of social isolation. In our increasingly disconnected world, this kind of touch is becoming even more essential.
I am alone in a dimly lit room, splayed face down on a table. Megan Thee Stallion's Mamushi is bumping from a speaker, and on a large screen, two white circles roam up and down an outline of my body. Am I at an exclusive German sex club at 2am? Sadly, no. I am in a suburban shopping complex on a Tuesday afternoon, getting a massage from an Aescape robot.