Relaxation has officially met innovation.This particular form of elevated self-care, Virtual Reality (VR) massages, is the newest and hippest variety on the market.
Say goodbye to traditionally suspicious scents and tastelessly decorated relaxation rooms in otherwise beige benign-ness. Rather, say hello to white sand beaches and the smoothly rolling waves of the Mediterranean with glowing rays of typical of a tropical getaway- straight from your headset. This sensation of virtual reality relaxation can be yours at select spas that are offering them.
By Gina Lopez
Select massage parlors employ the VR technology through products like the Oculus Rift – one of the most technologically advanced virtual reality systems that’s capable of immersing you in another world without the bulk of too many wires and uncomfortable equipment. Oculus Rift was developed by Oculus VR, a division of Facebook Inc. in March of last year.
According to Engadget the cost of featuring a VR massage on the menu at a salon is extremely expensive, and can cost upwards of a few thousand dollars. And unfortunately the technology to make the experience portable has not yet developed.
The IamVR site proclaims that the process begins by donning the sleek Oculus Rift headset with your preferred scene of relaxation (the beach is a common one). While simultaneously gearing up for the touch of a high end massage chair and accompanying virtual masseuse (in the gender of your preference) to fit the moment.
Virtual reality massage chairs can be purchased online from high end sporting goods stores in the ballpark of $5000.
The majority of locations offering the service exist in the urban areas of NY, CA and FL – but the procedure is slighted to pick up speed as the cost of acquiring the VR headsets levels out and becomes more attainable widespread.
Some of the discussed downsides of the chairs/ the experience as a whole is its limited nature (the virtual experience only lasts around 5 mins) and the somewhat mediocre nature of the massage chair, in comparison to that of a professional masseuse, leaves much to be desired. Despite the melancholy reviews, if offered the opportunity to try out some new innovative steps towards perfect pampering, it would be rather uncouth to deny!
-GL
