Esqapes Immersive Relaxation is a first-of-its-kind, VR augmented spa. Angeles Vista Creative Ventures, LLC combined beautifully crafted VR worlds with automation and traditional wellness practices. They accomplish this by pairing exotic virtual environments with extra sensory components including wind, heat and aromatherapy, all while receiving a full-body massage. Each Esqape environment is specifically designed to stimulate multiple senses with the goal of helping the mind and body to relax. Immersive Relaxation is a novel method of immersing users into a virtual environment, while ushering them into a heightened state of relaxation. Using this system taps into the key senses that people use to evaluate their surroundings (sight, sound, smell, touch) which in turn helps them to relax and feel comfortable.
Esqapes opened its doors in July, in the Miracle Mile area of Los Angeles. It’s unassuming office is located inside the Screen Actor’s Guild headquarters and is neighbored by the historic LaBrea Tar Pits, LACMA and the upcoming Motion Picture Academy Museum. It’s the perfect location for something so surreal! The founder and creator of Esqapes, Micah Jackson is a veteran in the interactive and gaming industry, with career stints at AOL, Yahoo Games and Disney. Prior to opening Esqapes, Micah quit his last “day job” working for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to pursue his interest in VR. Soon after, he was awarded funding for his first VR project, ‘Where Angels Meet’ through the prestigious Oculus Launchpad program. While working on ‘Where Angels Meet’ he soon became fascinated with the idea of creating exotic VR worlds with the simple goal of just sitting in them. This was the start of Esqapes and the idea of creating exotic virtual worlds to simply relax in. After convincing his wife to invest in a massage chair, he began developing the software and set up a prototype in his living room. After several months of fine-tuning the experience, he started his hunt for office spaces.
“The goal of Esqapes is to provide guests with a unique way to relax and take a break from the routines, responsibilities and daily issues that can cause anxiety and stress,” says Micah. “Esqapes is using VR in ways unlike any other company, which is to de-stress and help people relax. With a combination of proprietary software, and traditional wellness practices, Esqapes is offering the spa of the future, today!”
