Personal wellness services such as facials, massage and other spa therapies have reached a turning point. The Wall Street Journal recently emphasized this trend in a spotlight comparing an AI-powered robot massage to a traditional massage therapist. This underscores the evolving landscape of wellness. Advanced robotics, AI technology and machines are here to stay. These mechanical innovations play a feature role in an industry where empathetic touch has been the primary reason participants seek a personal reboot.

Many of us have felt the ramifications of “techno-stress” in our daily lives. It is now common to participate in a “digital detox” as a mental health action. When we turn to a wellness facility for relaxation, a prerequisite is delivering a quintessentially human service. No gadget can truly replace the effectiveness of human touch. The mother of all senses, touch is what we yearn for even in these technological times. From our beginnings, we are essentially wired to be touched, and today, many suffer from touch starvation.

When I was in my 20s, learning the nuances of the spa industry, I decided to attend massage school. This experience taught me more than how to massage. The knowledge of anatomy, somatic work, energy exchange and boundaries were key teachings. Taking an introductory massage class may expand our understanding of many subjects.

There is a place for technology to assist rather than replace. As consumers, we must ask these informed questions when scheduling wellness services. Beyond massages, facial services are now revealing protocols where most of the work is done by a machine. In a recent facial, I found the practitioner’s use of the machine omitted the facial massage and other sensory steps. As a consumer, communicating the requirement for touch more than tech to wellness facilities is a proactive way to ensure this will be noted.

The “chariot of touch” is a metaphor for our times. In the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita, the body is considered the chariot or the vehicle for how we process the world. The horses represent senses–like touch; the reins represent the mind; and the charioteer is the driver.

Our bodies are a vehicle we have been gifted to navigate this world. One key ingredient is the capacity for sensation through tactile connection. In a world racing towards digital advancement, let’s place heightened importance on touch and require this from our personal services. Touch is the thread stitching humanity together. Without human touch, we unravel.

Jennifer Di Francesco is a wellness explorer and desert adventurist and can be reached at www.coachellabellaboho.com.