The Shiftwave Pro, A $10k Recovery Chair, Brings High-tech Calm To High-performers

Shiftwave’s iPad-powered recovery chair combines vibration, breathwork and sensory immersion to help athletes and everyday users

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In the crowded wellness market, trackers and metrics dominate. Shiftwave, a Santa Barbara-based human performance company, is trying to focus more on helping users feel better in the present.

Its newest release, the Shiftwave Pro, is an iPad-powered recovery chair that helps the body physically unwind using synchronized vibration, breath pacing and sensory immersion. Using the chair feels like a nervous system reset, perfect for those operating under pressure.

Unlike meditation apps that require focus or wearables that track stress after it happens, Shiftwave uses what its founders call a “body-up” approach. The system combines evidence-informed practices like whole-body vibration, guided breathwork and rhythmic light and sound to help calm the autonomic nervous system and restore physiological balance. Users recline, start a guided session and let the chair’s rhythmic wave pattern synchronize with their breath. Within minutes, muscles release tension, breathing deepens and mental clarity returns, according to Shiftwave.

“We built Shiftwave to help people feel and function better in high-pressure environments,” said CEO and co-founder Mike North, PhD. “The same practical principles that support operators and elite performers—breathwork, rhythmic stimulation and sensory focus—are just as relevant for anyone navigating a demanding day. This is about restoring rhythm in a way you can feel, not just think about.”

Shiftwave Pro integrates this science into a consumer-ready format. Through an iPad interface, users can access over 50 guided protocols designed for focus, activation or recovery, complete with real-time heart rate and oxygen readouts. Each program is tailored around natural daily rhythms, from morning alertness to post-work decompression. The chair fits into home gyms, clinics and corporate wellness spaces.

Shiftwave is currently used across the NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, PGA/LIV, UFC and U.S. military, where it supports stress recovery, mental focus and sleep optimization. Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who has also invested in the company, says the system is part of his daily routine.

“Meditation is my anchor every morning,” McCarthy said. “And then I hop on Shiftwave before practice. It centers me and locks in my focus.”

Beyond sports, Shiftwave’s reach now extends to humanitarian and clinical settings, including over 20 mental health centers in Ukraine through its “Returning” network partnership. The initiative aims to make non-invasive, evidence-based recovery tools more widely accessible for people experiencing chronic stress and trauma. Functional medicine expert Dr. Frank Lipman also uses the chair to strengthen his nervous system.

Shiftwave Pro retails for $9,950, includes a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and one-year ShiftCare warranty, and qualifies for HSA/FSA purchase. It’s currently available at shiftwave.co.

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