A lift mechanism for a reclining chair is provided. The lift mechanism can include a lock that prevents the seat from shifting from a reclining position into a seat-lift position without first shifting into an upright, closed position. The lock is shiftable between a locked position, where the chair is prevented from shifting into a seat-lift position and an unlocked position where the chair is permitted to shift into a seat-lift position. The lift mechanism can include an activator tube that can shift the lock between the unlocked and locked positions.