Your Guide to Zero-Gravity Chairs—Plus, the Chicest Ones to Buy for Your Apartment

Everyone has their own way of relieving stress—pouring a big ol’ glass of merlot, buying tons of stuff you don’t actually need on Amazon, watching an entire season of Love Island in one sitting, etc.—but if you’re looking for an ~ergonomic~ solution to stress relief, then we’ve got just the thing for ya. Enter: zero-gravity chairs. Designed by NASA (because ofc), zero-gravity chairs are designed to mimic the position that astronauts are in during blast off to put the least amount of strain on their bodies, and no, you don’t need to be an astronaut (or Jeff Bezos) to own one.

“A zero-gravity chair places us in a position that allows our feet to be above our heart so that our body is fully supported in a neutral posture,” explains ergonomist Audrey Mitchell, COTA/L, CEAS, founder of Bloom Ergonomics. “I recommend these for people that spend most of their day upright and/or have lower-back pain—but they also have benefits for people with heart health issues.” Because gravity is constantly putting strain on our bodies, the best zero-gravity chairs work to relieve tension on the muscles, which is something e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e could use, IMO. “While in the chair, our feet and brain are at similar levels to our heart, which allows better circulation because oxygen moves more effortlessly throughout the body,” Mitchell adds. The result: easier, deeper breathing and reduced stress. (*Frank Costanza voice* Serenity now!!)

Here’s the problem: Most zero-gravity chairs are designed to look like the kind of fold-out lawn chairs parents sit in during their kids’ soccer games, which is...not always the vibe. And if you want something that doesn’t look like a piece of patio furniture for your living room, then you’re gonna have to shell out the big bucks—but it’ll be well, well worth it, promise. If you’re looking for a zero-gravity recliner that’ll help you lounge in style and won’t be a total eyesore in your home, then shop our top picks ahead.