These days, everyone's got back pain. In fact, that's the number one reason people go to their doctor! 80% of Americans experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. No surprise really, since we spend much of our time sitting - at our desks, on our sofas, in our cars - or hunched over our cellphones. Poor posture is definitely to blame. And you might be surprised to know that it also affects how you feel. Growing up, Dr. Krista Burns wanted nothing more than to be a professional skier. But a back injury put an end to that dream, and conventional treatment only made matters worse. She knew there had to be a way to heal herself. After obtaining her first doctorate, she designed a 3-component system to address back pain. Through spinal alignment, posture rehabilitation and posture habit re-education, she freed herself from the chronic pain she had been experiencing for years. Since then, she has been determined to help people prevent and overcome back problems. Dr. Krista is now a certified chiropractic doctor, inspiring public speaker, and published author. She's co-founded the American Posture Institute, where she and her team train healthcare providers to teach their patients proper posture. She's also the brains behind www.posturearchetype.com, check out the website and take the free assessment to check your own posture archetype and receive a postural transformation solution designed specifically for you. How you stand affects your mood How you stand directly impacts how you feel. Similarly, how you feel directly impacts how you stand. When you feel depressed, you hunch your shoulders, cross your arms, hold your head low. When you feel uplifted, you stand straight, shoulders back, head held high. But at any moment you can choose to feel uplifted, or choose to feel depressed. By changing your posture, you can achieve a new emotional state. This fact is supported by science. Studies have shown that people with poor posture are more likely to experience negative moods and be self-critical. In the same way, people with good posture are happier, feel more confident, have a positive body image. You have the power to change your mood, simply by changing how you hold your body. Dr. Krista's tips to get relief from back pain: Get to the root cause of your pain (take the archetype assessment) Move the area where you feel pain Strengthen your core - it will help support your spine and maintain postural alignment Bring your cellphone or laptop up to eye level so you're not constantly looking down in a slumped posture. Avoid tech-neck! Create an active workspace. Standing desk, active sitting (like sitting on an exercise ball or posture cushion). Take frequent posture breaks; get up and stretch. Use a posture reminder - this will help you create long lasting back-friendly habits. Have a postural evaluation every year, just like you'd have a health check. Eco Vegan Gal Whitney Lauritsen's tips to go vegan: You don't need to be perfect. Allow yourself time to transition. Don't be afraid of what other people think. There's a lot to learn about veganism; it's harder than going vegetarian. Give yourself the resources (podcasts, documentaries, blogs, etc.) to make it easier to transition. Add more plants to your diet; we've got some great tips for this coming up in Episode 204 with Vegan Bros! Reach out to a vegan community. www.ecoveganpal.com is a great resource and supportive plant-based network. Replace non-vegan foods you love with delicious plant-based versions. Shop online if there are no options near you: www.happycow.com, www.veganessentials.com, and www.thrivemarket.com are good places to start. Make your own delicious vegan food by getting inspiration online. Try the Plan to Eat app to find recipes, meal plans and shopping lists. Check out Whitney's book Healthy Organic Vegan on a Budget: www.veganebook.com Gorgeous for Good Weekend Intensive in LA on June 9th & 10th If you can't join us in Italy, then you simply must go to Sophie Uliano's Gorgeous for Good Weekend Intensive in LA on June 9th & 10th. It is going to be lifechanging. I've been to her retreats in Palm Springs and I guarantee it will be an unforgettable event. You will leave with the tools to completely transform your health. For 2 days, you will be supported by Sophie's tribe of wellness warriors, hormone educators, doctors, healers and mindful meditation teachers, so you can learn all the aspects of wellness you need to become gorgeous for good. This is a beautifully nourishing and supportive retreat, where you will be surrounded by like-minded women. You will make soul-connections that will last a lifetime. Life-changing workshops, plant-based food, mindful meditation, card readings, guided visualizations, beauty makeovers, innovative treatments, tons of learning… PLUS, you will walk away with an enormous swag bag worth over $1000, full of gorgeously green beauty products. Move fast and use the code FOODHEALS20 to get 20% off the ticket price. Being hailed as "Sex and the City for Food," The Food Heals Podcast brings together experts in the field of nutrition, health and healing to teach you the best-kept natural secrets to being a hotter, healthier, happier YOU! The Food Heals Podcast is hosted by Allison Melody and Suzy Hardy – two self-proclaimed natural chicks who will rock your world and change your beliefs about health! This sexy, savvy duo provides eco-friendly advice on a variety of issues including the healing power of nutrition, living authentically, turning your passion into your career, choosing the best natural health and beauty products, the benefits of a plant-based diet and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices