Welcome to NHA Today, the official podcast of the National Health Association! 🌱

In this episode, guest host Cyd Nader speaks with chronic pain expert, educator, and author Eileen Kopsaftis who is a leader in movement science and founder of Have Lifelong Wellbeing.

Eileen has helped people eliminate pain, age well, and reclaim mobility for over 30 years. Her bestselling books, Pain Culprits and Aging Culprits, challenge common myths about the human body and uncover what really creates chronic pain, posture imbalances, and unnecessary physical decline.

In this powerful and practical discussion, Eileen shares:

• Why posture absolutely matters, adespite what some experts claim

• The surprising connection between posture, pain, and circulation

• Why poor ankle mobility is one of the biggest hidden drivers of pain

• How the thoracic spine is the "silent saboteur" of shoulder and back function

• How to assess your own posture at home (standing and lying down)

• What causes hunching, "Dowager's hump," and forward head posture

• Why aging decline is not inevitable

• How lifestyle, nutrition, and movement support healthy function long term

• What to do (and what not to do) to improve posture safely

Eileen also explains why braces often make posture worse, the role of whole food, plant-based nutrition in improving circulation, and simple daily habits to move better and feel better at any age.

Where to Find Eileen Kopsaftis

Website: https://havelifelongwellbeing.com YouTube: Have Lifelong Wellbeing Books: Pain Culprits, Aging Culprits

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome 01:00 Meet Eileen Kopsaftis 02:00 Does posture matter? Why experts disagree 03:00 The vanity factor & why posture affects confidence 05:00 Why people "shrink" with age (and why it's NOT aging) 07:00 Forward head posture: how 1 inch = 10 extra pounds of pressure 09:00 Can posture be corrected later in life? 11:00 Shoulder mobility, thoracic spine function & pain 13:00 Fall risk and center of gravity 15:00 The natural spinal curves and why they matter 17:00 Causes of excessive kyphosis 20:00 Degenerative disc disease and lumbar artery circulation 23:00 Ankle mobility: the most overlooked posture culprit 27:00 Workstation habits & standing desk tips 29:00 Why chair posture affects the whole spine 33:00 How the thoracic spine moves (type 1 & type 2 motion) 35:00 Exercises for ankle, hip & trunk function 38:00 Everything is connected 41:00 Posture self-assessment (standing & lying down) 48:00 What actually improves posture 49:00 The role of whole food, plant-based eating in pain and function 52:00 Why posture corrections must be individualized 55:00 How to work with Eileen 58:00 Final encouragement: aging doesn't equal decline

Links

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