Anji Gopal is an osteopath and yoga instructor who has spent a decade serving to individuals with again ache in hospitals, clinics and studios. Anji runs her personal clinic in London and ran an revolutionary course utilizing Yoga as a therapy for power low again ache within the NHS.
Inform us a bit about your self…
Anji Gopal, BackCare Knowledgeable. I’m an osteopath & yoga instructor and I deliver collectively all my expertise to assist my college students & sufferers get out of ache. My space of specialty is power low again ache.
What does a typical day appear like for you?
It’s busy! I’ve my very own clinics in West London & Central London, work within the NHS in the future every week, educate Yoga at London’s Triyoga, Life Centre & Mission and likewise practice different therapists in Yoga for BackCare. So I spend time with sufferers & college students – in addition to my two teenage sons, husband & the canine
How did your yoga journey start and what impressed you to develop into a yoga instructor?
After College (my first diploma is in Econometrics!) I labored for Barclays for 16 years in a excessive stress job.
When my first son was born, I needed to spend extra time with him and in my spare time, skilled at Triyoga – not intending to show however simply to be taught. I had practiced Yoga since being a teen and extra latterly as a stress-reliever while in a demanding function.
The instructor coaching made me realise that I used to be within the physique and dealing another way, so I spent 5 years coaching to be an Osteopath.
Quickly after graduating, I discovered that a lot of what I used to be sharing with my sufferers got here from my yoga data – methods to transfer, methods to breathe, methods to discover consolation while in discomfort.
A yr after graduating I opened my very own clinic and likewise started work within the NHS with sufferers with power low again ache (CLBP).
In 2016 I trialled a yoga-based programme within the NHS for CLBP. A multi-faceted yoga follow (motion, breath, rest, philosophy) can goal lots of the causes and signs of again ache. This programme has been operating since that point.
So it’s been an extended journey to be a instructor – and I really feel strongly that I’m nonetheless extra a pupil. There’s at all times extra to be taught!
What impressed you to specialise in your follow?
Bringing collectively my data of the physique, osteopathy & ache with my yoga data has been transformational – for me & for my sufferers & college students.
I educate Yoga for BackCare across the nation to college students, sufferers & lecturers. In lockdown , I wrote a course that’s now the British Wheel of Yoga’s accredited coaching for Yoga lecturers – to allow them to share this essential work.
So – Yoga? It offers us an enormous vary of practices to assist us stay the perfect life within the physique that now we have – proper right here and proper now – no matter age or stage we occur to be. My clinic is named ‘FindingHealth’ and that’s what I really feel yoga is for.
How have you ever seen yoga profit your college students?
Yoga for backcare may be transformational practices. We be taught to grasp our personal selves – bodily, emotional, non secular, social – and the way these affect our well being. My clinic is named ‘FindingHealth’ and that is what I search my yoga instructor to embody – How can I assist YOU Discover Well being within the physique & thoughts that you’ve got now.
What’s your favourite quote or life motto?
Yoga teaches us to remedy what needn’t be endured & endure what can’t be cured – BKS Iyengar
Reside like you’ll die tomorrow, be taught like you’ll stay without end – Mahatma Gandhi
Assumption is the mom of all F-Ups – possibly let’s not use this one haha
What’s developing for you in 2025?
Wow, the place to start out? 2025 is a continuation of the 2020s – with challenges coming at us from all domains – private, societal, worldwide.
It actually seems like we want a relaxation, however the Universe has different plans!
Over the previous couple of years I’ve discovered that the follow of Yoga (in all its facets – bodily, emotional, and particularly non secular) has been my assist. And this in flip, permits me to assist others.
So each time I discover my very own follow waning, I’ve to get again to fundamentals and sit, transfer, breathe and research. The Universe has additionally despatched me great lecturers and teachings after I’ve wanted them, so I would like to simply accept I can’t repair all the pieces and be open to studying and taking issues sluggish too!
Discover out extra about Anji:
Instagram: @backcarefoundation
Web site: https://backcarefoundation.com/