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 modern course utilizing Yoga as a therapy for power low again ache within the NHS for 7 years from 2016 to 2023.
Inform us a bit about your self…
Anji Gopal, BackCare Professional. 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 at some point every week, educate Yoga at London’s Triyoga, Life Centre & Mission and in addition prepare different therapists in Yoga for BackCare. So I spend time with sufferers & college students – in addition to my two teenage sons & the canine
How did your yoga journey start and what impressed you to turn out to be a yoga instructor?
After College (my first diploma is in Econometrics!) I labored for Barclays for 16 years in a excessive strain 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 study. 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 otherwise, 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 – learn how to transfer, learn how to breathe, learn how to discover consolation while in discomfort.
A 12 months after graduating I opened my very own clinic and in addition 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 apply (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 scholar. There may be all the time extra to study!
What impressed you to specialise in your apply?
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 & academics. In lockdown , I wrote a course that’s now the British Wheel of Yoga’s accredited coaching for Yoga academics – to allow them to share this vital work.
So – Yoga? It provides us an enormous vary of practices to assist us dwell one of the best life within the physique that we’ve – proper right here and proper now – no matter age or stage we occur to be. My clinic is known as ‘FindingHealth’ and that’s what I really feel yoga is for.
How have you ever seen yoga profit your college students?
Yoga for backcare will be transformational practices. We study to know our personal selves – bodily, emotional, non secular, social – and the way these affect our well being. My clinic is known as ‘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 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, study like you’ll dwell perpetually – Mahatma Gandhi
What’s arising 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 appears like we’d like a relaxation, however the Universe has different plans!
Over the previous few years I’ve discovered that the apply of Yoga (in all its features – bodily, emotional, and particularly non secular) has been my help. And this in flip, permits me to help others.
So each time I discover my very own apply waning, I’ve to get again to fundamentals and sit, transfer, breathe and research. The Universe has additionally despatched me great academics and teachings after I’ve wanted them, so I would like to just accept I can’t repair every part and be open to studying and taking issues sluggish too!
Discover out extra about Anji:
Instagram: @theanjigopal
Web site: https://backcarefoundation.com/
