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    Meet Anji Gopal
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    Meet Anji Gopal

    Anji Gopal is an osteopath and yoga teacher who has spent a decade helping people with back pain in hospitals, clinics and studios. Anji runs her own clinic in London...
    Apr 29, 2025 Yogamatters

    Anji Gopal is an osteopath and yoga teacher who has spent a decade helping people with back pain in hospitals, clinics and studios. Anji runs her own clinic in London and ran an innovative course using Yoga as a treatment for chronic low back pain in the NHS for 7 years from 2016 to 2023.

    Tell us a bit about yourself…

    Anji Gopal, BackCare Expert. I’m an osteopath & yoga teacher and I bring together all my skills to help my students & patients get out of pain. My area of specialty is chronic low back pain.

    What does a typical day look like for you?

    It’s busy! I have my own clinics in West London & Central London, work in the NHS one day a week, teach Yoga at London’s Triyoga, Life Centre & Mission and also train other therapists in Yoga for BackCare. So I spend time with patients & students – as well as my two teenage sons & the dog

    How did your yoga journey begin and what inspired you to become a yoga teacher?

    After University (my first degree is in Econometrics!) I worked for Barclays for 16 years in a high pressure job.
    When my first son was born, I wanted to spend more time with him and in my spare time, trained at Triyoga – not intending to teach but just to learn. I had practiced Yoga since being a teen and more latterly as a stress-reliever whilst in a demanding role.

    The teacher training made me realise that I was interested in the body and working in a different way, so I spent 5 years training to be an Osteopath.

    Soon after graduating, I found that much of what I was sharing with my patients came from my yoga knowledge – how to move, how to breathe, how to find comfort whilst in discomfort.
    A year after graduating I opened my own clinic and also began work in the NHS with patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

    In 2016 I trialled a yoga-based programme in the NHS for CLBP. A multi-faceted yoga practice (movement, breath, relaxation, philosophy) can target many of the causes and symptoms of back pain. This programme has been running since that time.

    So it’s been a long journey to be a teacher – and I feel strongly that I’m still more a student. There is always more to learn!

    What inspired you to specialize in your practice?

    Bringing together my knowledge of the body, osteopathy & pain with my yoga knowledge has been transformational – for me & for my patients & students.

    I teach Yoga for BackCare around the country to students, patients & teachers. In lockdown , I wrote a course that is now the British Wheel of Yoga’s accredited training for Yoga teachers – so they can share this important work.

    So – Yoga? It gives us a huge range of practices to help us live the best life in the body that we have – right here and right now – whatever age or stage we happen to be. My clinic is called ‘FindingHealth’ and that’s what I feel yoga is for.

    How have you seen yoga benefit your students?

    Yoga for backcare can be transformational practices. We learn to understand our own selves – physical, emotional, spiritual, social – and how these influence our health. My clinic is called ‘FindingHealth’ and this is what I seek my yoga teacher to embody – How can I help YOU Find Health in the body & mind that you have now.

    What is your favorite quote or life motto?

    Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured & endure what cannot be cured – BKS Iyengar

    Live like you will die tomorrow, learn like you will live forever – Mahatma Gandhi

    What is coming up for you in 2025?

    Wow, where to start? 2025 is a continuation of the 2020s – with challenges coming at us from all domains – personal, societal, international.

    It really feels like we need a rest, but the Universe has other plans!

    Over the last few years I have found that the practice of Yoga (in all its aspects – physical, emotional, and especially spiritual) has been my support. And this in turn, allows me to support others.

    So every time I find my own practice waning, I have to get back to basics and sit, move, breathe and study. The Universe has also sent me wonderful teachers and teachings when I’ve needed them, so I need to accept I can’t fix everything and be open to learning and taking things slow too!

    Find out more about Anji:

    Instagram: @theanjigopal

    Website: https://backcarefoundation.com/