Exercise, gym workouts and a desire to keep fit can sometimes exacerbate an existing back problem, as I discovered when a client came for a Bowen treatment complaining she could no longer carry out some of her yoga poses.

She asked my advice on how to manage the pain without having to give up her much-loved yoga class, and here are some simple tips that might help others.

The first and most obvious step would be to discuss with your yoga teacher, Pilates instructor or personal trainer who may be able to suggest some gentle exercises to help support the back while avoiding any strenuous contortions! Reducing or limiting classes or daily workouts for a short time, can assist the body in better recovery.

My yoga client also found relief by bathing in Bexters Soda Crystals on alternate days to soothe aches and pains, while fluid can be drawn off from swollen joints by using the crystals with our applicator wrap.  At the same time, drinking plenty of water can flush out toxins that may have accumulated around sore or injured parts of the body.

A gentle-touch therapy like the Bowen Technique will help re-align muscles that may have or are about to spasm. Acupuncture or Shiatsu, based on traditional Eastern medicine where meridians carry an invisible energy throughout the body, may also help areas that feel blocked and painful. Some people benefit from using aromatherapy blended oils, pressed – rather than massaged – onto sore areas and applied daily until better.

Walking or swimming will likely have less impact on the back while still enabling you to keep mobile until the problem improves.  Nor should we forget the importance of ‘workout for the mind’ where mindfulness or creative visualisation can help adopt a positive attitude and re-focus on becoming well again.

It is accepted that back pain is the biggest single cause of absenteeism from work, a debilitating condition that can affect every aspect of daily life. Bowen is recognised as one of the most effective treatments for back and neck problems so there is no need to suffer in silence!