Introducing Anji Gopal ‘The Back Boss’ Who’s on a Mission to Get Bums Off Seats
Anji Gopal leads the workplace wellbeing revolution – one spine at a time.
With back pain now affecting over 40% of UK adults and hybrid working fuelling sedentary lifestyles, osteopath and back care expert Anji Gopal is calling time on deskbound days. Dubbed ‘The Back Boss’, Anji is helping corporates take control of their wellbeing in the workplace and showing professionals how to stay pain-free with realistic, seasonal hacks.
“Sedentary behaviour is the new smoking,” says Anji. “We’re simply not designed to sit still all day, but modern life, especially in office environments, often demands it. With a screen-based culture on the rise, over 9 million people in the UK are now classified as inactive, and I’m on a mission to get them moving, feeling better, and living pain-free.”
Corporate Back Care with Real Impact
While Anji still runs a busy clinic, her corporate training sessions are where she’s seeing the biggest shift. Designed for time-poor professionals, her one-hour workshops have been rolled out in companies like Nokia – supporting over 1,000 staff to move more, feel better and reduce stress. * See testimonials below.
Anji blends osteopathy, yoga-based movement and practical education to deliver workshops that are dynamic, empowering and fun. Her key audiences include desk-based employees, hybrid workers and mid-lifers juggling busy careers with limited time for self-care.
“My approach is solution-led and goal-oriented,” she explains. “I show teams how to build movement into their working day to ease tension, support posture and boost mental wellbeing. The results are instant and long lasting. I help people ‘get their backs back’.
Anji’s Summer Survival Hacks
In the lead up to summer, Anji shares a few top hacks for preventative back care, from those heading out into their gardens (a key cause of back pain this time of year), as well as some simple moves to implement in the office or at home.
Anji’s Top Tips For Happy Gardening
Warm up first with a few shoulder rolls and back stretches before heading outside
Alternate between weeding, potting and pruning every 20 mins
Use the right tools, such as long-handled, lightweight and ergonomic wherever possible. Invest in strong shoes, gloves and a kneeling cushion
Lift safely: bend at the knees and keep items close to the body. Change positions frequently to avoid prolonged strain
Longer term, raise your garden beds to reduce bending (18-24 inches is ideal) and consider container gardening at waist height
Finish with a stretch, warm shower and a well-earned G&T
Office Deskercise
What is ‘Intermittent Sitting’ - why going to the gym or out for a jog won’t offset the negative health effects of sitting all day
Boost leg circulation by flexing and pointing feet every 30 mins
Regular wrist and hand stretches can help combat mouse tension and typing strain
Reset your posture hourly: Sit tall, shoulders relaxed, and chin tucked
Better Back at Home
Load the dishwasher mindfully, with no twisting and lifting all at once
Use knees, not your spine when putting out the bins
Love to use the laptop in bed? Avoid it - your back will thank you
Excursion Essentials
Avoid the BLT: That’s Bend, Lift, Twist, in the car - it’s a recipe for disaster
Choose back-friendly shopping bags and footwear
Take regular breaks if driving long distances
A Trusted Voice in Back Care
With a background in both NHS and private practice, Anji brings together clinical osteopathy, Movement and lifestyle advice into an evidence-led approach. She’s fast becoming one of the UK’s leading voices on workplace wellbeing and preventative back care. Her signature approach is grounded in realism: no quick fixes, no fads, just sustainable, spine-friendly habits.
Her new online course, Your Back, Your Body, Your Way, is now available on Yoga Matters – an ideal entry point for anyone looking to take back control of their spinal health.
Anji is available for expert comment and interviews on topics including:
Daily hacks to keep you pain free this summer
The back pain epidemic and its impact on society and the economy
Movement and workplace wellbeing
Women’s health and midlife mobility
Desk culture, digital life and movement solutions
How physical pain affects stress, sleep and lifestyle
Managing Stress with Physical movements - how good mental health starts in your body
Prevention as the best form of treatment
WHY IS BACK PAIN SUCH A BIG PROBLEM?
To book a session, interview Anji or receive more top tips, please contact Indigo8: kath@indigoeight.com / zoe@indigoeight.com
Instagram - @theanjigopal
NOTES TO EDITORS
*Testimonials from Anji’s corporate clients:
Nokia:
“Working from home presents its own health challenges - both physical and mental. In April, over 1,000 of our employees joined a remote session on Global Working From Home Day. We partnered with Anji to design a mix of evidence-based knowledge bites, and practical quick fixes that people could immediately implement in their daily routines.
This was now the second time we organised a remote session with Anji, after popular demand from employees who experienced the first. Anji brings an engaging and dynamic presence to her remote work health workshops, immediately connecting with participants through her authentic approach, relatable examples and sense of humour. Her ability to explain complex health concepts in accessible ways, while infusing sessions with fun and interactive elements, keeps even the most screen-fatigued employees attentive and involved, as she gets us all out of our chairs and moving for most of the session
Combining deep expertise with genuine warmth, Anji creates an environment where wellness doesn't feel like another workplace obligation but rather an achievable and rewarding part of professional life.
Feedback on Anji’s sessions are always very positive – making this training an invaluable investment in our most important asset—our people, and their health”. Riddhima Kowley, Global Head of Well-being and DEI, NOKIA CNS
Single Homeless Project:
"We were delighted to have Anji deliver her ‘Listen to Your Body’ workshop as part of our recent staff conference. From start to finish, Anji was absolutely wonderful to work with - warm, professional and proactive. In the run-up to the event, we faced a few logistical uncertainties, particularly around final participant numbers, but Anji took it all in her stride. She was incredibly flexible, suggesting thoughtful solutions and adapting her plans without hesitation to make sure everything would run smoothly on the day.
The session itself was a real highlight. Staff shared overwhelmingly positive feedback and it was clear that Anji created a space where people felt safe, engaged and genuinely connected to the experience. We’d wholeheartedly recommend Anji to anyone looking to offer something meaningful, grounding and memorable for their team." Vicky Ames, Head of Communications, Single Homeless Project