TWO well-established yoga teachers in Stroud have teamed up to teach a unique evidence-based course specifically targeted at helping those with back pain.

Kim Brockett from Painswick and her friend Frankie Duggan from Stroud are starting their 12-week Yoga For Backs sessions in the first week of January.

The unique new course will be taught in Stroud and in Painswick on Tuesday evenings, Wednesday mornings and Friday lunchtimes.

Recent studies from researchers at York University found that after the course people suffering from long term lower back pain reported less discomfort and performed better physically than those offered conventional GP care.

Kim, 44, has been teaching different kinds of yoga for 15 years and currently runs seven different sessions in Painswick, Stroud and Sheepscombe.

“This is a wonderful course specifically targeted for people with back pain,” she said.

“We have both recently learnt the new clinically backed technique and can’t wait to start teaching.

“This will be a gentle course you learn simple yoga that targets back comfort brings about good posture and teaches you how to improve your back health now and maintain it in the future.

“It will be great for those who want to improve their posture and relaxation.”

Her friend Frankie Duggan is also a highly trained yoga teacher and runs a number of classes including classical hatha toga, meditation and yoga for women in booth Bristol and Stroud.

She added: “This type of yoga is taught as a 12 week course which is an evidence based course taken from on clinical trial that had incredible findings for those who took part.

“After the 12 week course research that was carried out with the University of York and the Arthritis foundation, found that those who had taken the course still felt the benefits from it after a year of starting the yoga course.

“The course is suitable for all levels and is taught to small groups or individuals it helps you to learn self-management skills to improve your health and your back pain with this yoga tool kit.”

The courses will be held on Tuesday from 6.30-8pm at The Painswick Centre.

The second will be held at a studio in Slad Road on Wednesdays from 9.30am till 10.45am.

The third class will be held at Stroud Yoga Space on Fridays from 12.30 till 2pm.

Studies found Yoga for Backs is 30 per cent more effective for chronic lower back pain than conventional care.

While improvements were most pronounced after three months, immediately after the yoga course, people who were assigned to the yoga group still had less pain a year after the start of the study.

Research was led by the University of York and funded by Arthritis Research UK.

Chief investigator professor David Torgerson said: “Specialist yoga can provide both short and long-term benefits to those suffering from chronic or recurrent back pain, without any serious side-effects.”

The full 12-week course will cost £175. For more information visit www.yogafrankie.co.uk/, www.yoginikim.co.uk and www.yogaforbacks.co.uk