ACHING BACK? SORE NECK? TRY THIS ...

FOr A yoga class dedicated to easing aches and pains in the back and neck, look no further than Forrest Yoga. ALICe HArtDAvIS puts it to the test.

THOUGH it might sound as if it’s all about hanging out in the woods communing with nature, Forrest yoga (note the extra R) is nothing to do with trees, but is named after its American founder, Ana Forrest.

She took classic yoga poses and modified them to help deal with physical problems linked to modern life, and desk and car-bound lifestyles such as back pain, neck and shoulder issues and carpal tunnel syndrome.

As a result there’s a strong focus on core strength (good core stability means less pressure on the back), by building up tummy muscles to support the spine and the rest of the body, along with improving flexibility.

Every class starts with tough core exercises, with lots of stomach crunches. Ana also insists you relax your neck wherever possible.

In the traditional Triangle Pose for instance (pictured), you stand with arms and legs stretched wide apart. You then slowly bend sideways, lowering one arm to the shin on the same side, and reaching the other arm upwards. Most styles of yoga encourage you to keep your head in alignment with your spine; in Forrest, you just let it drop, which is very relaxing.

In contrast to more traditional yoga, poses are held long enough for stances that normally feel comfortable to feel challenging. Classes are held at between 25- 0c — warm enough to ease creaky joints and make muscles more pliable.

The trick is to breathe properly — Forrest teachers insist on deep, strong breathing throughout. And I find the poses and breathing amazing at clearing my mind.

On a good day now, I can crack out handstands and difficult arm balances — which I would never have thought possible five years ago.