Modified Anteros (Yes, that Statue in Picadilly) Isometric Hold.

What exercises do I do to maintain a healthy back?

This is one exercise that I learnt from a Bowspring yoga practitioner in Barbados and is one of my day go-tos to manage my low back - I don't have pain with it now, or at least rarely (likely by doing something that aggravates it), due in no small part to the intervention of two brilliant and lovely people: Christy Punnett, the Bowspring instructor; and the holistic osteopath, Kaya Cole, who intervened, put me on the right track and introduced me to Christy, so many thanks to them both - forever grateful that you gave me solutions for my low back pain after years of being passed around.

This particular exercise is pretty difficult to explain in text as there's a good few parts to it, though it did make me think of the Anteros statue (most people including myself think it's of Eros, not his twin brother) in Picadilly and it's probably an image you can easily bring to mind.

The best way to achieve this posture correctly as is the case with most postures or exercises is by precise coaching, so I would recommend we talk and I coach you through it for a few sessions, so that you get it engrained correctly.

As with all exercise, the details are important - in this isometric toning pose and whilst being on one bent leg and the other also bent behind, keep your standing foot flat to the floor for balance. I mention this as many of our other positions I recommend keeping your heels off the floor to better engage your calf and hamstrings, but not in this one.

I should point out you don't have to carry a bow - you place the opposite hand on the standing knee to provide extra stability, reaching the other arm (same side as the standing leg) up to the sky. Hold the position for 7-8 seconds. Change legs. Repeat 3-4 times.

As always we're looking to build endurance not strength, though I haven't had any challenges extending the length of the hold on each leg for much longer periods than 7-8 seconds, whilst this remains a good place to start.

As with every exercise, remove it if it aggravates your back or causes any pain.

Please do not try exercises in the images provided or those described anywhere on this website without first completing your PAR-Q and Client Screening Questionnaire to ensure you don't have any 'red flags', we have confirmed that you are able to engage in an exercise programme and that we can ensure that any exercises are appropriate for you and your technique is correct.

We look forward to hearing from you, discussing the specific low back pain you are experiencing and designing an exercise programme that aims to alleviate your discomfort and enables you to manage your low back condition with confidence.

A better back = a better you.

Please email me at ben@lowbackpainmanagement.co.uk or call me on 07566 215510.

With thanks and kind regards,

Ben

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