The Myth of Wear and Tear
The costs associated with back pain burden the Swiss economy by approximately 7.5 billion francs annually. About 25% of all working-age adults suffer from neck or back pain at least once a year—that’s currently more than 660,000 people in Switzerland. And worldwide, 40–80% of adults develop back pain at some point in their lives.
Sources: Rückenreport | PMC | Springer | Wikipedia | BioMed Central
Numbers That Hurt
25%. One in four working-age adults suffers from musculoskeletal pain. These aren’t just whiners. They’re bricklayers, teachers, nurses, and computer scientists. People who are dedicated to their work—and pay for it with pain.
The Myth of Wear and Tear
Osteoarthritis, sciatica, herniated disc—it all sounds like a death sentence. Pain is the end of the line. Some people take early retirement. Others opt for surgery. But what if these are all just symptoms? And the cause lies somewhere else entirely?
The Misconception About Exercise
On TV, you see a medical researcher from the University of Zurich. He’s talking about a rehabilitation program designed to facilitate rapid reintegration. Patients with back pain are supposed to return to work as soon as possible. Good idea—but then you see the female bricklayer shoveling again with her pelvis tilted backward. You see the mechanic standing bent over again. Everything’s the same as before. With a doctor’s blessing.
Are they learning something new? No. They’re carrying on as before—exactly the way they were when they got sick.
The Back—A Masterpiece Without a Manual
- The back is not a weak point. It is a biomechanical marvel.
- It is flexible (vertebrae).
- Cushioned (intervertebral discs).
Stabilized (ligaments and muscles).
Strong (deep stabilizing muscles).
What it’s missing is the instruction manual. And you won’t get that from your doctor. Or from your pharmacist. You’ll get it from yourself—if you’re ready to discover your body’s intelligence.
Three Women, Three Stories
Ms. D., 49, had “exhausted all treatment options” after several spinal disc surgeries.
After two hours of CANTIENICA® bodywork:
“I got a taste of what it feels like to go through life free of pain and fear, standing tall and feeling light.”
Ms. T., 70, physical therapist, osteoarthritis of the cervical spine.
After just one session:
“For the first time in a long while, a day without any tightness in my legs. And in the evening, a pleasant soreness in my neck—right where it belongs.”
Ms. S., 21, as flexible as a cane, plagued by diagnoses such as lordosis, kyphosis, scoliosis, and Scheuermann’s disease.
The surgeon recommended spinal fusion. During her session with Benita Cantieni, Ms. S. worked on her coccyx and diaphragm. There was something there—a fall while diving from a tower when she was nine years old. No one took it seriously. But today it’s clear: the pain has a history. And there is a way out.
Your attitude shapes your life
Your back isn’t broken.
- He’s overwhelmed.
- Incorrectly loaded.
- Misunderstood.
- Human beings are not flawed creations.
- Gravity is not a punishment.
- Aging is not a disease
Posture immediately affects your metabolism
Thermographic images show that after just 10 minutes of anatomically correct posture, the body’s blood circulation visibly improves. Less blue, more red. More warmth. More life.
We wanted to know: How long does it take for the body to change in a certain posture to the point that these changes become visible using a thermal imaging camera? I stripped down to my underwear, spent 10 minutes in the cool room, and immersed myself in the trauma of my childhood, which was steeped in physical and emotional abuse. After just three minutes, I could already feel my spine tensing up, along with all my muscles and ligaments; I felt my ribcage twisting, my breath becoming shallow, my throat tightening, and, above all, my mood darkening.
On the left, I was lost in my worst memories. On the right, I was back in the present. A few minutes lie between the photographs.
Inspired by this, we carefully prepared a series of experiments designed to show that different postures can be assumed from a neutral physical skeletal alignment, and that these different postures can alter psychological sensations accordingly within a matter of minutes.
Reprogram Your Posture with the CANTIENICA® Method—Safely and with Lasting Results
- You’ll learn how to sit, stand, walk, carry things, and work—without wearing yourself out.
- You can feel how your body feels when everything is just right.
- You’ll experience what it means to feel at home within yourself.
The skeleton is optimally aligned and then anchored in the deep muscles. For your back, this means that your spine is consciously stretched between the pelvic floor muscles and the highest point on your head.
More space is created between the vertebrae, and the intervertebral discs are stretched. The pelvis and rib cage are optimally aligned with the spine. The pelvic floor muscles are connected to the lower back, hip muscles, abdomen, and thighs.
Your pelvis and joints “learn” the correct posture and movement according to vivatomy. You practice this new, back-friendly alignment until it becomes second nature—a new habit.
The CANTIENICA® back training program consistently works from the inside out. The so-called autochthonous musculature—a network of over 200 small muscles crisscrossing one another—is consciously aligned, strengthened, and made supple. This allows it to fulfill its vital role and protect your spine.
Each exercise is designed with therapeutic precision. The small movements designed to strengthen muscles are safe, gentle, and always three-dimensional. Optimal alignment relieves pressure on the joints; three-dimensional mobilization makes joints, tendons, fascia, and ligaments supple and allows for pain-free movement even in cases of severe osteoarthritis.
You can easily and discreetly do many of these exercises as part of your daily routine—in bed in the morning, at the breakfast table, at the office, while driving, while walking or standing, while brushing your teeth, while vacuuming—anywhere. This will help you quickly and permanently adopt your new posture. You’ll be able to practice your favorite sport with greater confidence, and strong back muscles will stabilize and energize you from head to toe.
The CANTIENICA® back training program can be carefully tailored to each individual’s body. Its vivatomic precision protects your vertebrae, the delicate structure of your pelvis, and your joints. CANTIENICA® back classes are intentionally kept small so that the certified instructor can provide you with individualized attention. Each exercise is adapted to your physical abilities and capabilities.
Back Health Workshops
You can find information about current workshops here:
"Strong Back" Workshop
with Luzia Meyer
Do you suffer from back pain, or would you like to strengthen your back in a targeted way? Then this workshop is just right for you!
Our experienced CANTIENICA® instructor, Luzia Meyer, will show you:
- How to relieve back pain for the long term.
- How to relieve tension and prevent discomfort.
- Exercises that stabilize your posture and strengthen your back muscles.
In a small group, you’ll learn about the unique principles of the CANTIENICA® method and experience the effects of the exercises firsthand.
Who is it for?
The workshop is ideal for beginners and experienced participants—anyone who wants to do something good for their back.
Secure your spot now!
The number of participants is limited.
We look forward to seeing you!
Sat, September 27, 2025, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Price: 210.– CHF (including VAT)
📍The workshop will take place at the studio on Schaffhauserplatz.
Scoliosis Workshop with Benita Cantieni
Over the past 28 years, Benita Cantieni has helped many people with scoliosis through private lessons to correct their body’s internal twisting and stabilize it.
This also applies to children and adolescents with scoliosis; they are particularly receptive and motivated to develop their own approach to managing their condition.
Drawing on these experiences, Benita Cantieni has designed a Zoom workshop where she helps courageous people find a way out of pain, out of the constriction of the corset, out of powerlessness, out of rigidity, out of fear, and out of a lack of hope.
The workshop will be held in two sessions
Day 1 Fri, Oct. 10 2025, 5:00–6:30 p.m.
Day 2 Sat, Oct. 11 2025, 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
, Day 3 Sun, Oct. 12 2025, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Day 4 Fri, Oct. 17 2025, 5:00–6:30 p.m.
, Day 5 Fri, Oct. 31 2025, 5:00–6:30 p.m.
The first 3 lessons are intentionally scheduled close together to promote learning while you sleep: Your body will store the new breathing techniques, stretches, and connections while you sleep.
You’ll be amazed at how much you’ll learn in just three nights.
After that, the process of integrating them into your daily life begins. Because that’s what matters most: turning these new patterns into new, healthy habits.
Two follow-up sessions a week apart reinforce what you’ve learned and round out the exercise program. A word of caution based on experience: This program is designed to challenge you—and it will.
Unwinding from the inside with CANTIENICA® Body in Evolution.
Workshop price: 720.– CHF (including VAT)
