Dominique Antiglio is a globally sought-after and highly acclaimed Sophrologist, best-selling author, renowned speaker, and founder of BeSophro, a London clinic and online Sophrology platform. She specialises in stress and sleep management, anxiety, self-development, and preparing for major life events, combining the practice of Sophrology with her in-depth therapeutic experience and broad understanding of health and the nervous system. Dominique is part of the ASICS team of experts for ‘Movement for Mind’ which incorporates Sophrology into their new movement-based programme to support mental health; she is also an international speaker, with clients including Amazon, ASICS, The World Economic Forum, The Guardian Masterclass and the UN and UK Government. She has regular appearances on podcasts and is frequently featured in the media.
Can you tell us a little about your background and the company?
In 2011, I came to London from Switzerland with one dream: making Sophrology available in English, to as many people as possible!
Sophrology is a stress-management and self-development practice combining breathing, relaxation, movement, and visualisation to balance your nervous system and unlock your full potential. It has been widely used for six decades in Continental Europe, supporting people with stress, sleep, anxiety and performance, reimbursed by Health Insurances in Switzerland and France, and used as a complementary approach in hospital settings to help patients deal with pain, prepare for birth or emotionally prepare for treatment such as chemotherapy.
Having hugely benefitted from the practice as a 15-year-old student, when I used it to help me deal with health issues stemming from stress, I couldn’t understand why Sophrology wasn’t available beyond Continental Europe.
How did the idea come to you for the company?
BeSophro was initially a private clinic in Central London, established to support individuals through stressful times. My role as a Sophrologist was to tailor the practice of Sophrology for busy CEO’s, Mums-to-Be, Athletes or Students, helping them to manage stress, reach their goals and unlock new possibilities through practising Sophrology.
It was a natural step after practising for so many years myself, training with the Founder of Sophrology, and having been a Qualified Osteopath for many years running my family practice in Switzerland.
How did you achieve awareness?
The first time I started to realise that Sophrology was growing beyond my practice’s walls, was when a publisher approached me and offered me the opportunity to write a book. The Life Changing Power of Sophrology become the first widely published book on Sophrology. It also became a bestseller.
People started to contact me from all around the word, wanting to practice Sophrology to help them in their daily lives, so I decided to create a series of online courses around the topic of stress, sleep, reaching your goals, and finding your purpose. By making it so much more accessible, thousands of people have since started to practice Sophrology.
How have you been able to gain funding and grow?
Thanks to the support of our clients and the increasing number of people who wish to practice Sophrology, we are fortunate to have grown organically to this point.
What are the key successes?
My book The Life Changing Power of Sophrology becoming a bestseller and seeing Sophrology reach more people through collaborations.
Sophrology is now part of ‘Movement for Mind’ – a simple programme developed by the sports brand ASICS to promote mindful outdoor movement, and one of the largest, independent, randomised control trials of its kind to show how it positively affects how we feel. Other collaborations include running a Sophrology programme for the UN work force, or combining Sophrology with nature activities in the Alps to support top political, business and science leaders in achieving more balance and perspective.
What were/are the challenges and how have you overcome these?
The main challenge – and one which is also our greatest asset – is to bring a new wellness practice to a market where there is already lot of noise, and to show how we are different.
The fact that Sophrology makes people instantly feel more in control of their stress, sleep, or anxiety when they practice, coupled with the possibility of taking the practice beyond stress-management and into a journey of self-discovery and creating more meaning into our daily life through clear steps really makes Sophrology unique.
What are your plans now/for the future?
We have exciting plans to continue expanding and making Sophrology available to more people. It is still early days but ask me again in a year and I hope I can share much more and see BeSophro expanding to help many more people!
What would you like to share with others to encourage them to start their own entrepreneurship journey?
Find your purpose and then make a start with one first step, even if it feels very small or daunting. Surround yourself with people that believe in you so that when you have moments where you lose faith, they can remind you of how far you have come and get you back on track.
Can you share your top tips for entrepreneurial success?
- Don’t be afraid to do mistakes or try new things – that’s how you become good at what you do
- Ask for help
- You will outgrow situations and collaborations; it is a sign of progress
- Cultivate other parts of yourself as they all help on your journey. You are not only an entrepreneur!
- It is ok to quit sometimes
Who are the 5 people who inspire you the most and why?
- My Great Grandfather Joseph who, despite having to flee because of war and starting his company several times over, ended up succeeding with his visions. It shows that everything is possible.
- The Sophrologist and mentor I met at 15, Gil. She forever changed my life by giving me precious tools to transform myself.
- Oprah Winfrey, for staying relevant, doing an incredible business trajectory and contributing to the awareness of so many important topics in our society.
- Maurice Béjart, a French dancer and choreographer whose modern ballet pieces enchanted me as a youngster in Switzerland.
- Every person or client who decides to take control of their life and do the inner work to live a happier life.
What are your favourite inspirational /motivational quotes?
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” Marcel Proust
What are your Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn social handles and also website links so our readers can connect with you?
https://www.instagram.com/besophrolondon/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominiqueantigliosophrologist/
