Meet Dominique Antiglio: Empowering Londoners Through Sophrology

An instant calm washes over you when you meet Dominique Antiglio. She is one of the UK’s leading ladies in the field of Sophrology, and is determined to see this intuitive and transformational therapy continue to find its way into the hands of stressed and anxious Brits.

Despite its relatively unsung name, Sophrology is well known and widely practiced in many European countries as a dynamic relaxation technique which leads to greater feelings of calm, happiness and being in control. Since establishing herself in South Molton Street’s Well Being Centre, in the heart of London, Dominique has witnessed a growing need for the therapy here in the UK.

“Sophrology is for everyone,” says Dominique. “Using the body-mind connection, it allows you to tune into a greater focus and gain more clarity in your daily life, to help you achieve your goals – using a series of simple and adaptable techniques.”

The method integrates unique breathing and relaxation techniques that bring together physical movement and a mental thought process. In time and with practice, Sophrology allows you to be mentally transported with a beautifully fluidity. Whilst similar to a guided meditation, Dominique says that Sophrology is about acting a little more with consciousness.

“You feel something and then you react to it, like feeling a tension in the body and then using a breath or movement to release it,” she says. “But first, we might start with a conversation.”

“I’m working with people who want to say a lot, and some who don’t want to say anything at all. Which, in Sophrology, is fine – because in a way, even if they wouldn’t tell me anything at all about their lives, I would start to apply the method in a traditional way and know that things will begin to shift for them.”

That’s because, unlike other psychology-based therapies, Sophrology is not grounded in the analysis of thoughts. It is more about releasing conscious feelings. It might overcome stress, anger, anxiety, improve sleep and many other things.

“Then we start with the breath. A lot of people are stuck in their breath. We work towards improving it until it becomes more centred, less agitated, more confident,” she explains.

Where Sophrology goes beyond just the mindfulness of meditation, is in the second and third levels, where it introduces a dimension of future and past.

“In level two you learn to travel positively into the future and deal effectively with that in the present moment. In level three, we draw on your past in a positive way, using it as a resource in the present.”

As a therapeutic method, the result over time is growing your awareness as a person. “The whole point,” Dominique explains, “is to create a wider consciousness about yourself, enabling you to deal with pressure and challenging situations.”

It was Dominique’s own passion for the visualisation-based therapy, and the five Sophrology sessions that radically changed her life, that inspired her to establish BeSophro.

Particularly in the fast-paced chaos of urban living, the benefits are immense, and certain to be the next big solution for an increasingly stressed society.

Dominique Antiglio founded BeSophro as a way of introducing Sophrology to the UK, having trained and first practiced in her home country of Switzerland. She is also an Osteopath and Sound Therapist. Dominique offers one on one sessions, as well as group sessions; both equally as effective as an introduction to Sophrology. 

Group sessions have resumed for 2015 and there are now openings for February, with limited places. Dates and details on how to book can be found here. 

www.be-sophro.co.uk