Interview with Sophie Monitzer, founder of ALPrelax
Why Sojourn & ALPrelax fit together
At Sojourn, we believe that small rituals and conscious breaks in everyday life are crucial for strengthening body, mind, and soul. This is precisely where our values converge with those of ALPrelax, the first Austrian meditation app, founded by Sophie Monitzer.
Their mission: to make meditation and mindfulness accessible, practical, and sustainably effective. Together with ALPrelax, we want to inspire people to give themselves more moments of peace – especially in times of uncertainty and crisis.
From investment banker to founder of a meditation app
Sophie, you worked in finance for almost 20 years – how did you end up developing a meditation app?
I started my career in investment banking at JPMorgan in London. An 80-hour workweek was completely normal, and stress was my constant companion. After moving to East Tyrol a few years ago, I noticed that many people there are stressed, too—despite the completely different lifestyle. This showed me that stress often has less to do with workload and much more to do with our inner attitude. This was the trigger for me to focus intensively on stress management and mindset.
Insights into stress – curse or opportunity?
What were your most important insights from this?
First , stress isn't inherently bad. Short-term stress can even push us to our peak performance. However, it becomes problematic when stress becomes chronic—and this often happens due to emotional strain that we can't get rid of as quickly as a one-time deadline.
Second , our brains are biologically programmed to perceive the negative more strongly than the positive. This made sense from an evolutionary perspective, but today it leads us to lose ourselves in worry and block out the good things in life.
How can we remain calm despite global crises? The major challenges of our time—wars, the climate crisis, pandemics, rising prices—are real. As individuals, there's hardly anything we can do about it, is there?
That's true. But even if we can't change a situation, we always have the opportunity to decide how we respond to it. A feeling of powerlessness often leads to frustration or depression—but if we learn to focus on what we can influence, we regain some control.
Inner attitude instead of toxic positivity
That sounds a bit like "toxic positivity." How do you distance yourself from it?
It's not about sugarcoating reality, but about consciously shaping your own life. Instead of automatically looking for blame outside, we should ask ourselves: "What can I do in this moment to make myself feel better?" Even this small shift in mindset makes a big difference.
Those who practice this develop a sense of self-efficacy and realize: I can actively shape my life. This leads to greater satisfaction and inner peace.
The role of meditation – training for the mind
What role does meditation play in this?
Meditation helps us consciously practice shifting our perspectives. We learn to observe our thoughts instead of letting them carry us away. This allows us to recognize earlier when we're getting lost in negative thought patterns – and can take countermeasures. Meditation isn't a way to "switch off," but rather a tool for clarity, resilience, and calm.
Staying on track made easy – why breaks are not a luxury
Many people try meditation but find it difficult to stick with it. What advice do you have?
It takes time for something to become a habit – and yes, that requires some discipline. But the bigger problem is: we often don't even give ourselves permission to rest!
In our performance-oriented society, "doing nothing" is mistakenly considered laziness. Yet relaxation is not a luxury, but a basic need. Whether it's lying still for ten minutes or a guided meditation, the important thing is that we consciously take the time.
Mini exercises for more peace in everyday work
And what if you don’t have ten minutes to meditate at work?
Then even mini-breaks are enough! Consciously observing your breath for a minute immediately calms your nervous system.
Even small "islands of mindfulness" in everyday life help: consciously feeling the hot water in the shower, enjoying your coffee without distractions, or taking a short walk without your phone. Moments like these bring us back to the here and now.
What makes ALPrelax special
What makes ALPrelax different from other meditation apps?
ALPrelax is the first Austrian meditation app – and it's designed to feel like a personal companion. In addition to classic meditations, there are special formats such as walking meditations and the new PowerTalks. The goal is not only to calm down, but also to sustainably strengthen your mindset.
Your tip for stressful times
What advice do you give to people who are going through a particularly stressful time?
First , accept that challenges are a part of life.
Second , consciously take breaks, even if it’s just a one-minute breathing exercise.
Third : Keep asking yourself: “What can I do now to feel better?” – small steps often make the biggest difference.
Conclusion – Mindfulness as a basis for resilience
The conversation with Sophie shows that inner peace doesn't come from controlling external circumstances, but from a conscious attitude toward ourselves. Meditation, small rituals, and allowing ourselves to take a break are keys to building resilience and navigating crises with more calm.
This is exactly where ALPrelax and Sojourn complement each other perfectly: Both stand for small, everyday rituals that help us bring more peace and energy into our lives.
Gift for our readers
As a special thank you, we'll give you a free 14-day trial subscription to ALPrelax . Try the app at your leisure and discover how meditation and small moments of mindfulness can make your everyday life easier. How does it work?
- Click on this LINK and register with your email address.
- Download the ALPrelax app from the App Store (available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store)
- Relax & enjoy!
- And don't worry, you're not tied in after that. Your membership will be automatically canceled after 14 days.
For more inspiration and insights into small rituals for everyday life – feel free to follow us on Sojourn and ALPrelax .