Founded in Dubai, Eclipse Wellbeing Hub & Yoga Studio is a holistic wellness destination integrating body and mind practices, internationally accredited teacher trainings, immersive retreats, and Ayurveda treatments. Eclipse combines authenticity, quality, and passion to deliver transformative wellness experiences, from aerial yoga and Vinyasa flow to meditation, Pilates, and Ayurveda therapies.
Leading this journey is Sofia Anastasiou, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, who has shaped Eclipse from concept to a premium education-led wellbeing brand. In this interview, Sofia shares insights into building a structured, scalable wellness platform, Eclipse’s approach to international franchising, and how the brand is expanding responsibly through accredited education, strong systems, and aligned partnerships.
How long have you been in your current position and what are your key responsibilities?
I have been the Co-Founder and Managing Partner for five years. I led Eclipse from concept to execution, building the business end-to-end as a premium, education-led wellbeing brand in the UAE. Today, with a strong leadership team, I focus on strategic growth, brand and education integrity, expansion planning, and identifying horizontal business opportunities that strengthen the platform. I ensure Eclipse remains scalable, disciplined, and aligned with its long-term vision.
Overall, how long have you been involved in franchising?
Eclipse is in the early stage of formal franchising, launching now after years of operational maturity. Personally, I have over 17 years of experience with franchise and multi-site systems in corporate sectors, supporting multinational brands. This shaped how Eclipse’s franchise framework is designed—with clear standards, centralized systems, and a model built to operate across markets.
What do you like most about your job?
I love building a premium wellness business that can outlive me without compromising standards. Eclipse brings structure, governance, and credibility to a fragmented, trend-driven industry. It’s fulfilling to create systems where people, teams, and the business outperform perceived limits through clarity, education, and structured operations. Seeing Eclipse evolve into a scalable platform that adds real value for students, members, teams, and investors is incredibly rewarding.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
The main challenge is holding a long-term vision in a fast-moving, competitive market. Trends shift quickly, and it’s easy to open studios or offer classes. The challenge is deliberately building Eclipse as an education-led wellbeing platform with depth, structure, and accountability rather than focusing on speed or visibility. Balancing daily commercial realities with long-term conviction while protecting quality and brand integrity is critical.
What is it like to work with franchisees from different countries and cultures?
Eclipse was designed to operate across markets and cultures as a system-led platform, not a lifestyle concept. Core standards and methodologies remain consistent, while execution is adapted thoughtfully to local cultural, regulatory, and market dynamics. This allows multi-unit partners to operate within a defined system that preserves the integrity of the practice while benefiting from local insights.
What is the main reason you are considering international franchising?
Franchising is a natural continuation of Eclipse’s original concept. It enables growth through local partners with operational strength and market understanding, allowing the brand to evolve purposefully across geographies while remaining aligned with its shared vision.
What is unique or special about your brand’s products and services?
Eclipse combines high-quality body and mind practices with structured education under one roof. Membership, teacher training programs, workshops, and retreats all integrate into a single, consistent platform. This structured approach allows the business to scale without relying on trends or personalities, creating a premium, repeatable, and resilient model.
Why do you think you will be successful internationally?
Global demand for wellbeing practices is rising across cultures and professional environments. Eclipse’s structured, partner-led model ensures consistent delivery and cultural relevance, making it scalable internationally. The model balances multiple offerings—practice, education, and institutional partnerships—without fragmenting the brand.
Which countries or territories are your current priorities?
Our priority regions are the UAE, wider GCC, and selected Southeast Asian markets.
Why have you identified these regions as priorities?
We prioritize markets that provide a natural, disciplined path for growth. The UAE offers brand recognition and operational depth. The GCC, particularly Saudi Arabia, shares cultural familiarity and strong demand for premium wellbeing. Southeast Asia provides dense urban populations, education orientation, and experienced franchise operators for partner-led expansion. These choices allow consistent, credible scaling of Eclipse with long-term value creation.
What qualities do you look for in a master franchisee or area developer?
We seek partners with strong business judgment and the ability to execute a premium brand through a clear, proven system. Experience building profitable, multi-site businesses, local market knowledge, leadership capability, and alignment with Eclipse’s standards and values are essential. Partners don’t need to be wellbeing experts, as training and support are provided.
How long does it take to finalise an agreement once a suitable partner is found?
Finalizing an agreement typically takes several weeks, depending on territory, partnership structure, and local legal requirements. This stage focuses on commercial alignment, territory scope, and legal review, ensuring clarity for a strong long-term partnership.
How long does market entry planning take before launch?
Market entry planning usually takes up to three months. This phase covers onboarding into the Eclipse system, site setup, team recruitment and training, and local marketing preparation. The goal is a strong, prepared launch with the right foundations.
What advice would you give to those entering franchising?
Approach franchising as a business investment first, not just a brand opportunity. Understand unit economics, operational demands, and support levels. Success comes from discipline, clarity, and alignment between franchisee and franchisor, not shortcuts.
Any additional insights on Six Hands’ international expansion plans?
Eclipse was built with international relevance in mind. Expansion is strategic, deliberate, and structured, prioritizing markets where the brand logic, model, and partner profiles align. Growth is measured by substance and consistency, not speed alone.
Anything else that you’d like to add?
We approach growth responsibly, valuing brand, people, and market integrity. We welcome partners aligned in mindset and ambition who understand that franchising is about shared standards, trust, and long-term value creation.
