2025: The Rise Pause

Our word for 2025 is PAUSE. 

Pause, by definition, is “a short break”, and we are feeling into the many meanings of this word as we take a break from offering retreats. Rise Co-Founders share what this "pause" means for them personally and as an important time for the organization. 

Reflections from Rachel & Tami, Rise Gatherings Co-Founders…

From Tami...

Rise Gatherings began as a seed of an idea when I was in my early 40s, At that time I had many demands including paid and unpaid work, raising kids, maintaining relationships and exploring my passions. I was grateful, but by the end of the day often I felt "wired and tired" from keeping everything and everyone moving forward. I craved something more—more for myself, more for other women. How could we all step away? Where could we find and create space for real renewal and growth? Rise Gatherings became my answer to those questions, offering me—and many others—a place to pause, reflect, and grow.

Launching and nurturing this community has been exciting fulfilling and humbling. Our drive for success fueled our growth and helped create powerful experiences. That drive, while producing joy, also came with its own weight. Small businesses, as many of you know, can be a heavy lift for their founders—and in hindsight, I can see how the hustle kept me going like the Rabbit in the Hundred Acre Woods, often over-activating my brain, moving so quickly I didn't always heed my inner "Winnie the Pooh".

Since we hit pause last fall, I now find myself at a different crossroads than when we began and I stepped into the roles of entrepreneur and business partner. The world is changing, I’m changing, and I’m continually learning to embrace both with curiosity and compassion. As I move into menopause—ironically, a stage that has pause right in its name—I'm leaning into reflecting and reassessing. Menopause is indeed an end of something, but I view it as the exact opportunity for me to welcome something new into my life - to open doors wide into the next phase of my life, while remembering to be gentle and more at ease with myself.

What does that mean? It means I’m here for the changes - showing up by slowing down, fighting off the restlessness that whispers, “what’s next?” I’m reminding myself of our Forest Bathing wisdom - to “be like a tree” —still growing and exchanging resources, but also standing in one place long enough to notice the view. 

From Rachel...

When we founded Rise Gatherings in 2016, I was at a pivotal moment in my life. Recently divorced, raising a toddler, and doing everything I could to build a stable future for both of us. I called on all of my skills and passions to pursue multiple streams of work, including building Rise Gatherings. 

Alongside Rise, I was independently pursuing teaching movement classes and seeing clients for personal transformation. As I leaned into my curiosity and knowledge of the mind-body connection, I became a certified somatic therapist and began developing a private practice. Like many people, I have multiple roles, yet juggling so many career identities at once began to impact my mind and body. My insides told me that I could no longer operate in this way. I was used to pushing myself and I’ve learned through my work and personal experience that I did not want to exist like that… I decided to give my nervous system what it needed and to focus my energy on my somatic therapy practice for now, even though it means putting other endeavors on the back burner. 

My days are filled with quiet, meaningful work; grounded in my purpose as a somatic therapist. I go into my plant-filled, cozy office and support clients in reconnecting with themselves and rebuilding their mind-body connection. I go home to my family, coach basketball and cook. I spend time making art and creating a life that is centered in what offers me a greater sense of peace and ease.

So here we are, now. What about Rise?

Rise Gatherings grew beyond our dreams thanks to the dedication of our team and the support of our community. We’ve hosted thousands of women at retreats and built momentum year after year. We often went from one event to the next - fueled by the excitement and need for what was next, not really allowing much time to pull back the lens and see all the possibilities.

This pause is a deliberate chance for Rise Gatherings to reflect on its journey with immense gratitude, and for us to explore our individual paths and the future of Rise. This period of uncertainty may be uncomfortable for us, but it is also brimming with potential. It allows us to see possibilities that might have been obscured by the constant pursuit of progress.

Even though we’re taking a step back for a bit, you’re always near our hearts. We’ll keep you up to date as we are thinking of the growth and well being of this community always!