We recently connected with Rajinder Rai and have shared our conversation below.

Rajinder , appreciate you joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

For years, I had been juggling two worlds: my role as a pharmacist, working long hours in a demanding environment, and my passion project, Sunrais Health. I’d spend my evenings and weekends brainstorming ideas, sketching out plans, and dreaming about what Sunrais could become. But that’s where it stayed—in the realm of dreams. I was “working on it,” but deep down, I knew I wasn’t fully committing to making it real.

Then, life handed me a wake-up call I couldn’t ignore. A close friend, someone I deeply admired, passed away unexpectedly. She was someone who, like so many of us, seemed to have it all together on the surface—successful, always giving, always pushing forward—but underneath, she was exhausted and depleted. Her passing was a heartbreaking reminder of what can happen when we keep putting ourselves last.

Around the same time, I hit my own breaking point. I was drowning in a relentless schedule, feeling physically and emotionally drained, and staring at a future that felt like more of the same. One evening, sitting in my car after yet another grueling day, I thought, What am I waiting for? I realized I couldn’t keep treating Sunrais as a “someday” dream. It was time to stop talking about what I wanted to do and start doing it.

That was the moment I decided to go all in. I left the safety of the path I’d always known, with all its predictable challenges, and stepped fully into building Sunrais Health. It wasn’t easy. It meant taking risks, getting uncomfortable, and betting on myself in ways I never had before. But I knew that if I didn’t do it now, I never would—and that scared me more than the uncertainty of starting over.

The lesson I carry from that moment is this: You can’t wait for the “perfect time” to pursue what you truly want. It’s never going to feel completely safe or easy, and that’s okay. The life you want is on the other side of action. Stop waiting, stop overthinking, and just take the first step—even if it’s messy or imperfect.

Sunrais Health was born from that decision to trust myself, and it’s now my mission to help other women do the same. Midlife is often when we realize we’ve been living for everyone else, but it’s also the perfect time to reclaim our power and create the life we’ve always imagined. Sometimes, the only thing standing between where you are and where you want to be is the courage to start.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Rajinder Rai, a pharmacist by training and the founder of Sunrais Health, a wellness platform dedicated to empowering women in midlife to navigate the physical, emotional, and professional changes of this transformative stage. My journey into this work is both personal and professional—a culmination of years spent in healthcare combined with my own experiences of feeling overwhelmed and stuck during midlife.

As a pharmacist, I’ve spent over two decades helping patients manage their health, but I began noticing a critical gap: women, particularly those in midlife, were falling through the cracks. We were given Band-Aid solutions for symptoms without addressing the deeper issues of health, identity, and balance. That realization sparked my passion to provide something different—a space where women could feel truly seen, heard, and supported.

At Sunrais Health, I provide a range of offerings designed to meet women where they are, including:

Coaching: Through my 1:1 coaching program, Bloom & Balance, and group coaching experiences, I help women reconnect with their feminine energy, regain clarity and confidence, and create a life that feels aligned with who they are now—not who they used to be.
Community: Our My Saheli membership is a safe, supportive space for women to learn, grow, and thrive together. Members have access to expert talks, resources, and a network of like-minded women who understand the challenges of midlife.
Events & Speaking: I host in-person events, like Women in Bloom and Dose of PAUSE, to bring women together for education, inspiration, and connection.
What sets me apart is my integrative approach, which blends my expertise as a pharmacist with training in functional medicine and women-centric coaching. I bridge the gap between medical care, self-care, and soul care, empowering women to take control of their health while also addressing the emotional and spiritual shifts that come with midlife.

I’m most proud of the community I’ve built through Sunrais Health—a space where women can pause, reflect, and step into their power. Watching a woman go from feeling stuck and unseen to thriving in her confidence and purpose is the most rewarding part of my work.

What I want potential clients and followers to know is that midlife isn’t the end of something—it’s the beginning of a new chapter. At Sunrais Health, we’re here to help you navigate this shift with guidance, community, and tools that work for you. Midlife is a time to pause, reconnect, and rediscover who you are—and we’ll help you do just that.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson I had to unlearn was that success is defined by how much you can accomplish or how busy you are. For most of my life, I wore my productivity as a badge of honor. I was the person who could juggle a demanding pharmacy career, raise a family, and still find time to help others. I thought that constantly doing, achieving, and saying “yes” to everything was what made me valuable.

But that mindset came at a cost. I was burnt out, emotionally drained, and disconnected from myself. I ignored the signs my body and mind were sending me because slowing down felt like failure. This way of living caught up to me during a particularly challenging period: I was back to working long hours at the pharmacy, navigating personal and financial stress, and mourning the sudden loss of a close friend.

It was during this time that I realized something had to change. I started questioning what success truly meant to me. Was it about checking off endless to-do lists? Or was it about creating a life where I felt balanced, fulfilled, and aligned with my purpose?

I had to unlearn the belief that rest is lazy and that putting myself first is selfish. Instead, I embraced the idea that pausing isn’t about quitting—it’s about recalibrating. It’s in the pause that you find clarity, strength, and the courage to move forward in the right direction.

This shift in perspective didn’t just transform my personal life—it redefined my professional journey. It inspired me to create Sunrais Health, a space where women in midlife can step away from the relentless busyness and reconnect with themselves.

The lesson? Productivity doesn’t define your worth, and slowing down doesn’t mean you’re falling behind. In fact, it’s often in the moments of pause that we find the answers we’ve been searching for.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I believe my reputation within the midlife wellness market has been built on three key pillars: authenticity, expertise, and connection.

First and foremost, authenticity has been at the heart of everything I do. I don’t just talk about midlife challenges—I’ve lived them. From navigating burnout and redefining my purpose to managing the physical and emotional shifts of perimenopause, my journey mirrors that of the women I work with. Sharing my story openly, including the struggles and the lessons learned, has allowed me to connect with my audience on a deeply personal level.

Second, my expertise as a pharmacist has provided a strong foundation for building trust. Women know that when they come to Sunrais Health, they’re not getting one-size-fits-all advice or quick fixes. Instead, I blend science-backed strategies with a holistic, women-centric approach to health and wellness. This unique combination of evidence-based care and intuitive coaching has resonated with my audience, setting me apart in a space that can often feel overwhelming or fragmented.

Finally, I’ve worked hard to foster genuine connection and community. Whether it’s through the in-person events, my My Saheli membership, or 1:1 coaching, I’ve created spaces where women feel truly seen, heard, and supported. It’s one thing to provide solutions, but it’s another to create a sense of belonging—and that’s what I strive for in everything I do.

What’s helped me most is showing up consistently and meeting women where they are. Whether someone’s exploring midlife wellness for the first time or ready to dive deep into transformational change, I want them to know they’re in the right place.

Ultimately, I think my reputation has grown because women know they can trust me—not only to provide guidance but to walk alongside them as they navigate this chapter of their lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sunraishealth.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivewithdrrai/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajinder-rai-pharmd/

Image Credits

headshot: kelliannne photogaphy
Other images: solhaus media