Thriving Through Midlife: A Conversation with Dr. Rajinder Rai

Midlife isn’t just “getting older”—it’s a whole new chapter. On the Beauty Lab Podcast, I had the joy of sitting down with Dr. Rajinder Rai, pharmacist, midlife coach, and founder of Sunrais Health. With nearly 30 years of pharmacy experience and a personal journey through her own midlife, Dr. Raj is on a mission to give women the tools, knowledge, and support they need to reclaim energy, joy, and confidence.

 

From Pharmacy Counter to Midlife Mentor

After decades serving patients from childhood through their later years, Dr. Raj hit her own midlife roadblock. Despite her medical training, she felt brushed off: “Your labs are fine. See you next year.” Sound familiar? That gap in care and information—especially around menopause—sparked her shift from dispensing prescriptions to creating whole-body solutions for women. Through her signature Dose of Pause framework and her community My Saheli, she helps women connect the dots between hormones, lifestyle, and overall well-being.

What Every Woman Needs to Know About Hormones

Menopause isn’t optional—if we live long enough, we’ll all go through it. What most of us don’t realize is that hormone changes often begin in our 30s or early 40s. Fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, anxiety, poor sleep—these aren’t just “normal life.” They can be signs your body is shifting. Dr. Raj encourages us to stop ignoring those cues and start listening. Our bodies are sending messages—it’s our job to pay attention.

Lessons From Later-Life Patients

Working in long-term care gave Dr. Raj perspective: health can change fast if prevention is ignored. Women who seemed perfectly fine one week could face serious diagnoses the next. She saw high-functioning women become ER patients overnight. But she also saw centenarians thriving—still social, active, and on minimal medication. The difference? Preventive care, mobility, mindset, and self-prioritization.

Pelvic floor health, heart health, and emotional wellness all play huge roles. Left untreated, small issues can snowball into isolation, depression, and chronic disease. But with the right knowledge and early support, women can stay vibrant and independent for decades.

Why “One-Size-Fits-All” Doesn’t Work

Another powerful takeaway: protocols designed for everyone don’t work for women in midlife. Some may thrive with HRT, while others need integrative or alternative approaches. The key is finding providers who listen, who understand women’s unique needs, and who see you as a whole person. It’s also about unlearning the cultural silence many of us grew up with—where menopause and even periods weren’t openly discussed. Talking with friends, asking questions, and seeking out the right care is the beginning of change.

Elevate Her: the next in-person experience

Dr. Raj’s next event—Elevate Her: Celebrating Wisdom in Womanhood—is happening September 27 at Westlake Inn (about an hour north of Los Angeles). Think of it as a gorgeous girls’ getaway with real tools to feel vibrant now and next. Expect diverse experts—from concierge medicine and longevity to Ayurveda and Chinese medicine—plus activations like color analysis and fragrance discovery, and generous brand gifts. Most importantly, you’ll feel the power of women in circle—learning across generations, telling the truth about midlife, and leaving with clarity and community.

Use code F&F20 to get 20 % off of the Elevate Her: Celebrating Wisdom in Womanhood on September 27, 2025.

You can find Dr. Rajinder at Sunrais Health or on Instagram @sunraishealth @thrivewithdrrai.

My Closing Thoughts

Being in that room is powerful. It’s proof that midlife isn’t an ending—it’s a reset button. Dr. Raj is one of those rare voices who blends deep medical knowledge with compassion and lived experience. If you’re navigating perimenopause or menopause—or if you know a woman who is—this episode is a must-listen.

Because here’s the truth: every single woman will go through this stage. The difference is whether we stumble through it alone… or walk it with knowledge, community, and joy.