40 over 40: Meet Rebecca
Designing a Life of Purpose: A Journey of Redefining Success
By Rebecca Rankin
There I was in my early 20s, sitting at my computer in the financial district of San Francisco, looking at CAD drawings of yet another building I didn't care about. It felt like my entire life was mapped out in drawings, deadlines, and corporate meetings.
Is this it? …This can't be it…There's got to be more than this.
I had followed the standard formula for "success:" graduate from high school, go to college, get a degree, land a job, make money, and you're set. I graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in architecture, moved to San Francisco, and landed a coveted job at a corporate architecture firm. By all accounts, I had made it. But inside, I was miserable.
I watched my colleagues, people in their 30s, 40s, 50s, spending late nights in the office, missing time with their families, dedicating their lives to this work. And I knew in my gut, "This is not my path." That realization set me on a journey I never could have predicted. A journey that took me from designing buildings to designing wellness experiences for women around the world.
The stress of working for a corporate architecture firm was consuming me, and a colleague suggested I try yoga to help me cope. Thankfully, in San Francisco, there's a yoga studio pretty much on every corner. I walked into my first yoga class and let's just say, it was not love at first sight. But something inside me said, “Keep doing it”. And so I did.
My yoga practice became the one place where I could release the weight of my stress and anxiety. It was where I could simply be. Over time, my practice deepened, and I realized I wanted to share this gift with others. After three and a half years in architecture, I took the leap. I quit my job, packed my bags, and moved to Los Angeles for a 9 week yoga teacher training.
I had no idea if this would work. I was scared. What if I fail? But sometimes, you don't need to see the full path. You just need to take the next step.
Leaving architecture behind, I started teaching yoga full-time in San Francisco. My journey took me across the world, leading yoga retreats and yoga teacher trainings in Central and South America, Europe, and even living in the Netherlands where I managed a yoga studio.
Eventually, I returned to the U.S., opening my own yoga studio in Pittsburgh and later, in Northern Michigan. Each pivot was a step deeper into alignment with my purpose. Owning a brick-and-mortar business came with its own set of challenges: learning to navigate entrepreneurship, leadership, and learning to adapt along the way. Yet through all of it, I learned that every challenge was an opportunity to grow.
In March 2020, everything changed overnight. The pandemic forced all of us to pivot, and for me, that meant making the difficult decision to give away my yoga studio and shift my focus to supporting women through wellness online. I created a self-care membership app specifically for women, designed to support them through cyclical wellness practices, and through this process, I discovered my next calling. What came naturally to me, creating digital programs and building websites, was a major hurdle for other women wellness entrepreneurs who wanted to share their gifts online but felt overwhelmed by the technology.
Once again, I felt the call to realign to my purpose.
Today, I blend my passions by leading transformational retreats and events for women both locally and abroad, while also helping women entrepreneurs turn their wellness expertise into thriving digital businesses that allow them to scale their impact without the overwhelm of tech hurdles.
I’ve learned that success isn't about following a linear path. It's about listening to your inner knowing, and having the courage to realign with what truly lights you up. If you're feeling stuck in a career that no longer serves you or afraid to take the leap into something new, trust that every transition brings you closer to your purpose. The path isn't always clear, but it always leads to where you're meant to be. You just need to take the next step.
Bio:
Rebecca Rankin is a Women’s Holistic Wellness Coach, ERYT 500 & YACEP Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master & Sound Healing Practitioner and founder of Women’s Moon Wisdom, where she helps women reconnect with their cyclical nature through holistic wellness practices. After leaving a career in architecture to follow her passion for yoga and wellbeing, she now guides women in building intentional self-care practices, digital wellness businesses, and aligned lifestyles. She hosts the Women’s Moon Wisdom Podcast and leads retreats, circles, and community experiences designed to support women to live with purpose. https://www.rebeccarankinyoga.com
