Our Story
About Us
Positive Pause was founded in 2016 by Ann Stephens and Jo McEwan to change the conversation around menopause. Frustrated by the lack of relatable, trustworthy information, they built a friendly and credible space for women to find support, advice and optimism through every stage — pre, peri, and post-menopause.
Today, Positive Pause has evolved as part of Menopause Movement — a sister business delivering accredited, CPD-certified menopause training for health and fitness professionals. This next step builds on Positive Pause’s legacy of credible education, helping professionals support others with evidence-based menopause knowledge.
While we no longer deliver workplace training, the Positive Pause ethos lives on in everything we do — empowering people to understand menopause and approach it with confidence and compassion.
Ann Stephens and Christien Bird, directors of Menopause Movement and owners of the Positive Pause trademark, continue to grow this trusted education brand.
“I just wanted to thank you both so very much for a wonderful afternoon at your event on Saturday. Your speakers were amazing, and their advice was invaluable. I learnt so much…I love your site, I cannot imagine how many women you have helped (saved!) You are both amazing.
Thank you ”
The History…
Our Heritage
Positive Pause began in 2016, co-founded by Ann Stephens and Jo McEwan. Together, they built one of the first friendly, relatable online spaces dedicated to menopause awareness and education.
Their work helped spark a more open conversation about menopause and laid the foundations for the credible, evidence-based training now delivered through Menopause Movement.
We remain grateful for Jo’s role in shaping Positive Pause and proud to continue evolving its mission — providing trusted menopause education that empowers and informs.
Ann's Story
When Jo mentioned she was perimenopausal, Ann had no idea what that meant — or that she was on the same journey herself. With no hot flushes and regular periods, she didn’t recognise the psychological symptoms she was feeling as menopause. That lightbulb moment sparked a passion to change how women access information and support.
What started as a conversation between friends became Positive Pause — a credible, relatable space to share menopause knowledge and experiences.
Today, Ann continues that mission as Co-founder and Director of Brand & Strategic Growth at Menopause Movement and Menopause MOT, developing certified e-learning and CPD-accredited menopause training for health, fitness and wellness professionals.
From confusion to empowerment, Ann’s journey reflects the heart of Menopause Movement and Positive Pause — turning awareness into action and helping others feel confident through every stage of menopause.
Meet the Founders
It all begins with an idea. This is just what Jo and Ann found when they entered their menopausal years.
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Jo has worked in education, in one way or another, since leaving university. Much of her work requires strong communication skills and a passion for what she does. She brings these skills to bear in PositivePause simplifying key ideas and options. Her online life happened by chance but she’s had a lot of fun learning new skills, (still lots to learn), trying out new things and meeting new people. Naturally exercise-avoidant she's trying to practice what she preaches which can be seen in some of the PositivePause vlogs (but who's Eric, and who's Ernie?).
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Ann has a long career in the design business. Originally in fashion, as senior designer for Mulberry, Laura Ashley & Conran Design Group. Re-training as an interior designer, she has over 20 years’ experience in ID and teaches the subject in adult education. Her lack of knowledge about peri/menopause was the driving force behind developing PositivePause. Ann’s experience of running high-quality adult learning courses, her presentation skills and attention to detail, enabled PositivePause to run first-rate menopause public events, awareness sessions for HCP and within organisations. The necessity to take the business online led her to build an online learning platform, encompassing her skills to design, develop and co-ordinate an elite learning experience.
“I just wanted to say that I heard you on Woman’s Hour & love your website & what you are trying to do. All hail to you both, thank you very much!”
Menopause Movement - our sister business
“Women in midlife feel largely ignored, invisible and irrelevant, and this is particularly true when it comes to sport and exercise. Yet sustaining fitness and activity levels for women of this age has such life-changing benefits in relation to happiness, mental wellbeing and physical health, now and into later life” 84%* of women going into menopause want to be more active but lack confidence*
In partnership with our clinical lead, Women’s Health Physiotherapist, Christien Bird, we’ve developed Menopause Movement, a training platform for all the health & fitness pros, and healthcare professionals who work with women to help them find their confidence on their movement journey in menopause.
To date, we’ve trained thousands of professionals. Check out our Menopause Movement Directory to find an accredited health & fitness pro who can help you exercise safely and confidently benefitting your mind & body in menopause.
*(Inspiring Women to be Active During Midlife and Menopause, Women In Sport, May 2021)