Meet the Newest Pause Team Members!

Dear Pause Community,

We are absolutely thrilled to introduce you to the newest members of the Pause Team!

Meet Maggie, our Community Connection Manager.

Meet Ashley, our Studio + Marketing Manager.

Every day, Rena and I look at each other in disbelief that we get to dedicate our lives to this fulfilling work and be a part of such a wonderful community with all of you. What?!!

We can't wait to see how both Maggie and Ashley's unique strengths, huge hearts, and inspiring presence enrich and grow our community in the months ahead. 🙌

Keep scrolling to learn more about these two phenomenal humans and join us in giving Maggie and Ashley a warm, open-hearted welcome!

With joy & gratitude,

Ryan & Rena

Pause Cofounders

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Meet Maggie Frackenpohl!

Our new Community Connection Manager

Tell us a bit about yourself...

On the professional side of things, I’ve worked as an environmental interpreter & designer with Oregon State Parks, built a personal concierge business in Idaho, performed multiple hospitality functions in destination hotels and funky, hole-in-the-wall establishments. I even trained to become a whitewater & sea kayak guide (although that’s a story for another time, “trained” being the operative word). Through every role I’ve held, I’ve genuinely loved lifting up coworkers and clients, helping them tell their stories and do good in the world. Joining Pause has been a natural segue and I’m so excited for the opportunity to be part of the greater community.

At home, I’m grateful to have an amazing, supportive partner and to share our space with our much-loved three-legged cat, Dash (don’t worry, he gets around just fine).

How did you come to find Pause / In what ways does mindfulness manifest for you?

I came to Pause through a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course (MBSR). It was suggested that I try meditation to counteract the stressors I was experiencing at work. I found myself in a challenging environment and was looking to develop tools to find peace while navigating what I termed tricky situations. The course itself was a challenge in that I had to face myself, my beliefs and perceptions. Through my practice, I was able to start letting go of what wasn’t true and seeing things for what they were.

Although mindfulness is ever changing for me, I’ve come to associate it with a softening, a gentleness or flow that allows instead of grasps, that sees pattern and synchronicity instead of randomness. The present moment holds the truth of all things and reminds me that neither the past nor the planned future are as important as now. I will say that it’s one thing when I’m on the cushion and it’s something entirely different when I bring the practice into my interactions and relationships. It’s in those moments that the real good stuff shines.

What’s your favorite beginner’s mindfulness book?

How Not to be a Hot Mess by Devon & Nico Hase. Aside from the fact that the book cover is a shade of hot pink, the pages offer a wonderful distillation of basic ethics and an overview of how to practice meditation. The authors imbue the book with levity and humor, traits I see as especially relevant to the art of mindfulness. I’ve found that a balance of deep introspection and a “don’t take yourself too seriously” approach has led me to a greater sense of awareness.

What is the biggest takeaway from your mindfulness practice so far?

My practice has allowed me to build “space” aka a “pause” between a trigger and my reaction. This space has allowed for moments of calm amidst crazy, moments to recognize the idea of impermanence in both joy and suffering. This space has also allowed me time to consider, or be more thoughtful of my words and actions; to act, once again, from a place of intention. It’s been invaluable in my conversations and relationships as well as for my own sense of sanity and non-reactivity. This is something I’m constantly practicing. I recognize that when I’m tired or not prioritizing my practice, that the space is a bit smaller than the day before. It acts as this amazing gauge of self assessment, an opportunity to connect with my deeper needs and ensure I’m coming back to the cushion in one way or another.

Do you have a mantra you regularly turn to?

Begin again.

How poignant; this mantra has become a regular part of my practice and my life. It gently reminds me to approach each moment as if it were the first. It invites me to remember that each instance is a new iteration, whether it involves an action or a state of inaction. When my mind wanders or when I’m creating an expectation of a specific moment, I find it helpful to start over, to adopt a beginner's mind and to simply begin, again.

What inspires you about the Pause community? What excites you about joining the team?

I truly appreciate the inclusivity and self-awareness that is fostered at Pause. A part of me pinches myself that I have the privilege of answering these questions, that I’m able to work alongside each individual who helps shape this this vibrant, dynamic community. I’m in awe of the space that is created in the studio, the energy you feel when you walk in, the amazing conversations and deep sense of purpose that comes from practicing mindfulness in this capacity. In short, I’m amazed by what intentional living and deep work can create.

I’m most excited about creating space for social discourse and engagement. It’s in these conversations, that the magic happens; the “ahas,” the deep sighs, the contemplative understanding of another person’s perspective. To me, that’s the good stuff, the gooey stuff, the stuff that life is made of. I’m excited to get to know each and every one of our members!

What are some fun facts about yourself?

• I love to say that I’m “just” a Maggie, in other words not a Margaret. I don’t know many other Maggie’s; if you’re reading this - hello!
  

• My camp name at Outdoor School was “Doodlebug”. This was due to my love of drawing at the time. It was also a nod to the aquatic water skipper I love to watch putter about. (The next time you’re near a river, I promise a moment of mindfulness can be found in the form of witnessing their movement and the sheer wonder that they “create” their own surface tension to literally walk on water).
  

• At some point in the not-so-distant past, I developed a sudden and intense love of birds. It started with sandhill crane sightings on Wyoming’s Greys River. I would wake early, stepping out of the tent and into the misty morning light, hoping to hear the rhythm and cadence of their call. To be honest, they sound more like a velociraptor than a songbird but to me, their song inspires sheer joy. After moving back to Oregon, I’ve spent many morning walks listening to the varied bird song. It’s become a regular anchor to the present moment.
  

Say hello or reach out to Maggie at maggie@pausemeditation.org! 

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Meet Ashley Castellanos!

Our new Studio + Marketing Manager

Tell us a bit about yourself...

I grew up in Portland, but in 2014, I left the U.S, and spent 5 years living overseas. I lived in 6 countries such as Spain, Turkey, Vietnam, Argentina, England, and Indonesia, and have traveled to 25 countries in all. At the time, I wanted to explore and experience a life different from what I knew and my time overseas has influenced a lot of how I live my life today. I returned to Portland in spring 2019 and I had to pretty much start over. I taught English when I lived abroad though I have a major in Merchandising Management from Oregon State.

In the last 5 years, I have built a career in marketing and photo/video production and am self-taught on the production side of things. I have done and still do branding photography and have worked with dozens of businesses as either a marketing manager or as a freelancer producing marketing campaigns and marketing assets since I also own and run Vegan Ventures – a media and resource page for the best vegan eats and experiences where I also host events and group tours for foodies and travelers. The page started for fun, but eventually evolved into something greater than I could’ve imagined. I feel very lucky that I’ve gotten to explore different interests and pursue different skill sets. Through my work, I discovered how much I love connection and storytelling through creativity and exploration and I am eager to continue to pursue that journey.

How did you come to find Pause / In what ways does mindfulness manifest for you?

My first time at Pause was in January 2020 for their New Year’s class that was brought to my attention from a friend. I came with the goal to set intentions and be mindful of what I wanted the year to be. I immediately fell in love with the space, the energy, and the community that came together that day. It helped guide me in a way that I needed at the time and it has now become a part of my yearly ritual to do these classes to set an intention every year.

For me, what has allowed me to have mindfulness manifest is by writing. I started journaling 5 years ago and it has become a daily ritual that allows me to explore my thoughts and feelings. It also allows me to be more aware of what is happening around me. I love sitting down every morning with a cup of coffee and just brain dump. Whatever is on my mind, I just write it. It’s my way of getting to “Pause” and what I write I take with me throughout the day. Writing is a powerful tool and I’m so glad I’ve made it a part of my life.

What is the biggest takeaway from your mindfulness practice so far?

My mindfulness practice has allowed me to deepen relationships. With others and myself. By being able to hold space for others and vice versa, it allows for a greater connection because there is a better understanding of each other. I am grateful for this practice because I love the relationships that have been formulated since my mindfulness journey began.

Do you have a mantra you regularly turn to?

"Whenever you feel like criticizing any one," he told me, "just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." -The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

I read this book in middle school and this quote spoke to me then and still does now. It reminds me of how my mom always told me that not everyone grows up with the same privileges as me and my brother did. To me, this quote is a great reminder that everyone has a backstory. There’s a reason for being who they are and for why they do the things they do. It allows me to have more empathy and compassion for others. As well as be more understanding of people.

What inspires you about the Pause community? What excites you about joining the team?

I love the fact that Pause creates a safe space for anyone to speak their truth and also be a space to listen to others. As a creative person, working in an environment like that is valuable to me. It makes it easier to start conversations and create when there’s that type of openness. The kindness and mindfulness of the community at Pause inspires me to do better and be better for myself and others.

I am very excited to work with a group of people who want to do good in the world. Who want to bring together community, kindness, and respect towards one another. I look forward to working with Pause to help share their mission and make an impact.

What are some fun facts about yourself?

• I used to have the biggest phobia of dogs until my dad got my brother and I a dog for Christmas when I was 11. After 1 year of having our dog, my phobia went away. Thanks dad.
  

• I spent 6 years learning French in school and still speak it to this day, making me trilingual. (I also speak Spanish thanks to my Mexican parents). I also learned Turkish when I lived in Turkey and some Vietnamese when I lived in Vietnam.
  

• I got to meet Bob, founder of Bob’s Red Mill last year at his 94th birthday and I got to tell him how his story inspired me. Years ago, I listened to his story of how he founded Bob’s Red Mill on NPR’s How I Built This when he was 48. Learning that he started his business when most people would be thinking of retiring really inspired me to navigate on how to start over myself when I came back to the U.S. Getting to talk to him about his episode, his story, and his inspiration while he acknowledged my words to him is an experience I’ll never forget.
  

Say hello or reach out to Ashley at ashley@pausemeditation.org!