My Story

Hi, I'm Petra.

Originally pre-med in college, I switched gears and earned a B.A. at Cornell University, majoring in Biology & Society — the fascinating intersection of science, health and human behavior. I played rugby for Cornell, and continued to be active after college with skiing, kayaking, surfing & hiking.

I spent the next 15 years as an educator, teaching K-8th grade French, Spanish, Algebra & P.E. My most favorite part was coaching girls & boys volleyball. Watching these young athletes grow and develop a love for the game was incredibly rewarding.

Life got busier after starting a family — raising 3 kids, 2 of which have a rare genetic condition, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). By the time the youngest was 3, I was in full mommy burnout. My joints hurt every morning, my cardio suffered, I was plagued by low back issues, and I just generally felt depleted. My regular exercise and seemingly healthy diet was not cutting it.

As I dug into making micro-improvements across many facets over several years, I slowly came out of it stronger, healthier, happier and with more energy and patience. At the same time, I was seeing people I know struggle as they aged. It became clear that while conventional medicine has advanced considerably in improving lifespan, we've made little progress in improving healthspan — how long people remain healthy and able to live the quality of life they want.

My path forward became clear. I got certified as a holistic health coach and launched Stoked Wellness.