Petra Smeltzer Starke

Petra, the President and CEO of Bikram Yoga during tumultuous times, dreamed of creating a new and modern hot yoga community where all would be welcome and hot yoga studios would flourish with the right support.

That dream became the mission of SweatNGlow: to empower every yoga practitioner, studio owner and teacher to discover the best versions of themselves.

Petra has always had a passion for yoga and fitness, including while previously serving in the Obama White House and practicing law at a large law firm in Washington, DC.

Rather than have lunch at her desk, she taught spinning and yoga at the White House gym and at the Nation’s Capital YMCA. Petra is a certified hot yoga, hot yoga barre and spinning instructor, and former triathlete & marathon runner.