Petra Brunnbauer is an award-winning Wellbeing Coach, founder of The Jōrni® Wellbeing Platform, host of the globally ranked Jōrni Podcast, and author of The Functional Freeze Formula™. With a Master’s in Psychology and as a doctoral student in Mind-Body Medicine, Petra is committed to advancing holistic approaches to health and healing.
Through her work, Petra explores the intersection of chronic stress, nervous system regulation, and personal well-being. Drawing from both scientific research and lived experience, she has developed a unique approach to understanding and addressing Functional Freeze, a mixed nervous system response to chronic stress where individuals outwardly function but feel internally stuck, disconnected, and emotionally numb. Her book, The Functional Freeze Formula, offers an evidence-based yet practical roadmap to reclaiming energy, resilience, and joy.
Petra Brunnbauer, Wellbeing Coach
Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.
For most of my life, I dealt with mental health distress, chronic stress, anxiety, and burnout without fully realizing what was happening. I pushed through exhaustion, ignored my body, and kept going because that’s what I thought I had to do. I believed that if I just worked harder and stayed productive, I would eventually feel “better.” The realization that this was, in fact, an unrealistic expectation only came much later in life.
My family moved from Germany to Canada when I was a teenager, which completely uprooted my life. I lost my sense of identity, and for years, I struggled to find my place. That pattern of adapting, pushing through, and ignoring my own needs continued into adulthood. I went through two major burnouts in the corporate world, suffered from chronic pain after an accident, and kept convincing myself that I just needed to be stronger.
Then, in 2018, everything changed. I lost multiple family members, friends, and my best friend within a few months. The grief, stress, and years of unresolved trauma finally caught up with me. My entire body and my mind went into complete shutdown. I tried to keep going through the motions, working on our business, showing up, and taking care of everyone, but inside, I felt nothing, and my body was in pain every single day. I didn’t understand it at the time, but I was in Functional Freeze.
At the beginning of 2019, after being in this state for months, I realized I couldn’t keep pushing through. I had to stop and figure out why I felt this way, why nothing was helping, why I was stuck, what the point of life was. It wasn’t a straight line by any means. There were setbacks and challenges, and I still have good and bad days today. But over time, I became more aware of what was happening in my body and mind, and I learned what helps. That awareness is what ultimately set me on the path to everything I do now.
What’s your purpose, mission, and driving force for all the work you do?
For a long time, I felt completely alone in what I was experiencing. I didn’t have the words to explain why I was so exhausted and disconnected, why I couldn’t just “bounce back” like everyone seemed to expect. I followed every piece of advice. I meditated, journaled, managed my time better, took hot baths, and tried to think positively. But none of it touched the deeper issue. It wasn’t until I started looking at chronic stress through the lens of the nervous system that things finally started making sense.
That realization changed everything. It gave me an understanding of what was happening to me, and more importantly, it gave me a way forward. My work now is about making sure no one else has to go through this alone, stuck in cycles of burnout, overwhelm, or Functional Freeze without knowing why and without knowing what can be done about it.
My mission is to help people reconnect with themselves in a way that feels safe and sustainable. I want them to understand that they are not broken, that what they are experiencing is not a personal failure, and that real change is possible. Whether it’s through The Jōrni, my book, or our programs, my driving force is making this knowledge accessible and practical so people can stop feeling lost and start feeling like themselves again.
What are your next goals or projects?
There are quite a few exciting things ahead for this year. My book, The Functional Freeze Formula, just launched, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it resonates with readers who have been searching for answers about chronic stress and Functional Freeze. This book was something I desperately needed years ago, and my hope is that it helps others feel seen, understood, and supported in ways I never was.
Beyond the book, my next big step is returning to academia this fall to study Mind-Body Medicine. After years of personal experience and working with others, I want to deepen my understanding of how we can create real, lasting change when it comes to chronic stress. There is still so much to learn, and I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to study with some of the leading minds in this field.
On a more personal level, I have been searching for the right property to bring a long-held dream to life: a holistic healing and retreat center. I have envisioned a space where individuals can step away from the pressures of daily life and immerse themselves in an environment designed for deep restoration and connection. That vision is now taking shape with input from experts, thought leaders, and those who share the same passion for redefining healing. Our surroundings have a profound impact on the nervous system, and creating a transformative sanctuary that truly supports holistic healing is something I am passionate about bringing to life this year. Stay tuned!
What inspired you to create The Jōrni?
The Jōrni was created out of both personal experience and deep frustration with the way chronic stress is often addressed. After years of navigating burnout, Functional Freeze, and chronic pain, I had exhausted every mainstream approach, meditation, talk therapy, and mindset work, but nothing truly shifted the deep exhaustion and disconnection I felt. Most wellness solutions were designed for short-term relief, but they did not account for the reality of long-term daily stress and the way it fundamentally reshapes our entire system.
The Jōrni is a virtual well-being platform for those who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected despite doing all the 'right' things. Our mission is to help individuals change their relationship with chronic stress by addressing it from multiple angles physically, emotionally, mentally, and energetically. In my own experience, healing did not come from forcing my body and mind into a particular state; it happened when I learned to work with all of the complex layers rather than against them.
Through guided coaching and healing programs that incorporate my own methodology alongside a range of mind-body approaches, The Jōrni provides a flexible and deeply supportive way to navigate chronic stress. The focus is not on fixing or forcing change but on creating an environment where healing and resilience can naturally unfold.
What specific goals or vision do you aim to achieve?
The vision behind The Jōrni is to change the way we approach healing. Wellbeing should not be a luxury or something we have to fight for. It should be an integral part of life. But for so many people, chronic stress, anxiety, overwhelm, burnout, and chronic pain have become the norm, and the traditional solutions just are not enough. My goal is to create a sanctuary both online and, eventually, in the physical world where healing is accessible, evidence-based, and truly holistic.
The Jōrni currently offers programs and a community to support individuals in breaking free from Functional Freeze and exploring holistic healing for themselves. We are expanding our programs to provide even more personalized support because I know firsthand how frustrating it is to feel stuck despite trying everything. Healing is about understanding what is keeping us stuck and learning how to work with our bodies, minds, emotions, and energies to unlock our innate ability to heal.
Beyond the retreat center, my vision for The Jōrni continues to grow. We are already connecting with thought leaders, researchers, and practitioners who are expanding our understanding of mind-body healing, and I want to bring those conversations to an even wider audience. Hosting international retreats, creating practitioner training, and offering more immersive healing experiences are all part of the bigger picture. I also see The Jōrni becoming a space for deeper education, whether through workshops, research collaborations, or eventually contributing to academic studies on chronic stress, Functional Freeze, and mind-body healing. More than anything, I want to make these approaches more accessible so that people who feel stuck or unheard in traditional models of care can find real, meaningful support.
What sets The Jōrni apart from other services in the industry?
The Jōrni was created to make holistic healing more accessible. There are so many incredible approaches to healing, but many people feel lost trying to navigate them. When someone is dealing with chronic stress, burnout, or Functional Freeze, it can be overwhelming to know where to start or how to apply different modalities in a way that leads to lasting change.
What sets The Jōrni apart is its truly integrative approach. Rather than focusing on just one aspect of healing, we bring together multiple mind-body modalities and perspectives, helping individuals explore what works for them. Healing is deeply personal, and there is no universal formula. The Jōrni provides a space where people can engage with holistic healing in a way that is flexible and adaptable to their unique journey.
Another key aspect that makes The Jōrni unique is its focus on Functional Freeze. While there are many resources available for managing stress, anxiety, and trauma, the experience of Functional Freeze, where someone outwardly functions but feels overwhelmed, emotionally numb, and disconnected, remains largely unknown. Many wellness programs are designed for either nervous system activation or shutdown, but not both simultaneously or the fluctuating cycles that are common with Functional Freeze. The Jōrni recognizes that managing Functional Freeze requires a different approach, one that supports nervous system flexibility while addressing the deeper physical, mental, and emotional patterns that keep someone stuck.
Ultimately, The Jōrni is about offering a truly holistic and sustainable approach to well-being, one that acknowledges how chronic stress and Functional Freeze are at the root of so many struggles, from anxiety and chronic pain to burnout, brain fog, and emotional disconnection. Research suggests that stress underlies the vast majority of health challenges, yet many approaches address symptoms rather than the deeper patterns driving dysregulation. The Jōrni recognizes these connections and provides a space where mind, body, and emotions are supported together, allowing for healing that is truly integrative and lasting.
How does The Functional Freeze Formula fit into this work?
As I touched on earlier, for many years, I struggled with a deep sense of exhaustion, disconnection, and emotional numbness that no amount of rest, therapy, or mindset work seemed to fix. At the time, I had no words to describe what I was experiencing. I just knew that traditional stress and burnout recovery approaches weren’t addressing it.
As I started working with others through The Jōrni, I noticed the same pattern repeating itself. Many individuals shared that they had tried everything yet still felt trapped in a cycle of chronic stress and overwhelm. This led me to research more deeply, and through that exploration, I came across the concept of Functional Freeze. Suddenly, everything clicked. I finally had language for what I had been experiencing for decades, and I realized there was no comprehensive resource that truly explained this state or how to navigate it.
That is what led me to write The Functional Freeze Formula. I wanted to create the resource I wish I had, a book that not only defines Functional Freeze as I experienced it but also provides a practical, evidence-based roadmap for shifting out of it. The book blends science with real-world application, helping individuals understand why they feel the way they do and how to work with their bodies, minds, emotions, and energies to create lasting change.
The book is also a natural extension of The Jōrni’s mission. Not everyone is ready to join a program or seek deeper support right away. The Functional Freeze Formula provides an accessible starting point, something readers can explore at their own pace while beginning to shift their relationship with chronic stress. It also lays the foundation for our upcoming Freeze to Free™ program, which will provide even more personalized support and deeper guidance for those looking to take the next step in their healing journey.
What are some common misconceptions about chronic stress and nervous system healing?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that there should be a quick fix for chronic stress. Many people hope for a single technique, supplement, or mindset shift that will instantly resolve their exhaustion, anxiety, or burnout. While some approaches can create noticeable shifts in the moment, lasting change usually takes time. The nervous system responds to consistently small, repeated signals of safety that gradually rewire how we experience stress.
Another misunderstanding is that healing is purely mental. Many people believe that if they just change their thoughts or push through, they will feel better. However, chronic stress and Functional Freeze are not just mindset issues. They involve deep physiological patterns that shape how we function on every level. Healing requires a full-body approach, working with the nervous system, emotions, and energy, not just willpower alone.
What gaps do you see in your industry, and how do you address them?
A major gap in the wellness industry is the disconnect between understanding healing and applying it in a way that works for real life. There is incredible information available, but many people still feel lost when it comes to putting it into practice. They may read about nervous system regulation, trauma healing, or holistic wellness, but when they are overwhelmed, exhausted, or stuck in Functional Freeze, they struggle to know what to do next.
That is where The Jōrni comes in. We focus on bridging that gap by taking complex healing concepts and making them approachable, practical, and easy to integrate. Our programs provide step-by-step support so individuals are not left trying to figure everything out on their own. The Functional Freeze Formula was written with this exact issue in mind.
For readers who are curious about holistic healing, new ways of approaching chronic stress, and managing Functional Freeze, what first steps would you recommend?
The first step is simply understanding that you are not alone. If you have been feeling stuck, exhausted, or disconnected despite doing everything “right,” there is nothing wrong with you. Chronic stress and Functional Freeze are deeply ingrained patterns, and shifting them takes time, support, and likely a variety of approaches.
For those ready to explore this journey further, The Jōrni is a great place to start. The platform offers resources, programs, guidance, a podcast, and a blog to help individuals reconnect with themselves and create real, lasting change.
I also recommend The Functional Freeze Formula as a foundational resource. Whether you are just beginning to explore holistic healing or looking to deepen your understanding of chronic stress, this can be an invaluable read to support your journey.
