Shannon Hershman

Shannon Hershman graduated high school 1 year early to attend La Roche College in Pittsburgh, PA on scholarship. She graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in biology and minor in both performing arts & psychology. While in school, she danced professionally with Bodiography Contemporary Ballet for 5 seasons. Upon graduation, in addition to dancing with BCB, she worked as an ABA Therapist for children with autism and became certified in Pilates mat through PHI Pilates. In 2007, despite being offered a company position with GroundWorks Dance Theater in Cleveland, OH, she decided to move to Chicago. Here she danced on scholarship with River North Chicago Dance and Giordano Dance Chicago. Shortly thereafter, she danced with Cerqua-Rivera Dance Theater and completed her professional dance career with Inaside Chicago Dance from 2009-2013. In 2014, she completed the BASI™ Comprehensive Pilates Program. She was the runner up for the Kathy Grant Scholarship.

Shannon was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis, an autoimmune disease, in 2001. At the time, multiple doctors said it was incurable and that she would be on medication for the rest of her life. If left untreated, it could cause blindness and spinal fusion. Thankful that she danced professionally, movement and pain management techniques kept her going for the next 12 years. In pursuit of modalities that would ease chronic pain, she became certified in TriggerPoint Foam Rolling, Yamuna Body Rolling®, and Yamuna Foot Fitness®. In 2013, at the age of 30, Shannon was determined to find a permanent solution to her disease. She began researching and soon discovered the power of a low fat, whole food plant-based diet. Her symptoms were completely gone in just a few weeks and she was permanently off medication within 1 month. She remains in remission to this day, learning how to heal brief bouts that returned postpartum. Fueled by the misinformation given to her and discovering the power within herself to heal, Shannon became devoted to helping others. Since then her continuing education has been extensive. She holds a Plant Based Nutrition Certification from eCornell. Shannon is a Level 2 Frederick Stretch Therapist. She was trained directly by Ann and Chris Frederick, the founders of Frederick Stretch Therapy and the Stretch to Win institute.

Shannon is also a certified Level I & II Usui Holy Fire® Reiki Instructor and Craniosacral Therapist. After taking a 14 week Quantum Catalyst Healing™ MasterCourse in 2022 led by Darren Starwynn, she experienced amazing results through the Quantum Field. Read her blog to learn more about that experience. She is now enrolled in the year certification course. In December 2022 she was a guest speaker at a webinar co-hosted by the Stretch to Win institute and the Bridge to Mastery Institute regarding client healing success stories integrating energy work and FST. In addition to teaching these modalities, Shannon has taught dance for over 20 years and is the co-director of the Junior Company at Hinsdale Dance Academy. Her choreography has been featured multiple times in the top 12 of the Youth America Grand Prix. Her choreography with HDA's Junior Company has received "1st Place Overall" multiple years in a row in numerous competitions throughout Chicagoland. She is grateful for her husband, Alex, as well as her 3 children McKenna, Strider, & Brody.

Shannon believes each person has a Master Healer within themselves to become whole again. The mind, body, and spirit are interconnected with each other and those around us. Let Shannon inspire you to find your sense of purpose and to achieve health & wellness.