Hannah Hedrick Returned to Chicago for Yoga, T’ai Chi Chih, and Peer Bodywork

Yoga teacher, t’ai chi chih teacher, and polarity therapist Hannah Hedrick was back in Chicago for a few days in mid-March. She had taught at several places in Chicago and for decades was a national advocate for complementary practices, especially for self-help groups. When she retired from her job as director of the Division of […]

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Yoga teacher, t’ai chi chih teacher, and polarity therapist Hannah Hedrick was back in Chicago for a few days in mid-March. She had taught at several places in Chicago and for decades was a national advocate for complementary practices, especially for self-help groups. When she retired from her job as director of the Division of Medical Education Products at the American Medical Association in 2000, Hannah moved to Hawaii, although she returns to Chicago regularly.

While here in March, Hannah brought together former students and friends for an impromptu class held at Wildlight Yoga, 4041 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The class combined universal yoga principles with a simple form of tai chi called t’ai chi chih and Peer Bodywork, which Hannah developed, based on principles of Thai massage and Polarity Therapy.

Hannah Hedrick with Charles Sasan, an accredited tai chi chih teacher. Photos by Kim Grant

Hannah, who focuses on opening the heart, lengthening the spine, and engaging the outer thighs in the process, began the class leading us in some poses at the wall, including chair pose, table pose, and plank. Soon we paired off to do Peer Bodywork: sitting back-to-back, applying pressure to shoulder and hip or along the spine, rolling the body side to side, massage, and other practices. All techniques are designed to benefit both parties. Both the active and passive “peers” are equal partners in the exchange of energy to facilitate the profound healing process that often takes place. The class ended with t’ai chi chih movements, with an emphasis on opening the heart, giving and receiving, and an exchange of energy, much like the Peer Bodywork segment.

Hannah trained with many energy and bodywork teachers to develop her unique therapeutic practices, which she continues to offer to self-help groups for people with advanced life-threatening illnesses. She plans to be back to Chicago in July and October to offer programs in varied venues, including small groups in homes. To contact Hannah, email her at [email protected]

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Hannah Hedrick is the co-author of The Quiet Killer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease/Emphysema. Scarecrow Press, 2002. Read one of many stories about Hannah in Yoga Chicago at www.yogachicago.com. One of the earliest is in the May/June, 2000, issue: https://yogachicago.com/2014/03/serving-the-community-hannah-hedrick-phd/.

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