I went to Tancha’s class not knowing what to expect. I’d had a couple of bad falls and had become scared to even take my dog for a walk. I have had three hip replacements, have arthritis in both knees as well as severe arthritis in my left ankle.
After three months of working with Tancha, I am now dancing regularly (at least once a week) virtually pain-free and walking with long confident strides. I can stand from a sitting position without the use of my arms, without fear of falling. The most significant change has been my ability to climb stairs. Because of my bum knees and ankle, I’ve had to clutch the railing and hoist myself up one riser at a time, first one leg and then the other, I am now taking each step as a single stride, although I’m still holding on to the railing (but not for dear life).
I simply can’t express my gratitude to Tancha for giving back so much of my previously active life. Can’t wait for the next session of classes.
Judy W
“I have benefited in numerous ways from Feldenkrais private sessions and from Movement Awareness classes. Eliminating chronic pain greatly effected the quality of my life. I had chronic sciatic pain for several years, seeing a chiropractor several times a month. After a few private sessions the pain was gone. Severe fascia tendonitis took a few months of private sessions, patience and some work, but was cured. Tancha has a gift of sensitivity, analyzing the body movements, knowing how to work with the body to find a cure for pain. When I had some new pain in my knees, we talked about what I might be doing differently, finding the cause. She enjoys her work of helping people.”
Kim
Email from a student after class:
"This lesson was perfect for some crucial loosening I needed in my lumbar vertebra. Their tightness was limiting my weight shift over my right foot when walking. This resulted in painful tightening of my left gluts, with ‘pins & needles’, and limited the distances I could walk.
Today, NO PAIN!. Walking much more easily. I can feel my lumbar vertebra actually moving as I walk, not limiting the dynamic movement of my pelvis. It is so great to walk well again.
I’ve had problems with my hips for 6 or 7 years now. Both hips were replaced in 2018 - best surgery ever! My muscles and supporting joints are finally catching up to these new hips.
Thank you Feldenkrais & thank you, Tancha!
With love,
Marlene S"
I’ve been having to readjust my rearview mirror after class. The change in my posture is causing me to be more upright. I really enjoy coming to class. It’s a treat I give myself. My back pain is less and I feel more comfortable.
Nancy
For years I’ve suffered from lower back pain due to a myriad of things, sitting all day, cramps, car accident and weak muscles. I was going to a gentle chiropractor and yoga. It all helped, but temporarily. Since my two short years in your class, I rarely suffer. I feel great! Thanks.
Anne
Your Feldenkrais movement classes continually change and enhance my life. Thank you.
Gigi
My upper back and shoulders have new flexibility. It feels great and helps me avoid stress and tension.
Debbie
The one bright hour in my week is with Tancha McKnight and the Awareness Through Movement classes. It is relaxing, educational, fun and good for me.
Clarice
“I met Tancha about ten years ago, at which time I had shooting pains going down my right arm all the time. Tancha was able to stop that from happening pretty quickly, and it has not returned since. She taught me many stretches and exercises to perform which allowed me to continue working at my profession. Over the years, I have tried various treatments – acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, physical therapy and Tancha – for various work-related repetitive strain injuries. The only treatment I continue today is with Tancha. I have learned many things about how to move my body in a way that I do not continue to injure myself. I have also learned a great deal about relaxation from Tancha, and about the ways that stress impacts our body. I would highly recommend Tancha to anyone that has pain, stress, or would just like to learn more about how our bodies work.”
Lynn P
“I have benefited in numerous ways from Feldenkrais private sessions and from Movement Awareness classes. Eliminating chronic pain greatly effected the quality of my life. I had chronic sciatic pain for several years, seeing a chiropractor several times a month. After a few private sessions the pain was gone. Severe fascia tendonitis took a few months of private sessions, patience and some work, but was cured. Tancha has a gift of sensitivity, analyzing the body movements, knowing how to work with the body to find a cure for pain. When I had some new pain in my knees, we talked about what I might be doing differently, finding the cause. She enjoys her work of helping people.”
Vel H
“I have been working with Tancha and the Feldenkrais Method both privately and in group classes since 1999. Tancha helps me become aware of habitual patterns that I have developed unconsciously over the years. She gives me suggestions of simple readjustments I can make that will put less strain on my joints, bones and muscles and helps me create safety and ease in my everyday movements. Tancha has worked with me through an automobile accident and many strains and muscle pulls due to my Yoga practice. Tancha’s soft and gentle touch helps my muscles to release and relax. When my session is complete, whether it be private or in a class setting, my body is able to move with ease and fluidity. Tancha is a wealth of knowledge about how the body moves in space. She is able to work with each individual on the level of his or her understanding. I am grateful for her continued guidance in my life.”
Maureen H
When I started working with Tancha I was having significant pain in my lower back probably a late result of a fall in Sept 2012. The pain was having a negative impact on my lifestyle. Until this time, I considered myself to be a healthy, active 77 year old who was routinely walking 1.5 to 2 miles and swimming an hour (1.5miles) six days a week. With the pain I was having, I could no longer do that and it was also limiting my ability to manage my ADL’s (activities of daily living). I would have to consider if the activity would increase the pain or if I would be able to complete the task I wanted to do. I had also noted that my balance had deteriorated.
After two visits to Tancha, the pain diminished markedly. Since then, as well as visiting with her weekly, I have been doing a series of movements which she designed for me. Now I am basically pain free and my balance has markedly improved.
With Tancha’s help, I have learned to assess the alignment of my body in a fashion that allows the muscles, bones and joints to support and work with me. I have also learned to recognize when my muscles tighten —which exacerbates the pain. My balance has improved and I am still working on that!! The combination of her hands-on treatment, the movements that she has designed for me and that I do daily, have given me back my life as I want to live it. I have learned with her help to respect my body and to be aware of the cues it fives me to change position and relax.
Eleanor Wynn, retired RN
Once upon a time, in a town called San Leandro, lived a woman named Tancha, who had a very special gift of healing. She had a business as a Feldenkrais practitioner. Now, most people did not know what that meant, and some people even had trouble pronouncing it. One person actually gave up trying to perfect the pronunciation, and simply called her a Frankenstein practitioner.
The people that came to see Tancha usually had pain from some sort of physical problem, and she was very effective and successful. Her success was due to a combination of her high degree of professionalism and her expression through her work of her love for her clients. They almost always felt better after seeing her. Her clients were in virtually all age groups, and had aches and pains that ran the gamut of the human condition. There are even reports that one man who saw her would leave her studio one inch taller that when he entered an hour before.
One by one, her clients would say to themselves, “Tancha is truly amazing.” Before long, there was so much positive energy and love projected to Tancha by her clients, that all her clients sensed it and began to refer to her as “The Amazing Tancha.”
And that is how Tancha became known as “The Amazing Tancha.”