The mouth, jaw, and tongue are powerful areas in the body. They express, take in, give out, taste, and are a baby’s first area of self-soothing and sensory exploration.

While TMJ, teething grinding, or an aching jaw are obvious indicators of excessive jaw tension, studied observation of the mandible (lower jaw bone) to the cranium and neck reveal patterns of jaw tension and jaw displacement that reveal more complex imbalances within the upper back region. Unwinding these imbalances can often resolve holding patterns of compression and pain related to whiplash, headaches, scoliosis or what I call, “computer neck”.

This workshop reviewed the basic landmarks (the mandible and its named locations: angle, jaw ridge, condyle, coronoid) and then mindfully worked with surrounding muscles with intention, direction and sensitivity both outside and inside the cranium.

I am fortunate to have Lauren Christman mentor me one-on-one for this workshop, in preparation for the advanced Intraoral workshop next month. It was an accomplishment to absorb so much information in two days and retain it.