WHAT IS MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY?
Myofunctional Therapy is basically tongue therapy, but it’s a bit more involved than simply doing “tongue exercises”.
There are four goals that set the foundation for myo therapy, and I like to put a strong emphasis on one of them especially: nasal breathing.
Every myofunctional therapist has their own approach. With my background in nutrition and fitness, I believe the BEST thing you can do to achieve optimal health is to breathe through your nose.
For example, a lot of women can’t achieve x, y or z and are told they have hormone imbalance, when if fact, they could simply have a mouth breathing habit that they are not aware of.
Ideally, a person should be nasal breathing while they eat, sleep and “play”. But a lot of people find it difficult especially while they sleep and exercise. Some may even avoid exercise altogether because it just makes them feel worse.
Which is where a myofunctional therapist can help you! And I want to share with you my myo story (click here!).
Hi:)
My name is Kelsey Benner. I am an online myofunctional therapist, but I am also a licensed dental hygienist, fitness instructor and nutrition/intuitive eating advocate.
I’ve always been passionate about health and wellness, but with an easeful more gentler approach. I am firm believer in doing things that feel “right” or within alignment of you and your values. And over the past five years, I’ve learned to bring that into how I help my clients/patients.
You may be thinking, “wow, she’s all over the place”. And sometimes it does feel that way, but the truth is - it’s all connected. Our teeth, tongue, what we eat and how we move our bodies. It’s all important. And I noticed that these are the things that I’ve gravitated toward for a reason. And it has honestly helped me become a better myofunctional therapist! I can help you in more areas than just “tongue therapy”.
I am also a mama to two and am married to an airway dentist :)
4 GOALS OF MYO THERAPY
Improve your tongue posture
Improve your swallow
Establish a proper lip seal
Establish nasal breathing
THE ROLE OF YOUR TONGUE
Your tongue is a muscle, a very strong one to say the least. It is connected to your jaw, but also the fascia that lines your entire body.
it helps you speak correctly
it helps you move food throughout your mouth while you eat
it’s one of the main muscles responsbile for swallowing
proper positioning of your tongue encourages nasal breathing
it cleanses your teeth after meals
and lastly, it aids in the development of your teeth, jaw + airway
Other muscles are also involved to help the tongue do it’s hard work.
And unfortunately, the different functions of your tongue and surrounding muscles of your face and neck can become dysfunctional and weak due to:
poor mouth breathing habits
tongue-ties, lip ties
improper feeding methods in the first few years of life
poor diet/lifestyle
THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF MYO THERAPY
The ultimate goal of myofunctional therapy is to restore function (and awareness!) of your tongue and muscles of your face so you can:
breathe better; therefore, get restorative sleep which helps you feel your best
chew your food more efficiently
swallow your food and drinks effortlessly
nasal breathe while you eat, sleep and play
Myo therapy can also help:
relieve tension (especially when accompanied with body work)
improve TMJ discomfort
improve vision/vertigo symptoms
reduce risk of ear infections in children especially
reduce risk of dental decay
improved focus due to better sleep
weight-loss/fat-loss due to improved sleep + oxygenation
and so much more!
HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY?
Everyone is different.
For adults, our issues stem from how we grew during the most crucial times and how we were fed and how we breathed. So evaluating your health history would be a great first step to see if you are a good candidate for therapy.
For children, you can nip a lot of myofunctional issues in the bud if you address it early on.
I’ve created a blog post explaining this all in more detail.
CURRENT OFFERINGS
For 6 days, you’ll get an email sent to you every day where you will learn some of my favorite myo and nasal breathing exercises. Each day you will learn something new, but it is very simple + straightforward so you can get it done and move on with your day! I want to help you establish a healthier tongue and you, from the comfort of your own home and without that added pressure of having to do it “perfectly”!
A meet-you-where-you’re-at one-on-one myofunctional therapy + wellness coaching experience. For 8 weeks, you will work toward achieving + mastering (hopefully) the four goals of myofunctional therapy. I believe everyone is capable of seeing improvements - not over night - but, improvements nonetheless, regardless of what’s going on inside your mouth!
MYO BLOG
Learn more about myo therapy, nasal breathing + more
COMING SO SOON!!
Bachelor’s of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, 2015
Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene, 2018
NASM Certificate in Personal Training, 2020
MyoMentor Certificate in Myofunctional Therapy, 2022
QUALIFICATIONS
