Intra-Oral Massage:

working inside the mouth

A key feature of HeadRest Healing Arts is the work I do inside the mouth -  what’s known as intra-oral massage.

It’s become one of the favorite parts of my work – not because I like sticking my hands in people’s mouths – but because the effects  can be so dramatic, allowing me to create shifts for my clients that would not be possible otherwise:

o   Countering imbalances in jaw structure and function and

o   Addressing tensions related to acute dental challenges; as well as  

o   Supporting rebalancing work to the neck and shoulders more generally, and

o   Supporting release of deeply held tensions in the rest of the body as well.

I understand that it may sound strange.  And yet, of the hundreds of clients who’ve experienced this work with me, I think there’ve been just two who felt that they’d rather not do it again.

How does it work? 

First we get you relaxed and settled on the table, and bring some space to the all the muscles around your mouth and jaw, as described in the What Happens in a Session section here.

The work inside is done with vinyl gloves.  My gloved hand makes contact inside the mouth while the other one works outside, with focus on one side of the mouth at a time.  The work is quick – maybe a minute or two per round – working each side, and sometimes going back for a second round.  I talk you through the process, using words and images to help you relax, and guiding you through easy tongue and jaw movements that help deepen the work’s effectiveness.

My approach here, as in all my work, is to find the right level of contact - so that we can reach the treatment goals we want in a way that feels supportive and nurturing.

Generally, once I’m done, the client drops into a profoundly deep rest, as the client’s whole system reorganizes following the release.

How does it feel?  Try this….

First, wash your hands.

Then, take your right hand to your right check, with a moderate pressure.

From the point of view of your face, feel the heat and pressure of your hand.

From the point of view of your hand, feel the shape and contours of the face.

Let your lower jaw hang, and let your tongue begin to explore the inner surface of your cheek…. And then, further off to the side and back, to working part of the jaw, behind your wisdom teeth, as you move the jaw left and right, forward and back.

Now, take your left thumb and bring it into the corner of your TMJ, where your upper and lower molars meet, and gently feel around for tender spots.

That’s pretty much how it starts – with my hands replacing yours, and then evolving from there, based on your particular structural patterning.

Often the work I’ll do outside the mouth is more detailed than what happens inside… and… that work would not be possible without mobilizing things from within.

Does it hurt?

The mouth can hold a lot of tension and the “pressure points” inside the mouth can be surprisingly tender.   And - the tenderness of these spots tends to dissolve quickly  - as soon as the contact is released.  Unlike with deep work in other parts of the body, I don’t remember ever having a client report having mouth soreness following one of these sessions.

What tends to happen is that, immediately following this part of the session… the client drops into a profound level of relaxation… and rebalancing….

What if I don’t like it once we start?

You give me a hand-signal and we stop.