If you live with hypertonic pelvic floor dysfunction (too much tone), you may have noticed that you, perhaps, tend to clench your jaw as well.
As mentioned in my previous blog post, Signs of Overactive Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and How Pelvic Floor Yoga Can Help, many people that live with pelvic floor dysfunction may also live with jaw pain.
One cue I often use in my yoga classes is “unclench your jaw”, because sometimes we are not aware of this part of our body (like our pelvic floor), and that we are walking around holding on tightly in this part of our body. However, did you know that there is a jaw-pelvis connection and that clenching your jaw can impact your pelvic floor?
Let’s dive into how:
Fascia connection
The jaw and the pelvic floor are connected through the deep front line of fascia. Fascia is a web of connective tissue that that surrounds muscles, muscle groups, blood vessels, nerves, bones and organs. The pelvic floor muscles and the two muscles connected to the jaw, masseter and temporalis, are all included in this fascial line.
Embryo connection
The jaw and the pelvic floor connection starts in the womb, around week 3.
The mouth and the openings of the urinary, reproductive and digestive tract start early on, and as the fetus grows and the spine develops they remain connected. Therefore there is also a,
Digestive tract connection
When you eat the food enters the body through chewing (the jaw), and exits the body through the anus (the pelvic floor).
Stress response
Tightening of the jaw is a fight response, so is clenching your pelvic floor muscles; most people hold onto stress in these parts of their body - as well as hands, feet, neck, upper shoulders, and abdomen. If you are noticing that your are clenching your jaw, while reading this for example, you are typically clenching your pelvic floor as well. This is a small reminder that you can invite in into your daily life:
Unclench your jaw
By working with the body in this way, which may be seen as such a small thing, you are supporting your body. Think about all the "small" things you are doing for yourself - unclenching your jaw, drinking your water, paying attention to your posture, working on your breathing - however, they aren't small. They are actually helping you on your healing journey in a huge way. Add the "small" things up and it will make a big difference!

Pelvic floor meditation exercise:
I invite you to land in your pelvis, bring your attention to that part of your body.
Take a couple of breaths here, see if you can breathe into your pelvic floor.
Then start to slowly clench and relax your jaw, and as you are doing this - notice what happens to the pelvic floor. It might be a very small action, but what are you noticing?
After you are done with your jaw-pelvic floor connection work, inhale in through the nose and create a humming sound with the exhale. Do this for 10 breaths.
When humming or talking in a low tone, the pelvic floor lengthens and relaxes - when speaking in a high tone the pelvic floor elevates and contracts. So not only does this breathing technique, Bhramari, help to relax your pelvic floor, but it also activates the parasympathetic response even more, because humming also stimulates the vagus nerve.
I love to gather information like this bout my body and add that to my little healing tool kit so that I can support myself even more.
So when you've done this exercise, let me know what you learned about your body in the comments. And if you want to learn more about how to support your pelvis in order for you to relive your pain, come join us for online pelvic floor yoga classes - practices made for You so that you can move more, sleep better and experience less stress!
So as you can see, there is a jaw-pelvis connection and your jaw can impact your pelvic floor. Do you live with pelvic floor dysfunction and tend to clench your jaw?
Penny P
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