Mojotherapy - Remedial Massage & Stretch Therapy

Have you got blocked sinuses, compression or ache through these areas in your face? Here is a 2 minute guide how to do lymphatic drainage for your own sinus using your fingers.

First of all, we must activate the lymph nodes to prep them to drain as much filtration into this area- using finger tips, lightly pump and release below and above the collarbones /clavicles 8x, then pump the underarms 8x.

This is getting the lymph nodes ready to pull the sinus fluids downward for filtration!

I notice a lot of gua sha or lymphatic work being done without pumping the lymph nodes clusters- this is so important!

We then need to stroke down the neck from top to bottom 8x

Then stroke from the bridge of nose across the eyebrows and forehead, away from the midline 8x

Then stroke away from the nose underneath the eyes and across the cheeks 8x

Pump downwards on your scalp 8x to help the flow downward towards lymph nodes

Stroke the neck again 8x downwards

REPEAT 3 x and end of pumping the lymph nodes and underarms

Try not to touch your face firmly for 2 hours/however long is practical - so as to not interrupt the flow

You might feel fluid draining down your nose into your throat, or that you might feel like you’re getting sick - this is the process of lymph fluid draining from your nose sinus area. Hopefully you’ll feel clearer in the sinus and less compressed in the face.

This helps TMJ sufferers with sinus issues as well

I can treat you and do this as well- but always better if you can do some homework to help you out

Does your jaw deviate and click on one side? This is some homework exercise I give clients to do regularly in addition to treatment, self jaw massage, neck stretches and better sleep ergonomics.

Your jaw could click and deviate to one side for a few reasons:

Maloclusion- your top and bottom jaw don’t quite line up to sit nicely at rest, lead to muscle imbalances

Muscle imbalances- overuse of the opposite jaw muscles (clenching, chewing chewy foods) like the lateral pterygoid, which tend to shift jaw to opposite side

Injury which has shifted the joint to displace the disc- causing clicking and deviation to one side

For my TMJD sufferers- the Medial Pterygoid and Mylohyoid release intra orally /inside, can be a gaggy tricky one to find, but once you got it, honestly has best bang for buck results! (Alongside working on lateral pterygoid and masseter- see previous videos)

Using same finger same side of your jaw, find the last molar at the top first, hook around in the wall of the muscle (not the cheek!), find any tender spot and hold firmly and gently, be patient and let yourself drool - relax your tongue and jaw. Slowly slide your finger down the muscle towards behind the bottom molar.

This is just a guide- when I do it for it, it is easier to work out where you are going and what you’re meant to feel if it is tender/tight/inflamed.

The mylohyoids, located just underneath the tongue are pretty easy to find, just use same finger same side to make contact with muscles under the tongue.

Mylohyoids mainly responsible for swallowing but releasing this can help with forward head posture, which can lead to jaw tension/stretch/strain of lateral pterygoid (a key muscle in clenching/grinding).

TMJ homework video for my jaw clients - this is how to release your lateral pterygoid and masseter from the inside.

Aim to do this 1-2x week, take your time, don’t rush- in the shower or infront of tv with a hand towel, let yourself drool … no need to use a lot of pressure, a gentle but firm touch and be patient

If you go in all gung ho, you can over inflame the muscle and make it worse. Be wary of other therapists that jab you aggressively here.

For lateral pterygoid and masseter, you’re using your opposite hand for wrist ergonomics.

The next video will be on the more gaggy medial pterygoid, which is abit more tricky to find.

For my TMJ clients- some external jaw muscle releases for the hyoids, zygomaticus, masseter and temporalis (temple).

Releasing the hyoids under the chin will help with forward head posture which puts pressure on the lateral pterygoid jaw muscle and the joint itself.

Tension in zygomaticus muscle under the cheek bone can put pressure on sinus areas and mimic TMJD pain.

Masseter tension can lead to temple headaches and ache over the jaw joint.

Clenching, grinding can leave to overuse and tension in all these muscles including internal muscles (which next video will show how to release).

Here are some easy to follow ways to release tension in your jaw using your hands/fingers, use a firm but not aggressive pressure, do 5-8 strokes or pin and stretch type repetitions until you feel a sense of release.

If you’re a new parent or expecting a baby- this is super important to reduce/avoid injuries.

Top parenting injuries I treat and what generally causes them

Lower back pain, hip imbalances, sciatica - usually on Left side from holding baby on Left hip (or one hip predominantly while using the other hand to do other things)

Baby carriers are usually a godsend for parents to free up their hands and give them a break holding the baby, but if the parents’ core is not engaged while using over long period of wearing, or there’s no lower back strap- lower back pain is imminent!

Neck pain from looking down at the baby (or phone!) for long periods can arise easily, especially if the mum is breastfeeding mainly on one side.

“Mums thumb” or De Quervains syndrome is an inflammation of the tendon sheath of the thumb from excessive use / outstretching of the thumb and fingers in a C and L shape to hold the baby.

Here’s a video of how to ergonomically hold the baby when young

Just try to keep your thumb and fingers together in cup grip and hold baby close against you with both hands to avoid thumb injuries and avoid that L or C shape hand hold for longer than a few minutes.

sciatica

After 12 years - I am returning to Japan for the 4th time but for Spring! I am hoping to catch the late cherry blossoms in Hokkaido 😍 🌸

Jo in Japan : 15th April - 4th May

Lauren will be available on Wednesdays and Saturdays 2-8pm and possibly more if it suits her with special request.

[email protected]

If you’re ever wondering what I do in a TMJ /jaw session for sufferers of TMJD (temporal mandibular joint dysfunction)…

ASSESSMENT

I firstly assess the pelvis, hips and shoulder levels and postural positions which may affect the neck and jaw.

I check your jaw and neck movement to see what soft tissue could be pulling you into particular patterns.

TREATMENT

Depending on where your imbalances or restrictions may lie- I work to rebalance hip and shoulder, through the neck attachments into the head and jaw.

Jaw is the last thing to release at the top of the kinetic chain, including facial muscles temporalis and frontalis-
common headache areas@for TMJD.

Lastly I release intra orally the lateral pterygoids, masseter, medial pterygoids and mylohyoids.

EVALUATION

I check how the jaw and neck are moving, any postural changes and work out a plan for next steps 👍🏻

A lot of my clients often ask me what do I do on my days off once they learn I work part time 3.5 days a week… so I thought I’d take a snippet of some of my favourite things to do ☺️

Since quitting corporate media work 10+ years ago, I’ve been part time (except for when I really need to pay for something big like a property deposit or special levy)!

Apart from the usual admin of laundry 🧺, some cleaning and meal prep - here are some of my activities and hobbies.