Avenue Of Expression Release Therapy

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Have you ever had difficulty using your voice, expressing yourself or feeling like you are not being heard? Did you know that silencing your voice/expression can have detrimental health effects? 

Opening the Avenue of Expression (AOE) in you can have profound life changing effects. 

Listening deeply to another person and enabling them to experience being heard is one of THE most profound human needs. When the AOE is open it allows you to: 

· Express who you are

· Stand up for what you believe

· Say no when you need to

· Be honest and open in what you say

· Relieves stress

Exactly where is this AOE located and how do we open it? The structures involved are the upper chest, face & neck. This includes the muscles of the neck that connect with the hyoid bone and the bones of the face and jaw.  Most importantly some of this work is done inside the mouth. The above mentioned are the structures, tissues, fluids and energies involved in the expression of words, images, feelings and so on.

Each of these components have at least some influence over the ability of our health partners ability to express themselves. These expressions can either be in words, sounds, or expressions of emotions. It is quite common for the AOE structures to become “jammed” if you will, when we do not express. Lines of tension are created over time and some of the health issues we can start noticing are headaches, migraines, TMJ syndrome, vertigo, tinnitus, anxiety & depression, to name a few.

How is the AOE opened? The same gentle light touch craniosacral technique applied in our body Somato-Emotional Release session is also applied when working with the structures of the AOE.  There can sometimes be slightly tense areas when working inside the mouth but the relief that is created when the tension is released makes all the difference.

The work is very health partner specific and it is certainly unique how the connection between your body, its memory of all your life experiences, and what you have to say in the world will come together. While The Avenue of Expression is an additional advanced technique of Body Balance Therapy, it is absolutely essential to incorporate into a session as it allows for effective Somato-Emotional Release- SER (which is a therapeutic process that helps to rid the mind and body of the residual effects of trauma). 

As with all our treatments Acupuncture, Cranial Balance and Organ Realignment are also incorporated. 

Incorporation of Mouth Work

There are a number of reasons. Firstly, there are aspects of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that you simply can’t access from the outside. These structures are just as important in the balance and function of the jaw and throat, and if there are restrictions present, releasing them will yield good results. If you are someone who deals with headaches, jaw pain, or chronic neck issues, working inside the mouth is incredibly beneficial.

Secondly, when you work with the hard palate, you are touching the brain. The hard palate gives you indirect access to the body of the sphenoid, the beautiful pterodactyl shaped bone behind your eyes.

The sphenoid comes in contact with the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, and is quite close to the cerebellum, midbrain, and brain stem. It also cradles the pituitary gland, which is a bit of a boss as far as your endocrine (hormonal) system goes. 

Work inside the mouth can also help balance the nervous system and keep excessive responses in check.

Thirdly, the mouth is part of how we communicate. Dr. John Upledger, one of the forefathers of craniosacral therapy and co-founder of the Upledger Institute, called the mouth and throat the “avenue of expression”. In chakra land,  the fifth chakra (vishuddha) is located at the throat. Vishuddha’s domain is that of communication and sincere self expression. Opening this area can truly facilitate speaking your truth, finding your purpose, and discovering a more authentic way of living.