If you’re hypermobile (or neuro-sensitive / bracing-patterned), “standard” TMJ protocols often assume a body that has reliable passive stability.

But hypermobility changes the rules.

Because when connective tissue is more compliant, your system leans harder on neuromuscular guarding to create stability.

That’s why “tongue posture” can turn into another compensation strategy—especially if it’s trained in isolation.

Swallowing, jaw function, and tongue posture are not separate silos.

They’re an integrated jaw–hyoid–tongue–neck system.

One simple anatomical truth explains a lot:

“The digastrics raise the tongue base and hyoid bone and depress the mandible…”

That’s why in my world, we don’t “train the tongue” like it’s floating in space.

We decode the mechanism.

Because the tongue sits in a living architecture—connected through the suprahyoids (including digastric) into the hyoid, jaw mechanics, airway/breath, and cervical organization.

And this isn’t theoretical. It’s measurable.

A 2022 study on mastication found:

“Suprahyoid activity and jaw gape showed significant positive correlation…”

Meaning: when the system is doing its job, jaw opening + suprahyoid activity are coordinated. The body isn’t modular.

The “tongue-on-palate” trap I caught in my own body

Here’s a real example from my own training:

The other day I noticed that when I try to keep my tongue on the roof of my mouth on the exhale forward move with the BLAFit, the moment I “reinforce” the tongue (gently)… my jaw subtly retracts.

And that subtle jaw retraction can pull the whole system toward old organization:

• jaw back
• throat tension up
• head forward
• neck bracing on

Well hell no.

That’s not “good tongue posture.”

That’s a compensation loop that can reinforce forward-head and protective swallowing mechanics.

This is exactly why tongue training alone is not a smart strategy for many hypermobile systems.

Because if the system doesn’t feel stable, it will create stability somehow—even if it means recruiting an old pattern.

What I developed and why it’s different

My work uses a TMJ-doctor-invented face training device (and yes—my training is TMJ-doctor approved/recommended), but what I built on top of that is the missing piece:

neuromuscular + connective tissue training + full-body integration.

Not “do this tongue drill and hope it sticks.”

Instead, we retrain:

• jaw–hyoid–tongue timing
• cervical organization
• breath mechanics / pressure strategy
• and the nervous system “safety” layer that determines whether the body lets go of bracing

This is the somatic + structural decoding of the tongue:
Not just where the tongue sits, but what the whole system does when you try to place it there.

Nerd alert: training these muscles can change hyoid mechanics

There’s also evidence that targeted jaw-opening training can change swallowing mechanics via the suprahyoid system and through that the DIGASTRICS (yup the tongue!!). Bingo! Exactly what we are looking for when training intelligently, non invasively and non-toxically in the body.

A 2018 study on high-speed jaw-opening exercise reported:

“High-speed jaw-opening exercise resulted in increased elevation velocity of the hyoid bone during swallowing…”

That matters because hyoid movement is central to swallow dynamics, and in hypermobile/guarded bodies, this region is often over-recruited or poorly coordinated.

Also, a 2018 anatomical review in Cureus emphasizes the tongue’s broader body connections (not confined to the mouth).

What this means in plain English

If you’re hypermobile or bracing-patterned:

Tongue training can help…
but only if it’s integrated into the jaw–hyoid–neck–breath system and retrained in a way that doesn’t feed your compensations.

Otherwise, “tongue on palate” becomes another form of gripping.

In my teaching (after you learn the basics in my Foundations Course and then progress into the Bonus content), I show you how to:

• catch the micro-retraction
• understand why it happens
• and retrain it so tongue posture supports function without pulling you into old patterns

Backed with real anatomy, real physiology, and real lived experience of living in a hypermobile NEUROCOMPLEX body.

Scientific sources and how my work is connected

Core anatomy: digastric, suprahyoid, jaw–hyoid–tongue integration1. StatPearls / NCBI — Digastric muscle anatomy and function | Citation:
Tranchito EN, Bordoni B. Digastric Muscle. StatPearls Publishing; 2024. | Direct quote: “The digastric muscles elevate the hyoid bone and depress the mandible.” | How this supports what I teach: Jaw and hyoid are mechanically linked + Tongue base position is influenced by suprahyoid mechanics + Jaw function and swallowing coordination are structurally integrated

NCBI Anatomy overview — Suprahyoid muscle group | Citation: NCBI Bookshelf. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Suprahyoid Muscle. 2023. | Direct quote “Suprahyoid muscles elevate the hyoid bone and facilitate mandibular depression.” | How this supports my framework: Jaw opening and hyoid elevation share the same muscular system+Tongue stability depends on suprahyoid function

Frontiers in Physiology (2022) | Citation: Sasa A et al. Suprahyoid muscle activity during mastication. Frontiers in Physiology, 2022. | Direct quote: “Suprahyoid activity and jaw gape showed significant positive correlation." | This supports my claim: Jaw movement and suprahyoid activation are coordinated +Tongue, hyoid, and jaw function cannot be isolated

Matsubara et al. (2018) — Jaw-opening exercise study | Citation: Matsubara M et al. High-speed jaw-opening exercise improves swallowing function. PMC, 2018. | Direct quote: “High-speed jaw-opening exercise increased elevation velocity of the hyoid bone.” | How this study supports my method: Jaw-opening training can directly improve hyoid mechanics + Functional training can improve swallowing dynamics

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (2020) | Citation: Choi JB et al. Therapeutic exercise increased suprahyoid muscle thickness. | Key finding:
Jaw-opening exercise improved suprahyoid muscle thickness and hyoid movement. | Supports: Structural training can alter functional biomechanics

Cureus Journal (2018) | Citation: Bordoni B et al. The anatomical relationships of the tongue.| Direct quote: “The deep fascia of the suprahyoid region is continuous with the floor of the mouth.” | Supports: Tongue posture is influenced by fascial and structural integration + Tongue cannot be treated as isolated muscle

Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases (2023) | Citation:
Rombaut L et al. Temporomandibular disorders in Ehlers-Danlos syndromes.| Key finding: High prevalence of TMD, chronic pain, and dysfunction in hypermobile patients. | Supports: Traditional TMJ protocols may not address connective tissue instability

Journal of Voice (2021) | Citation: Castori M et al. Throat and voice problems in EDS.| Direct quote: “Swallowing abnormalities… are not uncommon.”| Supports: Swallow dysfunction is common in hypermobile populations+Standard TMJ care often overlooks it

Journal of Oral Rehabilitation / PMC (2023) | Key finding:Head posture significantly influences hyoid bone position. | Supports: Forward head posture affects swallowing and jaw function | Tongue training without posture integration may reinforce compensation

Important scientific conclusions that directly support my method

Science confirms:

• Jaw, hyoid, tongue, and neck are structurally integrated
• Suprahyoid muscles coordinate swallowing, jaw movement, and tongue mechanics
• Targeted functional training can improve hyoid and swallowing mechanics
• Hypermobility populations have higher TMJ and swallow dysfunction prevalence
• Posture and nervous system coordination affect jaw and swallow function

Where your work uniquely extends beyond standard care

Science describes the mechanical system.

My work adds the missing layer:

Neuromuscular integration
Nervous system safety
Compensation pattern decoding
System-wide retraining instead of local correction

This is consistent with modern motor control science, fascial research, and rehabilitation principles.