Tongue Position and Head Posture for Exercise

[@margaretmartinpt]

If you have experienced neck or upper shoulder pain during exercise or while working around your home, you will benefit from looking at this video. I provide tips on how to position your tongue during exercise. I also demonstrate how to best align your head for optimal posture.

[@AskBobnFran]

Great video! We are both in our 80's and are all about healthy aging. Getting older does have to mean getting sicker. We still strive for a strong body, a calm mind, & a positive outlook. Thanks!

[@margaretmartinpt]

That's great news!

[@JN25376]

Excellent video! Thank you, Margaret.

[@margaretmartinpt]

You are so welcome!

[@lindakautzman7388]

Excellent..Never knew that tongue position mattered..

[@j.doogan2552]

Thank you for this video. The alignment position you mentioned with the neck, is that how it should be for sleeping too? I'm in search for the proper pillow (thin) so I don't wake up with headaches.

[@margaretmartinpt]

You might want to read my articles on proper sleeping. melioguide.com/health-guides/better-sleep/

[@j.doogan2552]

@@margaretmartinpt Thank you!!

[@stilldreamy5181]

This was very interesting. But it wasn't very explanatory of exactly what good tongue posture is, other videos are much better for that. But I still found it informative about why this is important while exercising. However, it is also helpful to learn to have this as your default tongue position all the time, not just while exercising. It makes nose breathing much more natural, otherwise it can be too uncomfortable to breath through the nose. Mouth breathing begets more mouth breathing, and nose breathing begets more nose breathing. Nose breathing is important, it warms and filters the air. Mouth breathing interferes with your body's oxygenation process. Mouth breathing causes changes in your throat and airway such that mouth breathing is the only way of breathing that works well for you. Nose breathing causes changes in your nose and airway such that nose breathing works better. Mouth breathing causes changes that lead to snoring, which is always at least some level of sleep apnea, regardless of if it is bad enough to be considered that. Mouth breathing causes ADD like symptoms. Good tongue posture, which includes keeping the tongue kind of in a suctioned position along the roof of your mouth, helps support the weight of your head and skull. Bad tongue posture leads a droopy face, but if you switch to keeping good tongue posture, eventually this should change and your face will look better.

[@juliemolner2973]

I am not clear on the tongue position. I believe we have a "soft" palate and a "hard" palate. ??? My tongue is on the hard palate behind the teeth but not too close to the teeth. Is that what you mean? Thank you!

[@margaretmartinpt]

Simply put the tongue position can be felt simply by swallowing. When you swallow your tongue should naturally rest in the concavity of your hard palate. Your soft palate is behind your molars. I believe from your description that you got it! :)

[@juliemolner2973]

@@margaretmartinpt thank you, I think I do!! I have ordered your book for exercising with osteoporosis and love the videos I've seen. Thank you for all the guidance.

[@margaretmartinpt]

@@juliemolner2973 You are welcome and thanks for purchasing my book. Good luck with the program.

[@ProfitableSpeech]

Margaret, Since you show a visual of people propped up in their bed while reading, what is the proper head/neck alignment? Thank you.

[@margaretmartinpt]

Hi Dale. Thanks for your question. I cover proper sleeping tips in this article. melioguide.com/health-guides/better-sleep/

[@NancySKern]

Are you breathing out through your nose or mouth? This is so interesting!

[@margaretmartinpt]

In most cases, during exercise your can breathe in with your nose and exhale using your mouth.

[@wem-c9f]

Funnily I was never breastfed but naturally my tongue rests on the upper palette the tip is slightly behind the top front teeth. I think it is just anatomy. We all have different mouth sizes, tongue sizes, teeth sizes etc etc.. we are not the same.. some people have to put conscious effort to do the mewing position while for some it is very natural. Just like some of us talk and show our upper teeth while many of us actually show our bottom teeth more.. some have longer philtrum and some shorter.