The mouth to pelvic floor: an uber cool soft tissue connection

When we think about our bodies, we tend to compartmentalise all the areas as something separte. The pelvic floor? That’s “down there.” The mouth? Well, that’s “up here.” But here’s the thing: these two areas of our body share more than we might imagine.

Not only do the mouth and pelvic floor have similar tissue types, but they also share the same embryological origin. That’s right—before we were fully formed, these two areas started from the same place during development. And this connection might explain why something as simple as a kiss can spark a cascade of sensations that can ultimately (in the right circumstances) lead to arousal—and why relaxing the jaw can help release tension in the pelvic floor.

Embryological Origins: A Shared Beginning

In the early days of embryonic development, the structures that will become the mouth and pelvic floor are derived from the same group of cells. These cells, called the cloacal membrane, eventually differentiate and grow into what will become the openings of the body—mouth at one end and pelvic floor at the other.

This shared starting point creates a lifelong connection, as if these two areas carry an invisible thread woven during our earliest days. It’s this intimate link that shapes how they communicate, both consciously and subconsciously, throughout our lives.

The Soft Tissue connections

Both the mouth and the pelvic floor are rich in fascia, the connective tissue that links the entire body like a web. Fascia doesn’t just hold things together—it’s dynamic and communicative, transmitting tension, movement, and even emotion from one part of the body to another.

This deep connection helps explain why tension in one area, like the jaw, often ripples down to the pelvis, and why releasing tension in one area can help ease the other.

Try this: unclench your jaw, letting your lips part slightly. Feel the softness spread through your mouth. Notice how that release creates a ripple of relaxation that reaches your pelvic floor. This isn’t magic—it’s the body’s interconnected design at work.

An aside for interest

If you take the time to gently close your eyes or partially close them in a quiet space. inhale and exhale through your nose. As you inhale the roof of your mouth lowers a little and as you exhale the roof of your mouth moves up (this is different if you mouth breathe). However, what interests me is that this soft palate is another transverse diaphragm and it moves in the same way as our thoracic diaphragm and pelvic floor diaphragm move. (well almost the pelvic floor is a little more complicated than that- perhaps that’s the next blog 😂

Anyway back to this blog post…

The Role of Nerves and Sensory Feedback

Both the mouth and pelvic floor are packed with sensory nerves that are part of the autonomic nervous system, which governs arousal and relaxation. When we kiss, the stimulation of these sensitive tissues sends signals through the body, activating areas that correspond to pleasure and intimacy—including the pelvic floor.

Similarly, when we soften the jaw, we create a feedback loop that helps the pelvic floor relax. This is particularly powerful for those who carry tension in these areas—whether from stress, posture, or emotional holding patterns.

Breath: The Bridge Between the Two

Breath is another key player in this connection. Both the mouth and pelvic floor are connected via the diaphragm, our primary breathing muscle. Deep, diaphragmatic breathing softens and relaxes these interconnected areas. When we kiss or breathe deeply, the diaphragm moves in harmony with the pelvic floor, promoting release, circulation, and balance.

Why It Matters …

For women with pelvic floor dysfunction, understanding this connection is more than just interesting—it’s super important. It highlights how interconnected our bodies are, and how sensations and emotions don’t happen in isolation.

Releasing tension in the jaw through gentle massage, mindful breathing, or even humming can help relax the pelvic floor. Similarly, the breath work and activation through the poses in Hypopressives can support a softer, more open jaw. This relationship offers new ways to experience relaxation, connection, and even intimacy.

A New Perspective on Pleasure and Release

This connection is a timely reminder of how our bodies are wired for connection, both to ourselves and to others. The brilliant connection between the mouth and pelvic floor isn’t just about tension and release; it’s also about how we experience touch, intimacy, and joy.

Your Invitation to Explore

The next time you feel tension in your body—whether it’s in your jaw, your hips, or your breath—pause. Take a slow, deep inhale, letting your rib cage expand 360. Unclench your jaw, allowing your lips to part. Notice how this simple act softens your pelvic floor, creating a sense of ease and connection.

This is your body’s way of whispering: *We’re all connected.*

If you’re curious to explore this connection further, I’d love to guide you. Through workshops, 1-2-1 sessions and shared discovery, we can dive into the fascinating relationship between the mouth and pelvic floor, one breath and one connection at a time.

“In nature we never see anything isolated, but everything in connection with something else which is before it, beside it, under it and over it.”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe