09/05/2026
This line from Breathe Smarter, Run Stronger by Jacko really stuck with me.
Breathing is automatic… but that doesn’t necessarily mean the way we’re breathing is optimal.
Our bodies are incredibly good at adapting. If we consistently breathe through our mouth, take shallow breaths, overuse accessory muscles, or develop other compensatory patterns, our body can start treating those patterns as the norm.
And this is where I think breathing training and myofunctional therapy overlap so beautifully.
In myofunctional therapy, we aren’t simply telling someone, “Just breathe through your nose.”
We’re asking why they aren’t.
Can the nose function well?
Can the lips comfortably stay together?
Where is the tongue resting?
Can the tongue maintain proper posture?
Is there adequate nasal airflow?
What muscles are working during breathing?
And what patterns has the body learned over time?
Because you can’t simply tell a body to change a pattern it has been practicing for years.
You have to give it a reason, the right conditions, and an opportunity to learn a new one.
Just like training any other system, breathing can be trained—but it should be specific, progressive, and appropriate for the individual, with time for the body to adapt.
And THAT is why breathing is such an important piece of myofunctional therapy.
Source: Jacko, Breathe Smarter, Run Stronger
