Meet Ashley Dorado

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Dorado and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
At MyoMovement, we’re not just providing therapy — we’re helping individuals and families reconnect with one of the most basic human functions: breathing well. Myofunctional therapy addresses issues that many people don’t even realize are affecting their daily lives — things like mouth breathing, poor sleep, chronic congestion, teeth grinding, speech, and behavioral concerns.

Before I specialized in this work, I practiced as a dental hygienist for years. I was trained — like so many in the field — to tell parents, “They’ll grow out of grinding,” or to recommend night guards as a quick fix. But it never sat right with me. Why were we fabricating devices to manage symptoms instead of asking why the child or adult was grinding in the first place?

It wasn’t until I went through my own journey as a mother, struggling to get support for my daughter’s tongue-tie, feeding challenges, thumb-sucking habit and bed-wetting, that I realized how much was being missed — both in the dental chair and in the broader healthcare system. That experience fueled my passion to dig deeper and look to the why, allowing me to then help others do the same and improve their daily life!

Now, through MyoMovement, I support children and adults — both in-person in Charlotte and virtually — with individualized therapy that gets to the root of dysfunction. I also collaborate with dentists, orthodontists, ENTs, occupational therapists, bodyworkers, speech pathologists, and more to offer a team-based approach to care.

The social impact? It’s early intervention. It’s prevention. It’s equipping families with answers and restoring quality of life. When a child can finally breathe through their nose, sleep soundly, or eat without struggle — it transforms everything. That’s the kind of change we’re creating, one breath, one family at a time!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
MyoMovement was born out of both professional frustration and personal experience. As a dental hygienist, I kept seeing the same issues — teeth grinding, mouth breathing, orthodontic relapse — and I was trained to manage symptoms, not address the root. Then, when my daughter was born and faced her own struggles with tongue-tie, feeding, reflux, mouth breathing, I experienced firsthand how overwhelming and isolating it can be to seek help and not find answers.

I realized there was a massive gap in care — not just in dentistry, but across healthcare — when it came to functional wellness, for both children and adults! MyoMovement became my way of filling that gap: offering compassionate, evidence-based therapy that gets to the root of dysfunction and partners with families for real change.

What sets MyoMovement apart is our individualized, collaborative approach. We don’t just hand clients a worksheet of exercises — we build custom programs, communicate with their full healthcare team, and support them holistically. Whether someone is 4 or 44, our goal is to empower them with tools that improve breathing, sleep, posture, swallowing, behavior — and quality of life.

It hasn’t been easy. Starting a business meant learning how to wear every hat — clinician, admin, marketer, and more — while also continuing my education, taking care of my daughter, and continuing my role as an adjunct instructor at a local college. But every time a parent tells me their child slept through the night for the first time, or an adult says they are finally getting relief, it makes the hard days worth it.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is this: healing doesn’t happen in a straight line — and neither does business. Growth takes time, and trust is built moment by moment. I want the world to know that MyoMovement isn’t just a service — it’s a commitment to care, clarity, and connection.

Our story is still being written, and I’m so proud of the community we’re building along the way. Join the MyoMovement!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my besties are visiting me in Charlotte, we would start with an energizing morning yoga class at The Coterie, followed by chai lattes at Not Just Coffee on Jay Street. I’d quickly show them my office (attached to NJC) and then we would most likely head to the Whitewater Center for a nice hike. After that, we’d get cooled off, regroup and head to Optimist Hall for lunch. We would most likely head to the Rail Trail in Southend and check out Pins Mechanical if we are up for some more activity. We would head to Vinyl for dinner, and then head back out to West Charlotte to Coyote Joe’s to wrap up the night with a country show or just for some good music and dancing!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Absolutely — no journey like this happens alone! First and foremost, I have to shout out the clients and families who’ve trusted me with their stories, their children, and their healing. They’ve been my biggest inspiration and my daily reminder of why this work matters.

Professionally, I’m deeply grateful to the mentors and educators who paved the way in the myofunctional therapy world — their dedication gave me the tools to start building something meaningful. The passion we all share at every stage is so inspiring.

I also have to thank my colleagues and collaborative partners — the dentists, orthodontists, ENTs, speech therapists, craniosacral therapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, and wellness professionals I work with. The work we do together creates lasting change because it’s not siloed — it’s integrative and deeply client-centered.

Personally – My husband and daughter. Becoming a mom changed everything. It lit a fire in me to ask better questions, seek better answers, and advocate harder — not just for my family, but for others walking the same path.

MyoMovement is built on connection — and I’ve been so lucky to be surrounded by people who not only supported me, but challenged me to grow into the therapist and business owner I am today.

Website: https://www.myo-movement.com

Instagram: @myo_movement

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-dorado/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyoMovementCLT/

Image Credits
Sarah Murphy