Today we’d like to introduce you to Carina Jiménez González.
Hi Carina, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have always been an active person and I love running. Around 2018 I was running a lot and barely stretching that my calf got so tight it hurt to walk. At this time I was doing my doctorate in Chiropractic at Life University so I had some knowledge about human anatomy and muscles so I started looking in google how to release the muscles and from article to article, I got with the topic of cupping therapy. I read a little bit about it, didn’t think it twice and bought my first set of cupping. Once I got them I started experimenting on myself with the cups and saw how it helped me a lot releasing my calves. Then I started asking my friends from the university if I could practice on them too. One night I was giving treatment to one of my friends and she said to me “we have an exam tomorrow that we still need to study for, you have been working on me for an hour and you are not charging at least $20 for this… you need to start charging” and I remember being like you’re right, I didn’t thought of that. The reality was that I just wanted to keep practicing and learning but she had a good point, it was also about me giving my time for free (during my journey they have been key moments and phrases that have stuck with me and have made me realize my next step).
After that night I started my first side hustle charging $20 for sessions to chiropractic students. I kept researching, ordering books about cupping therapy, muscle work, massage books, human anatomy, etc… I suddenly got obsessed with the human anatomy and how everything works together and the capabilities of our bodies. Then one day the boyfriend of one of my friends asked me if I could treat one of his co-workers and that was the moment when I immediately knew I need it to get certified in myofascial release and that’s what I did. From that moment on, I started getting more referrals and started building a clientele. Back then I started treating people with cupping therapy by going to their houses. During the week after class, I would work and during the weekends. This was without planning it, without having a goal in mind. The only goal I had in mind was graduating and going back to Puerto Rico to practice chiropractic with another doctor. It wasn’t until the pandemic hit in March 2020 that things forced me to slow down, once I had more time to read I started developing how I would systemize my treatment. Then on my last quarter of classes, I had to create a business plan as part of the final assignment. I had two things clear in my head, one was I wanted to work in gym environments (or how I like to called them human labs) where I could see how my patients are moving and to give them exercises that can optimize their performance and second I would combined soft tissue (muscle, tendons, ligaments, fascia) therapy with chiropractic care.
From thinking about my treatment and then imagining how my ideal business would look like, Myorehab was born. I graduated from Life University with my Doctorate of Chiropractic in December 2020. Still with pandemic, I couldn’t get a direct flight back to Puerto Rico until March so I stayed longer in Atlanta and still treating people at their houses I met the owner of CrossFit 1490, he liked my work and he offered me a storage room that he had to work there instead of going from house to house. I accepted and I remember entering the room and it was full of boxes, I placed my table in the middle and started working. In May 2021 I registered the business and since then it has been growing the business. From a storage room to a nice office room and now in 2023 the opening of a second location in Alpharetta with Moore Sport Performance. The more time goes by the more I continue to learn and develop my craft, the hybrid approach between the muscles and the nervous system. With each passing day, I get more reassurance that through my profession I can impact people’s life and helped them realize how mind-blowing our bodies are and how we can take care of ourselves through movement.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
No, it hasn’t been smooth at all. Starting my own business has required a lot of sacrifices from me. I started it during my doctorate so I would go to class all day, then get out and work, arrive home around 9-10 pm to eat, study, then next day same. You sacrifice sleep, time with friends, study time, things that you love to do, the reality is that there was no balance… My life at that time was workout, school, work, study, repeat. But it taught me a lot about what resilience truly means. Then after graduating in December 2020 my chiropractic license took several months to be process so I could only offer soft tissue therapy so that meant less income. Those months of waiting taught me how to focus on the things I can control and how to manage the pressure that comes of not having economical stability. Also when you start a business it feels (and for me it was actually like that) there are no rest days, because in a world that is full of noise how are you going to make them notice you.
So after graduating all I had in mind was Atlanta needs to know about what Myorehab can offer and since then that has been one of the goals. This will be my third year practicing after graduating and if something I have learned is that life doesn’t get easy, it’s us that get better at managing life. You grow and expand the business, life will also required of you to do the same and level up and that’s the beauty of it. Life is a constant change that push us to adapt by throwing at us rough, uncomfortable and uncertain moments, but we must remember that is outside of our comfort zones that we growth. So I’m grateful for my struggles because they have shaped me and have made Myorehab a better place too.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Myorehab our mission is to get your body feeling at its best so you can keep enjoying the things you love. We utilize manual therapy with a combination of instruments (cupping and IASTM) to treat the muscles. After the soft tissue therapy is done then we proceed with the chiropractic adjustment. The combination of both modalities will promote full movement with better motor control (muscle <-> brain connection). Once your muscles and nervous system are in tune we address any faulty movement patterns through corrective exercises.
During our sessions, you will learn how your body moves and how this relates to your performance. This knowledge will help you not only with your current injury but also you’ll acquire tools that will help you claim your independence over your health. Yes, injuries are not good and they suck but they come as a result of having an active lifestyle so you cannot have one and expect the other one not to happen. With that being said, we encourage the patients to focus on what they will gain (more power, strength, mobility, flexibility, etc) and not on the injury.
Therefore the standard idea of rehabilitation as universally applicable protocols and mandatory rest is removed. For that reason, each session at Myorehab is based upon an individual’s evaluation findings and not a pre-existing protocol. The treatment aims to restore balance to the body by decreasing tension, increasing the range of motion, aligning posture, and building strength. Combining chiropractic care, manual therapy, and functional training yields better results in functions and gains that will optimize your performance. The true objective is to aim for longevity and to live a vibrant and energetic life doing the things we love.
I often get ask: so what are you exactly? What’s your title? You are not the usual chiropractor? Or I get the comments that I’m a mixture of physical therapy and chiropractor or a one stop place to get everything. The reality is that the more I study the body the more I realize that is the combination of things that helps us have a better life. It goes from good nutrition, sleep, movement to receiving body maintenance. When I work with my patients all I want is from them to become aware of their bodies and to break any limiting beliefs when it comes to what their bodies are capable of. I found a method that have given results and have make positive changes in people’s life. I like my sessions to be dynamic. Also its like I emphasize, treatment is not only when injuries occur, also treatment is to improve your performance and to help you push past your goals. In my experience when you educate and make the patient more responsible for their care they become more compliant because they understand what’s going on with their bodies, so they regain their power back of being self-sufficient and that gives them more strength to battle the frustrations that come with rehabilitation. Also with the exercises they can see for themselves how much they have improved physically given them a boost to their brain.
I’m proud of how Myorehab can truly say it offers a detailed plan based on each person. It goes to the specifics and it’s because I believe that we are all made different and what could work for you won’t work for me. So each care plan at Myorehab is tailored to each patient’s skills, abilities and lifestyle.
I want people to know Myorehab for a place where we aim for longevity and that we truly believe in optimizing your performance so you can keep breaking barriers and setting new goals
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
That’s a good question! I like it 🙂 I consider myself a risk taker, adrenaline junkie, and apparently I like to live in the edge. I believe that there are two places to be in life, outside and inside of our comfort zones. Inside there’s no change, no growth, we get comfortable in what we have and then there’s the outside where you learn how to be comfortable in the uncertainty, where taking action leads to changes and changes leads to new adventures. Taking risk is what makes us growth, is what makes this life exciting and gives purpose to keep trying over and over again. In my opinion we only have one life, no one else is going to live that for you, so if The Universe, God, whoever is up there put you an idea in your head and you believe in it I think you should follow it because if not you’ll not only be depriving yourself of evolving but also you are depriving the world from it. Risk can be scary but most of the time they end up being worth it. It’s outside the comfort zone where our characters are form, is through that exposure that we create discipline, resilience and mental toughness that we become better human beings. Taking risk changes environments affects people and if we are doing it with a good heart it makes the world a better place. Putting your idea out there and see it come a reality that’s already a risk worth taking. It won’t be easy but nothing at first is easy, so just keep trying.
One current risk I’m taking is the second location of the business. It’s expansion, growth and that’s amazing and exciting but also is a risk that comes with more responsibilities and pressure, but again, the adrenaline is what I like so I guess this is what I was looking for 😆 I see risk as a challenge I’m willing to take, sometimes we cry, we feel defeated, there’s self-doubt but the important thing is that when emotions and thoughts like this appear your why is so strong and clear that the next day you’ll try and show up again even harder and more determined to work for what you want.
I guess that’s my thought on taking risks 😁😅
Contact Info:
- Instagram: myo.rehab_
Image Credits
Ivan Rodriguez for the pictures
