Rising Stars: Meet María Cristina Jiménez of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to María Cristina Jiménez.

Hi María Cristina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey into bodywork began at fifteen after a near-fatal accident in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Surviving extensive fractures and the loss of a kidney, I spent months in traction witnessing the miraculous way the body heals itself. During that time, I had a profound spiritual experience. It ignited a lifelong vow to care for the body and give back to others.

For decades, I have dedicated myself to the study of the body. My background includes twenty years as a yoga and anatomy instructor, becoming an Advanced Certified Rolfer, a Master’s in Occupational Therapy specializing in hand therapy, and an MFA from the New School. As a Fulbright Research Scholar, I have also explored the social dimensions of the body through my research on femicide.

My clinical expertise is built upon training and mentoring with somatic pioneers in CranioSacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, and Structural Integration.

Since 2013, I have worked out of my home office in Lake Hollywood, where I help clients manage chronic pain, such as sciatica, disc herniations, and/or migraines, to name a few of the many conditions I’ve worked with. I specialize in hand therapy and ScarWork; my favorite part of this practice is helping clients find relief as their scar tissue becomes pliable and integrated.

While my innate curiosity has led me to study everything from nerve work to visceral manipulation, my focus remains on being a gentle yet deep healer. Whether I am working on the three-dimensional web of the fascia or the intricacies of the upper extremities, my goal is to help clients feel at home in their bodies. My own history with trauma and recovery allows me to meet my clients with a unique level of sensitivity and professional excellence. I am honored to share my passion for healing and the wisdom I have gathered from both my clinical training and my own moments of grace.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The human body is endlessly complex, which makes it easy to fall into the trap of wanting to study everything about it. My innate curiosity led me from yoga to meditation to Rolfing to CranioSacral therapy, visceral manipulation, nerve work, and more. While this knowledge is invaluable, the struggle has been avoiding spreading myself too thin. Now in my 50s, I am entering a phase where I want to focus my energy and resources on becoming a deeper expert in specific areas.

Another significant challenge has been balancing the financial aspect of healing. As a sensitive person driven by a desire to help, it was initially difficult to put a monetary value on my services. However, managing high professional overhead and personal expenses required me to establish clear boundaries. I have had to learn to be firm about my rates and recognize that my services are not for everyone.

Ultimately, those who work with me receive the benefit of decades of high-level training, excellent credentials, and a genuine commitment to being of service.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in Rolfing® Structural Integration, Hand Therapy, and ScarWork.

With my background as a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist, I have extensive experience in treating the hands and upper extremities, including the neck, shoulders, elbows, and wrists.

My training in Rolfing allows me to address the whole body by working with fascia—the connective tissue web that supports our entire structure. This holistic approach means that addressing one area can often lead to profound healing throughout the body.

I also have expertise in scar tissue. Having survived a serious car accident, I have a personal understanding of how scars can adhere to deep tissues and impact the body. Because scars are often tied to traumatic events, I find working with them to be powerful and rewarding.

I am known for being a gentle yet deep, holistic healer. Clients often share that my sessions provide a unique experience of physical relief and emotional grounding. One of my proudest moments involved a client who suffered from back pain so severe she could barely walk; after ten sessions, she was able to dance at her daughter’s wedding. Through working together we discovered how her back pain was tied to an asthma attack she suffered when she was young. The body records everything that happened to it, and it wants to find balance.

Helping people feel “at home” in their bodies is truly my greatest joy.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
I grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and we spent a great deal of time at the beach. Some of my happiest memories involve being near or in the ocean; it has always felt like home to me.

I remember one particular day during my childhood; I must have been 7 or so. I was swimming with my brother and our mother called us to head back to the city. I didn’t want to leave. When I told my brother, he suggested that I thank the ocean. I asked if I could really do that, and he said yes. As I thanked the water, it seemed to sparkle in response. I went on to thank the sand, the sun, the fishes, and eventually the planet.

In that moment, I felt something open up within me—a realization that the universe is permeated with a pulsating, awake energy. While I couldn’t put it into those terms as a child, my later studies in meditation and yoga helped provide context to that experience. It was a moment of grace, much like the time I heard a voice within while in the hospital.

I believe that if we are lucky, we all experience moments of grace that stay with us forever. Whenever we reflect on them, it is as if they happen all over again.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mariacristinamanualtherapeutics.com/
• Instagram: @mcyogirolferot
• Facebook: Maria Cristina Jimenez
• Other: threads: @mcyogirolferot

Image Credits
Nicolette J-Pownall took the professional pictures.The others I took.