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Workshop

Rolfing® and the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS):

Insights from the Psychobiological Perspective of Rolfing® Structural Integration

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Overview

This workshop explores, both theoretically and experientially, the role of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) in Rolfing® practice, while deepening and refining the use of touch as a clinical means to support ANS regulation within Structural Integration.

The field of Structural Integration is increasingly informed by contemporary understanding of the ANS and the ways in which experiences and trauma become embodied. ANS responses can be accessed and modulated through specific touch frameworks; the more mastery we achieve in this domain, the more effectively our work supports personal evolution and somatic transformation in clients.

Key areas of exploration include:

  • Theoretical and practical challenges of Rolfing® evolution: What does it mean to be a Rolfer™ today?
  • The psychobiological perspective: foundations and implications
  • Subjective experience and its relationship to physiological systems
  • ANS as a somatic bridge within psychobiological taxonomy
  • ANS in the formation, maintenance, and transformation of somatic patterns
  • Touch, language, resonance, and ANS mechanisms
  • Clinical and theoretical implications of incorporating this lens into Rolfing® practice
  • Manipulation and movement applications
  • Building bridges between different theoretical taxonomies
  • The ANS role in integrating structure within gravity and environment

Who It Is For

Certified or advanced-level Rolfers™

Structural Integration practitioners from recognized schools

Somatic and body-based therapists

with developed hands-on training who wish to deepen their understanding of ANS function and psychobiology of integration

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Why Attend

Distinctive benefits:

  • Direct learning with Pedro Prado and Paula Mattoli, internationally recognized references in psychobiological development within Rolfing® Structural Integration
  • Integration of contemporary ANS theory, trauma dynamics, and embodied experience into clinical touch
  • Exposure to refined manual and perceptual procedures that expand diagnostic, clinical, and relational capacity
  • Up-to-date grounding in the evolution of Structural Integration and its contemporary professional demands
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Program Format

  • Duration: 4 days
  • Language: English (selected segments in Portuguese with translation as needed)
  • Format: In-person, with theoretical presentations, demonstrations, and extensive supervised practice
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Participants will:

  • Reflect on the role of the ANS in pattern formation and transformation
  • Learn to use touch to influence ANS regulation within Rolfing® SI context
  • Track the effects of touch across structure, function, and relational responsiveness
  • Explore psychobiological dimensions of touch and therapeutic presence

Venue & Accommodation

  • Pousada Sambaqui | Juréia Beach – São Sebastião, Brazil

The training will take place at Pousada Sambaqui, a charming retreat located on Juréia Beach, within a protected ecological reserve on the northern coast of São Paulo.

Surrounded by preserved nature and just steps from the ocean, the venue offers a quiet and supportive environment for immersive learning, integration, and rest.

Breakfast and lunch are included. Evenings are free, allowing participants to choose where and how to dine.
 Nearby beaches such as Barra do Una and Juquehy offer additional options for leisure and exploration.

Practical information

  • Location: Juréia Beach, São Sebastião – São Paulo, Brazil
  • Accommodation: Pousada Sambaqui
  • Breakfast & lunch included
  • Ecological reserve with preserved nature
Learn more about the venue

Dates

Start:

  • June 19, 2026

End:

  • June 22, 2026

A minimum number of participants is required. If the minimum is not reached six weeks prior to the start date, the workshop may be canceled.

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Tuition & Payment

  • Tuition: USD 1,100
  • Payment options: Credit card | Bank transfer Installment plan available in up to 6 payments.
  • Please note: tuition does not include lodging, meals, or transportation.

Pedro Prado

Advanced Rolfer™, faculty member of the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute®, and a leading international figure in the development of the psychobiological perspective within Structural Integration. Pedro has trained Rolfers® for decades and continues to play a central role in shaping theoretical and clinical evolution in the field.

Paula Mattoli

Rolfer™ and instructor recognized for her teaching and application of psychobiological principles in clinical practice. Paula integrates touch, somatic perception, and autonomic regulation to support deep structural and experiential integration. Her work is a reference for connecting subjective experience, movement, and transformational somatic process.

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Rolfing® is a trademark of the Rolf Institute registered in the U.S and other countries

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