We are NAPER (Center for Social Practice, Research and Education in Rolfing Structural Integration), a Brazilian collective based in São Paulo since 1998 and affiliated with ABR (Brazilian Rolfing Association). We provide socially oriented sessions, promote continuing education, and maintain a clinical database — currently with 1,770 structured records — that supports academic research.
Over the years, more than 70 Rolfers™ have taken part in the collective, which currently includes 8 members, 2 supervisors, 1 social worker, and 1 administrative coordinator. With its own bylaws and a horizontal, collaborative structure, NAPER holds biweekly meetings for clinical supervision, case discussions, critical reading, and project development.
In addition to providing care to people experiencing socioeconomic vulnerability, NAPER serves as a living educational environment: it welcomes Rolfers in training and offers continuing education to certified practitioners, fostering technical refinement, interdisciplinary dialogue, and collective knowledge construction.
By operating at the intersection of clinical work, research, and education, our practice expands the scope of Rolfing, enhancing its presence across diverse communities while enriching the field through engagement with varied bodies, histories, and perspectives.
Inspired by Dr. Ida Rolf’s vision and informed by contemporary contributions, we understand Structural Integration as a practice that transcends technique — integrating science, art, and philosophy — and embracing a socially engaged, ethically grounded dimension. We will present the structure, challenges, and learnings from 27 years of collective work rooted in deep listening, clinical excellence, and an ongoing commitment to Rolfing as a relevant and socially conscious discipline.
NAPER is a Brazilian collective of Rolfers, founded in 1998 and based in São Paulo. It operates at the intersection of social care, research, and education — offering community-based Rolfing sessions, continuing education, and academic engagement. Over 70 practitioners have collaborated with the group, which currently maintains a clinical database of 1,770 documented cases. Affiliated with ABR and governed by its own bylaws, NAPER is structured collectively and guided by a commitment to a technically skilled, socially responsible, and ethically aware Rolfing practice.