Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
24 Jan 2026
Reply rate
93.8 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
16
ID verified
Email verified
Country info
Badges (4)
Details
Description
Welcome to our small, community-driven school of practice in Ribeirão Pires (about 1 hour from São Paulo, surrounded by Atlantic Forest).
Here you’ll experience movement + culture + community — not just a place to sleep. We run Yôga and body-awareness practices, cultural moments, and a warm but disciplined space.
This is not a “busy hostel job.”
This is a real exchange: presence, contribution, and connection.
What makes this place special
You don’t just stay in a room — you enter a community.
You don’t just “help” — you contribute with your talent.
You don’t just visit Brazil — you live Brazil (sometimes breakfast together + Sunday street market + community moments).
I’m Luc. I run the space with a small circle of support. There is no large staff — this is intentionally human-sized.
2026 focus: we prioritize volunteer instructors
We are looking for people who can:
Teach regular classes and occasionally substitute the host
Offer 1–2 workshops during the stay
Lead a simple cultural sharing: “My country in 45 minutes”
Stay: ideally 10–15 days (max 2 weeks)
Best fit: proactive, communicative, punctual, and comfortable with a calm home + active evenings (most classes happen at night and weekends).
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Teaching
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
General Maintenance
Interests
Technology
Events & social
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Culture
Self development
Charity work
Languages
Cooking & food
Performing arts
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Fitness
Dancing
Beach
Outdoor activities
Hiking
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
This exchange is built on practice + presence + community.
You can learn and experience:
Yôga and body-awareness methods through real practice
Brazilian daily culture from the inside (breakfast + Sunday market + community events)
How a small community space runs with discipline and warmth
Sharing talents in a real group, not a staged environment
And we learn from you too — through your workshops and your culture talk.
The exchange is real, not performative.
Help
1) Teaching (Priority #1)
You can teach regular classes and occasionally substitute the host.
To be considered for this, please share a link/video of you teaching + your teaching background.
2) Workshops (Priority #2)
During your stay, you can offer 1–2 workshops (dance, mobility, breathing, meditation, body awareness, cooking, music, etc.).
Before arrival, send a proposal with: title + duration + what people will learn + best day/time.
3) Studio support (simple but serious)
When you are supportting a class, you must:
Arrive 20 minutes early (open the studio, water, fresh air, welcome people)
After class: organize the space + vacuum when needed
To keep the studio running smoothly, this is required.
4) Content (we need real life, not staged marketing)
Per class you attend: 3–5 good photos OR a 20–30s video.
Simple and consistent.
5) Home rhythm (light, respectful)
Keep your room/bathroom/kitchen clean.
Twice a week, help with a light common-area task (e.g., vacuum).
Cultural sharing (mandatory, easy, meaningful)
Once per stay: “My country in 45 minutes” (music, places, stories, food, language).
Real and human — not a formal presentation.
Languages
Languages spoken
Portuguese: Fluent
English: Intermediate
Spanish: Intermediate
French: Beginner
Norwegian: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
We require functional English or Spanish from volunteers (Portuguese is a bonus).
Accommodation
You will stay in a private room with:
✔ Double bed + fan
✔ Private bathroom
✔ Access to kitchen, living room, and terrace
There are no fees for Workawayers.
In exchange for your help, you can join all classes and activities, like our scholarship students.
Meals
You can share meals with us or cook for yourself. Basic supplies are available.
(Occasionally we eat out — that’s optional and not guaranteed.)
House rules (clear and intentional)
🚭 No smoking / no drugs
🍷 Alcohol is tolerated outside the house, in moderation (not inside)
🔇 Quiet hours: 22:00 to 06:00 / No loud music, no loud TV, and no loud phone calls (speakerphone). We value silence and respect
🥗 No meat or fish in the house (vegetarian home)
👣 No shoes inside the house (we keep the space clean and quiet)
👥 Visitors are welcome only when aligned and respectful (friends of the host/community)
📍 Location: 3 minutes walk to supermarkets and essentials.You will stay in a private room with:
What else ...
Free time ideas
🌿 Nature & local spots: Templo de Miroku, Castelo do Robson Miguel, Pedra do Elefante, Vila do Doce
🚞 Nearby adventures: Paranapiacaba, Estrada Velha de Santos
🏙 São Paulo: endless museums, food, music, culture
🏖 Coast: just over an hour away
Getting around
🚆 Train to São Paulo: direct, under 1 hour
🚶 Essentials nearby: markets, pharmacies, services
🚖 Uber + public transport: easy to use
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
💻 Work-friendly: fast, stable internet + desk setup. 🕒 Light hours, real responsibility: the help is focused, not endless. 🌙 Evenings are active: most classes happen at night. ☀️ Mornings matter too: breakfast together on some days + Sunday street market is part of the experience. ✅ Best match: someone who can handle evenings and still be functional in the morning sometimes.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (8)
Living with them for two weeks felt very natural… read more
This was her first volunteering experience, and she approached it with great openness, trust, and responsibility. From the very beginning, she was respectful, caring, and attentive to the house and shared spaces.
She contributed in… read more
Even though his English was not fully fluent, communication flowed… read more
From my experience, this was my feeling.
With plenty of activities like swimming, yoga, music, and outings with your Brazilian family…
It's a safe city ( Ribeirão Pires ), and the people and family friends are very kind… read more
It was beautiful to… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Living with them for two weeks felt very natural… read more
This was her first volunteering experience, and she approached it with great openness, trust, and responsibility. From the very beginning, she was respectful, caring, and attentive to the house and shared spaces.
She contributed in… read more
Even though his English was not fully fluent, communication flowed… read more
From my experience, this was my feeling.
With plenty of activities like swimming, yoga, music, and outings with your Brazilian family…
It's a safe city ( Ribeirão Pires ), and the people and family friends are very kind… read more
It was beautiful to… read more
we couldn't expect a better place to stay for 10 days.
Communication was immediately very easy and clear.
The house is beautiful and super comfy to make you feel at Home ❤️
We loved everything about Refugio Urbano as we… read more
From the moment I arrived at the Refugio, I felt so welcomed. It was like they were eagerly anticipating my arrival and they made me feel special. Luc also goes to an… read more
She has traveled extensively, speaks Spanish fluently, and brought a rich… read more
If you’re not just looking to be a tourist but want to be part of something beautiful- his community - this will be your place.
I did feel like home the whole stay and Luc and his wonderful girlfriend made… read more
Nelly has traveled a lot and brings a mature and open-minded presence. Michael, with Colombian roots, is equally warm, friendly, and thoughtful. Together, they make a beautiful and harmonious pair.
They respected all… read more
Luc is… read more
She is a quiet, low-profile person — not someone who tries to stand out, but rather someone who contributes with presence, consistency, and sensitivity. She was fully committed to her tasks at the Refúgio, participated in our Yôga classes, and slowly connected… read more
We shared a wonderful time.
We really enjoyed the house, the social outings, and especially the classrooms at the Urban Shelter. The place he coordinates for a very beautiful community.
He and his community members are wonderful, generous, and open to sharing. They filled us with… read more
Right from the beginning, they brought their musical energy, participating in a live performance during an Art School vernissage on the day after they arrived. They connected beautifully with Vivi, a Colombian volunteer who was here at the same time,… read more
