About Thor Philipsen & The Legacy of Stanley Rosenberg
With Deep Gratitude
I am deeply grateful to my beloved mentor, Stanley Rosenberg, whose legacy I carry forward every day.
Meet Thor Philipsen
Thor Philipsen is the visionary behind Human Systems and Vagus Academy, and a renowned teacher of osteopathy and nervous system regulation. As the sole protégé of the legendary Stanley Rosenberg, Thor underwent over 20 years of personal apprenticeship with this unconventional master healer.
His work is grounded in two decades of direct transmission from Stanley, combined with extensive formal training under osteopathic “Grandmaster” Alain Gehin, and studies at top institutions like the European School of Osteopathy and The John Wernham College of Classical Osteopathy, under instructors such as Sue Turner and Richard Twinning.
A Blended Path of Disciplines
The Human Systems approach draws from a wide range of healing arts: ancient yogic science, modern neuroscience, osteopathy, psychology, evolutionary biology, and energy-based practices. This multidimensional foundation is the same one that inspired Stanley Rosenberg and continues to guide Thor’s work today.
The result is a therapeutic system that communicates directly and non-verbally with the autonomic nervous system, aiming to unlock the body’s natural healing intelligence. Through yoga, meditation, freediving, martial arts, and psychomotor therapy, Thor has developed powerful programs that aspire to make super humans or simply make humans super.
Stanley Rosenberg a Remarkable Healer
Stanley Rosenberg was a brilliant and unconventional healer, a man who explored every corner of the healing arts, from osteopathy and Rolfing to Tantra, breathwork, and subtle techniques entirely his own. His work was often jaw-dropping not for its drama, but for its quiet simplicity and profound effectiveness.
He studied NLP, Tai Chi, meditation, and spiritual teachings from George Gurdjieff to The Art of Living, whose breathwork he called “the best on the planet.” His book, Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve, became an international bestseller and helped bring nervous system healing into the global mainstream.
Adventures with Stanley
Stanley was more than a teacher, he was a generous, life-changing mentor. From the very beginning, he recognized Thor’s potential and did everything in his power to support him. He shared seminars, covered travel costs, gifted professional equipment, referred clients, and eventually entrusted Thor with his entire life’s work.
He didn’t just teach techniques, he taught how to see across disciplines, connect with consciousness, use the head and lead with heart.
One story says it all: a year into their friendship, Thor mentioned a dream of going to Hawaii. Stanley simply replied, “Let’s go. I’ll pay for your ticket. Things will happen.”
And they did. Joined by Stanley’s son Erik, they found themselves treating long lines of people in Maui, drawn by the spontaneous energy that always seemed to follow Stanley. They were, in Thor’s words, “young gangsters of love,” living in deep flow and human connection.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
Thor Philipsen is the only person ever entrusted with teaching Stanley Rosenberg’s full body of work, including the groundbreaking vagus nerve methods that changed how we understand trauma, healing, and human connection.
Not only did Thor co-teach the original Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve course, he also helped develop and refine the material alongside Stanley for years. Upon Stanley’s retirement, Thor became the official custodian of his legacy.
Thor now teaches these methods worldwide, working with trauma survivors, victims of torture, and children with autism, as well as elite athletes, opera singers, Hollywood actors, and spiritual leaders like His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. His clients have included members of two highly respected royal families.
His commitment to this work has also contributed to integrating Stanley’s methods into the Master of Science in Osteopathy program in India.
The Work Continues
Through deep commitment, humility, and a lifelong pursuit of excellence, Thor Philipsen continues to carry Stanley Rosenberg’s legacy into the future, expanding its reach and deepening its impact.
Join a program now and become part of a healing lineage that bridges science, soul, and the human potential to thrive.
Thor Philipsen’s Education
In addition to 20 years of personal apprenticeship with Stanley Rosenberg
2020 Postgraduate Foundation Course at The John Wernham College of Classical Osteopathy, Maidstone England
2018 M.sc Ost. Full-time at The European School of Osteopati, Boxley England
2016 Osteopati DO at The European School of Osteopati, Boxley England
2016 Health-coach medically certified and educated by Martin Brogaard, Østerbro
2014 National Instructor of Selfdefence DGI, KBH
2014 NLP coach NLP Huset, Valby
2014 Bachelor's degree in Psykomotor Therapy UCC, Hillerød
2006 Yoga instructor in The Art Of living center Bad Antogast, Germany
2002 NLP practitioner at Tribal Academy, Copenhagen
2002 Alternative healing metods at Naturmedicinsk Kursuscenter, Copenhagen
2000 Fitness instructor educated personally by Martin Brogaard i Form og Fitness Parken Østerbro
2002 Wing Tsun instruktor Vesterbrogade full-time education by Master Henning Daverne & Master Allan Jensen
Courses and shorter educations
Evidensbaseret rehab for concussion, CCMI
Freediving Molchanovs
Mentalisering Peter Fonagy Phd.
Osteopathic technique for reabsorption of lumbar herniated disc, Alain Gehin DO
Osteopathic techniques in pediatrics, Alain Gehin
Tensegrity for diagnosis, Alain Gehin DO
Cranial pediatrics, Alain Gehin DO
Osteopathic technique for the foot, Alain Gehin DO
Osteopathic technique for the knee, Alain Gehin DO
Osteopathic technique for the pelvis, Alain Gehin DO
Osteopathic technique for the thorasic spine and ribs, Alain Gehin DO
Osteopathic technique for the upper extremities, Alain Gehin DO
Visceral Manipulation for the organs of the abdomen, Alain Gehin DO
Visceral manipulation of the intestines, Alain Gehin DO
Osteopathic Release Techniques, Alain Gehin, DO
Sacral-Occipital Techniques (SOT), Alain Gehin, DO
Tensegrity 1, Alain Gehin, DO
Biodynamic stillness The Heart - Cranial Touch, Charles Ridley
Cranio sacral oral technique, Benjamin Shields Ph. D
Focus on fascia, Robert Schleip, Ph.D
Focus on Fascia, Tom Myers, Rolfer
The Brain, Benjamin Shield
Neurodynamics Stanley Rosenberg
Organ Massage 1-2 in abdomen and thorax, Stanley Rosenberg
Rolfing, Stanley Rosenberg
Craniosakral therapi 2-6, Stanley Rosenberg
ALT Facelifting technique Stanley Rosenberg
Craniosakral therapi 1, Jacob Mikkelsen
Energy Medicine, Jim Oschman, ph.D
The Energy Medicine behind the Body Therapy, med Oschman, ph.D
Oxytoxin and bonding, Sue Carter, Ph. D
Continuum Movement, Emilie Conrad
The Polyvagal Theory, Stephen Porges Ph.D & Sue Carter Ph.D researcher & founder of The Polyvagal Theory
The New Medicine, med Jean Michel Maumin, DO og Claudia Kohn, Do
Visceral manipulation The Liver, Barrel Institute Kåre Nielsen
Listening Technique, Barrel institute Mark Bloemberg
“I have been lucky to meet Thor Philipsen during a three day workshop, which he held in Berlin regarding the effects of breathing on the autonomic nervous system. The workshop contained anatomical knowledge of the respiratory system, principles of the polyvagal theory, rest and sleep, as well as osteopathic and breathing techniques.
I was impressed by his knowledge and his methodical teaching skills. Thor Philipsen is exceptionally gifted at teaching theoretical and practical osteopathic and breathing methods for treatment and self-regulation.
His knowledge arises from his extensive long-standing experience on a multitude of scientific and treatment fields, which derive from osteopathy with particular regard to the Stanley Rosenberg Method, Yoga, Freediving, Psychomotor Therapy and many more.
He teaches the individual techniques out of a deep understanding of the anatomical and physiological mechanisms lying underneath on one hand and interacts empathetically to teach at an individual level on the other hand, which is why I as a neurologist and osteopath can only commend him as a teacher and therapist.”
-Dr. med. univ. Asal Kandirian
Consultant Neurologist, Osteopath and Medical Doctor
“As the old Chinese saying goes, The success of a teacher is achieved when the student surpasses his master.“
Because of his knowledge and his masterful teaching skills, it is an honor to announce that I am choosing Thor Philipsen as the teacher of my work, the Stanley Rosenberg Method, which I developed over fifty years of a professional approach to body therapy.
Thor has studied personally with me for twenty years and achieved a complete mastery of this work, all my methods, and even co-developed my newest teaching material.
-Stanley Rosenberg, Author of Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve
“I want to express my appreciation for Thor´s participation in the Sri Sri University Master program in Osteopathy by teaching very interesting and new brilliant approaches to the autonomic nervous system, the improvement of the lymphatic system and breathing capacity as well as classical osteopathic techniques in the topics of lumbar, thoracic spine, ribcage and general biomechanics.
Your hands-on techniques are amazing in terms of softness and efficacy. The teaching has been fun, engaging, and at the highest possible end in terms of quality.
Your contribution has been highly appreciated by the students and we would like to welcome you back soon.”
-Juan Guillon
Head coordinator of The Osteopathy Department, Orissa
