KIX Retreat 2025 – Metamorphosis

5Rhythms Dance & Addiction Recovery Retreat

Date

Oct 30 2025 - Nov 02 2025
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Time

CET
3:00 pm

Location

Seminarhof Drawehn
Im alten Rundling 13 Clenze OT Kassau, 29459 Germany

Samar wove this container of love, courage and freedom for us during the days and gifted us with her own rawness, vulnerability and deep guidance which makes me feel safe like nowhere else and keeps on enabling me to hold light into my dark places."

Metamorphosis in Addiction Recovery

This year’s retreat is going to take us on an explorative journey for our personal experiences of “Metamorphosis”. 

Technically the word is derived from the Greek words “meta” which means “beyond” and  “morphosis” which means “forming”.

Indeed there are many insects (and amphibians) that go through the metamorphic process. Often we think of the “beautiful butterfly” spreading its wings to fly. However, to go through this physical transformation there are a series of steps – not all glorious and light and not what many would easily call beautiful.

Addiction Recovery is like that. A series of sometimes painful steps to transform. To empty out and make space for something beyond the imagination of the being we are today. It requires inner and outer resources to nourish ourselves through the process.

And, so, this year’s KIX Retreat will be all about getting curious, developing tools, and perhaps shedding layers in the journey of addiction recovery.

Thank you natural world for this inspiration and all the years of recovery. I am so very much looking forward to this journey together.

The KIX Retreats are deeply healing reclamation journey for me. It helped lift more veils over my blindspots, fears, internal bargains, and limiting beliefs in my recovery.

It reminded me how to be gentle and loving towards my human self.

And being held by Samar's incredible presence and the group's loving witness, I was able to tap into the next level of my power and sovereignty, let myself be seen in both my vulnerability and my shining Light.

I'm forever grateful for KIX as a space of truth, softening, and connection on my recovery journey.

We will use tools of

For our investigation together, we will use tools of:

  • 5Rhythms Dance
  • Creative acts of catharsis
  • Games and sharing
  • Visualizations, drawing and writing 

I experienced an open, respectful and safe space, in which Samar gave us just the attention we needed as well as silent spaces for ourselves. Additionally, by giving us honest and open insights of her own personal journey to addictions, compulsions and dependencies we were being given a feeling of equality which helped opening up to the retreat. The other participants and their own personal stories also strongly contributed to an open and supportive atmosphere.

Who is this Addiction Recovery Retreat for?

This space is open to anyone who is curious about their addictions or compulsions, whether you are exploring this topic for the first time, have intimate knowledge of your patterns, experienced in recovery or not. 

Please feel free to reach out with any questions prior to registering. If you would like to participate but are unable to afford the costs, please contact me too!

This 4-day / 3-night retreat allows us the time and space to investigate themes related to addiction or compulsions and how to cultivate tools to reclaim ourselves out of addictive or compulsions behaviors.

The Seminarhof Drawehn is a beautiful venue that holds us so well for these retreats. We are surrounded by nature, fed delicious and nourishing vegetarian meals with produce from their garden. There is also a sauna for the cold evenings to integrate. 

The mixture of dance, movement and diving into topics through art, writing and the more theoretical explanations were perfectly balanced.
Samar created a sense of community: “We are all in this together”
I loved the fearless way Samar invited us to allow emotions to come up and the professional (and spiritual) way she held the space, giving time and appreciation for those feelings and then helping the person work through them and “ground” them.

Special Retreat Take-aways

In addition to the rich retreat experience and the connections formed, you will receive:

  • A Resource Guide – a compilation of all the exercises and any theory to easily refer back to again and again.
  • Group Integration Sessions – 2 group integration sessions take place after the retreat to allow space for integration, group support, processing and sharing
    • It is not just what ‘happens at a retreat’ that paves our way for healing but how we integrate it into our daily lives. It is a joy to host these group integration sessions post retreats which deepens possibility for lasting change, and connection among everyone

The KIX Retreat gave me clarifying momentum on a lot of personal aspects I had not been able to connect before. By combining both cognitive and body based exercises , I gained powerful tools to help me understanding my past and present. I feel ready to make a new step towards a lively, independent and joyful future. I feel endlessly grateful to Samar, the group (and myself).

Contribution Breakdown

In order to book, please  contact me.

Please let me know if this retreat calls but you cannot afford the fees. We will work something out <3

Workshop Cost:

  • Super Early Bird (paid by April 30): Reduced €180 | Regular €210 | Supportive €240
  • Early Bird (paid by July 31): Reduced €210 | Regular €250 | Supportive €280
  • General (from August 1): Reduced €260 | Regular €290 | Supportive €320

Accommodation, including delicious meals:
Single Room €97.50 per person/night = €292.50 (3 nights)
Double Room €77.50 per person/night = €232.50 (3 nights)

Cancelations & Refunds:
To keep the KIX project, and our precious retreats alive, if you cancel your participation:

  • Up to 6 weeks before the retreat: Full refund minus deposit (€100)
  • Up to 2 weeks before the retreat: Only if someone else can take your spot, full refund minus deposit
  • Less than 2 weeks before the retreat: No refund


I appreciate your understanding that there are no exceptions as I am liable for the financial planning of this retreat, obligations to the Seminarhof and for declining other participants once we are full.

Getting to the Venue

Seminarhof Drawehn is a beautiful location close to nature that was specifically chosen to give us a chance to step out of our daily lives for this courageous investigation.

The venue is approximately 2hours outside of Berlin, and is equidistant from Hamburg. We will co-ordinate transportation from the main train station to the venue. 

Promise the little trek is worth it, and will truly support our experience! Yes, the food is amazing, the beds are comfortable, we are in nature and there is a sauna!

Please do not use Google Maps to plot the journey because the information is incorrect. Please use the DB website. When registering, I will provide suggested train times and routes if you’d like. 

It’s good to understand: you are not alone with your shit. (Even if you want to be so special sometimes… 😉 Samar is a very compassionate & smart leader, but she’s also a participant in the way that she shares a lot about her story. Her recovery but also her struggle. She created a space where you can feel very safe in your vulnerability.

FAQ’s

Please feel free to contact me if you would like to chat before deciding if you want to join this retreat.

Anyone curious about addiction, compulsive tendencies or dependencies for the first time as well as anyone familiar with how it plays out in their lives. 

You might have a little clue that you are struggling or coping with life. You might want to change a behavior and are meeting challenges, despite the attempts to stop. You might consider yourself an addict and are no living sober (or not). You might want to deal with your shadows that can lead into addiction. There is no ‘one’ motivation, no one size fits all in KIX. 

What we all have in common is an interest in or desire to deal with / learn about addiction or compulsions.

Addiction is any compulsive or uncontrollable habit that we engage in to escape our feelings, or our reality.

Often it starts as a way to help us cope with life experiences yet over time we lose control and compulsively go towards those behaviors or substances.

Here are a two examples of how alcohol and Netflix were first used as ways to cope, and later became addictions:

  • The first time Louise* got drunk, it felt like all her insecurities disappeared. She felt like she was on top of the world and could be her ‘true self’ no matter who was in the room.
    At first, Louise only drank at big parties or conferences. Over time, she drank more often and at the slightest ‘feeling’ of stress. Her self-esteem worsened and she started to feel ashamed of her drinking.
    But she continued to keep a flask close-by as ‘medicine’ for stress. Even when her drinking affected friendships, commitments and her very own values, she couldn’t stop. Louise found support to stop drinking. She learned new ways to deal with stress and let go of her insecurities. 
  • Val* loves watching Netflix. To watch his favorite show is treat at the end of a long day. A way to relax. One episode turns into five and before long, it’s midnight.
    Val wakes up tired the next morning because of the previous night’s Netflix binge. Even if he turns off the TV, he can’t sleep anyway because his thoughts keep him up. He feels lost.
    Val tells himself that everyone watches Netflix at night and even though he senses his life is ‘running away’ from him, he doesn’t know what else to do, and finds himself in front of his screen again, day after day.
    Val discovered that Netflix binges were a way to hide from uncomfortable feelings and decisions he was avoiding. He received guidance and tools to feel his feelings and confidence to make important life decisions – without Netflix or other compulsive behaviors.

*names changed to respect confidentiality

The most commonly known addictions are substance addictions; alcohol and drugs.
Behavioral (process) addictions have infinite possibilities:
sex, romance, work, porn, power, money, social media, control, drama, emotions, cleanliness, food / eating, exercise, addicted to another person, obsessively thinking, fantasy, compulsive helping …
The defining piece of all addictions is the compulsive nature which tends to have a cycle of a ‘high’ or feeling euphoric or feeling ‘complete’ followed by guilt, shame or remorse. You might even find yourself saying ‘I won’t do it again’ or ‘I can’t stop’ or ‘just one more time’ or ‘I have to’.

Please feel free to contact me for a 20-minute no-cost and confidential chat.

Here are some signs, too, that might give you some clues:

  • Reward: Do you feel better and more in control ‘doing it’ even if there might be negative consequences?
  • Importance: Do you find ‘doing it’ has become a part of who you are or a way you live your life? Do you worry you would not be able to ‘deal’ without it or believe that you couldn’t ‘live’ without that person, job or behavior?
  • Disruption: Do you say you are going to do something different and then – almost like a dream – find yourself ‘doing it’? 
  • Frequency: Do you ‘do it’ more often and for longer periods of time than before, or than you originally planned? Do you hear yourself say “just a bit more” or “just another one” or “I can’t help it”?
  • Pausing: Do you feel uncomfortable if you cannot ‘do it’? Does ‘doing it’ or being with that person take up all your thoughts and energy? Do you have emotional or physical responses, e.g. racing heart, while you are engaging in the behavior or when you cannot ‘do it’?
  • Secrecy: Do you keep this behavior, the frequency or the intensity a secret from others? Do you hide the behavior or feel scared what would happen if someone else finds out? Deep down, do you judge yourself for what you’re doing ? Do you rationalize or make excuses, even to yourself?

It is not required to ‘stop’ your addiction prior to attending, however, it is required to be sober for the events.

What we all have in common is a curiosity about about how addictions, compulsions or dependencies play out in our life. We might, also, be open to learn what can lead to those addictive behaviors or the shadows or (negative) self-definitions we have about ourselves.

You are invited to show up exactly as you are, in this non-judgemental, open and confidential space.

Please do not attend class under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

All addictions rob us from connection, freedom, intimacy. Sometimes we recognize this sensation subtly, in our innermost realms. Other times, addictions might run rampant in our external worlds. 

I believe that functioning is a way to survive life which is a far cry from what we all deserve – living life and thriving with peace and serenity.

Only you know, in a space within yourself, whether you are functioning and ‘just making it by’ and if / when you are ready to lay down the taboos and investigate what it might be like to live and thrive without addictions, compulsions, codependency or dependency.

Please contact me so we can work out a solution together.

Profound understanding of theory and practice of addictions, non-judgemental approach, trustful atmosphere, space for feelings, good balance between playfulness and seriousness, varied rituals and exercises, great music, wonderful place and food

About Samar Linn

Samar Linn Facilitator

Samar is a curious investigator of the human experience and a movement catalyst. She is a certified 5Rhythms® teacher, a trained Integrative Coach and Bodyworker. KIX is her heart project that was born out of her exploration of the insidiousness and pervasiveness of her multiple addictions. The gift has been to learn the root cause of all addictions and to create a unique program for herself to lead a fulfilling and addiction-free life. Today, she offers her learnings forward in the format as KIX.

Samar runs a range of workshops and regular classes to bring more curiosity to ourselves, openness to our uniqueness and permission to embrace the magic in daily life. Her raw attitude, vulnerability and fascination in ways to embody freedom of expression provide an electric, creative and safe environment.

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