Interview with Barbara den Bak from KAER on the Transformative Power of Travel
A journey is always also a journey to another self. With Kaer Retreats by Barbara den Bak, this inner journey is consciously guided: through breath, nature, community, and targeted practices that allow for clarity, calm, and true transformation. Her offering leads to special places around the world, including the two Lifestylehotels Sublime Comporta in Portugal and Es Racó d’Artà in Spain. We met the founder of Kaer for an interview.
What comes to your mind when you hear the word “transformation”?
For me, transformation feels like freedom – the moment when someone realizes they are not defined by old patterns but can choose a new path. It is both powerful and profoundly human.
What different goals bring people to Kaer Retreats, and what unites them all?
Some come to recharge, others to break old patterns, and still others to gain clarity for a new chapter in life. What unites them is the desire to be more in tune with themselves and to feel again what truly matters.
What special power arises when transformation happens not alone, but in a group?
There is something deeply healing about being seen. A group amplifies breakthroughs: when you witness another’s courage, it ignites your own. Community makes change both safer and stronger.
At what point do you notice that something is beginning to change?
Often it happens in small moments – during a breathing exercise, a walk in nature, or an honest group sharing. You can see it in the body language: the shoulders relax, the face brightens, the eyes become present again.
The retreats take place in extraordinary locations – how do you find these places?
We look for destinations that already carry transformative energy, for untouched nature, architectural beauty, and places in harmony with their surroundings. Most locations we discover through personal contacts or recommendations within our community.
What makes Sublime Comporta special for you? And Es Racó d’Artà?
Sublime Comporta captivates with simplicity and elegance, with endless beaches and pine forests that invite deep reflection. Es Racó d’Artà is pure art: a place where design, sustainability, and Mallorcan tradition merge into something truly soulful.
Soon there will be a retreat at Sublime Comporta – what can participants expect?
An immersive journey with daily practices of the Kaer method, nourishing meals, as well as time for rest and deep connections – both with oneself and with others. And of course, the magic of the Comporta landscape.
You also offer individual retreats, for example at Es Racó d’Artà – what makes this offering special?
It is almost like an exclusive concierge service: together with our Kaer Takers, we design individual multi-day journeys that combine practices such as breathwork, mindfulness, or bodywork with the unique atmosphere of Es Racó d’Artà. More and more people are looking not only for rest but also for a personal path to re-center themselves and reconnect.
How do you decide which place is the right one?
We guide participants to choose according to their inner feeling: the mountains call for resilience, the desert for silence, the wilderness for courage, the sea for clarity. The place becomes a mirror of the inner journey.
You combine ancient methods with modern science – how does that work in practice?
For example, we begin a retreat with guided breathwork (an ancient practice) and then explain its effect on the nervous system using neuroscience. This combination ensures that participants not only feel the change but also understand why it works.
Which practices are particularly effective for true change?
Breathing exercises, mindfulness in nature, and guided group exchanges are among the most effective methods. They regulate the nervous system, create awareness, and strengthen emotional resilience – the foundation for lasting transformation.
What impressive transformations have you witnessed in participants – and in yourself?
I have seen people who arrived burnt out and left with clarity and lightness, ready for bold life decisions. For myself, Kaer is a constant reminder that growth is not linear and that space for rest gives rise to new ideas and energy.
Does transformation end with the retreat – or does it only begin there?
It only begins there. A retreat acts like a catalyst, but the real transformation happens in everyday life when participants integrate new awareness into relationships, work, and habits.
What sentence or comment do you hear most often from participants?
“I had no idea how much I needed this.”
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