Sophie Haruna Klimcak

On Finding Awe And Wonder

by Sandra Yeyati

Sophie Haruna Klimcak is the co-founder and program director of Wild Awake, a nonprofit in San Francisco. Drawing from her Japanese and Eastern European roots, she designs immersive, nature-based learning experiences that nurture deep caring for people and the planet. Klimcak holds a master’s degree in education from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education and bachelor’s degrees in philosophy, neuroscience and psychology from Washington University, in St. Louis.

Whether in an after-school setting with children or an outdoor adventure among adults, she and her team of naturalists, artists and healing practitioners invite people to mindfully gaze at the stars, invigorate the senses with ocean sound-baths, experience healing and community in a song circle, build empathy and connection through storytelling, and express creativity by painting with botanical pigments.

What inspired you to start Wild Awake?

In the summer of 2020, my co-founder Shasha Du and I took a weeklong trip to Joshua Tree National Park. Every night we experienced this feeling of awe and wonder and reverence as we stared up at this stunning night-sky portal of infinite space and blazing stars. On the last night, we brought binoculars and stayed up to see the comet NEOWISE. At 4 a.m., it ap- peared on the horizon—this icy rock moving toward the sun and releasing all these gases behind it in a glorious paintbrush streak—and we literally screamed and held each other because we had never seen anything like that before. As educators, we decided that we wanted to keep those feelings alive in our hearts, and design for awe and wonder in learning. You don’t have to travel to places like Joshua Tree or see a comet to experience wonder and awe. With the right amount of mindfulness and attention, everything is worthy of such appreciation—our backyards, our houses, everything. Feeling a sense of wonder requires us to take time to appreciate the textures of something in its entirety and realize where it might have been sourced from and how it’s supporting us and we’re supporting it—remembering that we’re interconnected. We offer local experiences to help people see that magic exists where they live.

How do you define the learning process?

Learning is super-creative, constructive, collaborative and social. The best kind of learning is when you’re following a thread of your own intuition and asking questions that are joyful for you. They’re not questions someone told you to ask. You’re building your own worlds by a process of inquiry. I think wakefulness comes from bringing that attention to whatever it is that you want to go deeper into.

How do you help people awaken to that learning spirit?

One of our most experiential offerings was a wildflower therapy workshop, which brought people in community to see the superblooms in the Bay Area. To make this a wonder-based experience, I created this little booklet for a mindfulness walk, inviting folks to choose one flower to develop a relationship with over the course of an hour and a half.

The booklet had multisensory prompts to deepen that relationship, and I asked them to record a conversation with their flower. When do people stare at a flower that long, right? But it does wonders, helping you move a little bit slower in the world.

The next time they walk by flowers, they’ll notice them in a different way because they took intentional time to devel- op a relationship to local flora and to their own joy and wonder. Little steps like these can be radical in developing a love for what we may lose if we don’t protect and care for this world.

Can you describe one of your favorite programs?

Living in San Francisco with the bay surrounding us, we are always in a relationship with the ocean. It cools the planet, making it livable for us; it’s an amazing place to play and enjoy water sports; and it nourishes us through seafood. So, we designed a program that takes folks out to forage for seaweed. It’s not about filling our buckets with as much seaweed as possible, but rather bringing mindfulness to the experience. We marvel at the diversity of seaweed; you can see dozens of different kinds along our shoreline. People are curious about what makes seaweed a certain color or how it nourishes us. We learn how to harvest seaweed from rock in a way that it can regenerate and grow more seaweed. We make an offering to the ocean, saying, “Thank you,” remembering our mutual reciprocity.

What advice do you have for people that want to connect with nature?

One of the most accessible ways of connecting to nature is by connecting to your own body. Putting one hand on your belly and one hand on your heart and noticing your breath can really help you drop into that space of deep calm and deep knowing. If you can, find your local dark sky and go out to see the stars. Look at the moon. Notice the way planets and stars move through the sky. Or, notice a leaf or a flower and be in a relationship with it by noticing it over time, returning to it and seeing how it has changed and how you’re changing inside, too.

Sandra Yeyati is the national editor of Natural Awakenings

Benefits of Asian Exercise Go Deep

Qigong describes an ancient wellness path originating in China thousands of years ago. It is the oldest root of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Qi refers to vital energy and gong refers to skilled cultivation through consistent practice. People practice qigong to help them physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

The three pillars of qigong are breath, movement and intention that combined, invite the practitioner to listen deeply to their mental, emotional, physical and spiritual landscape looking for stagnation (energy blockages), which can result in disease. The focus on posture and the repetitive nature of the physical movements, coupled with breathwork, allows someone to quickly gain benefit from the training.

From a Western perspective, this involves opening up the fascial lines and joints, as well as conditioning the ligaments and tendons. Deep tissue circulation allows the body to heal and find balance. A focus on connecting breath with movement allows the mind to quiet and the soul to be heard.

Thousands of people with many types of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual challenges have benefited from qigong and tai chi, saying they no longer need their medication or walker, or that they no longer have the desire to harm themselves. Some have been able to strengthen and stabilize their muscles in preparation for joint replacement. They are able to see themselves more objectively, self-regulate emotions more consistently and are calmer overall. In a relatively short time students see improvements in pain management, postural alignment, strength and balance.

Qigong and tai chi both look deceptively easy and slow. Many students are very surprised to find they can be very complex. Even in the smallest of movements, there is a lot to pay attention to. The repetitive nature of even a basic practice creates space to notice a difference in well-being. With practice, concentration on posture, weight shifting and breathing, most students begin to enjoy the benefits of better balance, less pain and more focus early on their training path.

Chris and Fayne Bouguyon are the owners of SimplyAware Wellness and Training Center, located at 1719 Analog Dr., in Richardson. From 2011 to 2023, Chris served on the board as vice president and president of the National Qigong Association. He was also a presenter in 2015 at the International Tai Chi Symposium, which hosted the five senior lineage holders of the five primary branches of tai chi. For more information, call 214-476-1719 or visit SimplyAware.com.

Calendar Of Events

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1

DFW National Drive Electric Week – 2-5pm. Learn the current state of the electric vehicle industry and the benefits of owning an EV. An opportunity for a hands-on experience with EVs at our Ride and Drive during the event. Tanger Outlets, 15853 North Fwy, Fort Worth. DriveElectricWeek. org/event?eventid=3952.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3

Fall into Gardening – 6-7:30pm. Learn the best approach to planting and maintenance without the overuse of chemicals. Free. Virtual. RootedIn.com.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5

Go Native Lecture Series – 7-9pm. By landscaping with native trees, shrubs, and perennials your yard will be teeming with life while requiring less maintenance, water and fertilizer. Speaker: Gina Woods. Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E Lawther, Dallas. DallasCounty MasterGardeners.org.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6

Native Plant Sale – Oct 6-7. 10am-3pm. Features a variety of native perennial wildflowers and grasses. Native plants need little water and require no artificial fertilizers to flourish and they provide food and shelter for wildlife. tcatexas.org.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10

Dallas Sierra Club Meeting – 7pm. Topic: Plastic Reduction Project. Zoom. DallasSierraClub.org.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12

Trees for Texas – 6-7:30pm. Learn tips on tree selection, proper planting practices, as well as proper watering, pruning, common insect issues and diseases. Free. Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 1700 University Dr, Fort Worth. RootedIn.com.

Gardening for Birds – 7pm. Speaker: Karen Rice. In-person and Zoom. University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Everett Hall, Rm 100, Fort Worth. fwas.org.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19

Half Earth Day – 5pm. Impactful networking event with our Founder, CEO, several guest speakers, food, drinks, music and entertainment. Details: EarthX.org.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20

EarthX: Film Festival – Oct 20-22. Dallas Bishop Arts District. Details: EarthX.org.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21

29th Water Wise Landscape Tour – 9am-1pm. It’s all about inspirational landscapes that are beautiful but water-savers. Free. White Rock Pump Station, 2900 White Rock Rd, Dallas. SaveDallasWater.com.

Forest Bathing – 9:30am-12pm. Inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, each Nature Connection Walk will be an immersive time spent connecting with nature in our wildlife sanctuary. $25. Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, 1 Nature Pl, McKinney. 972562-5566. HeardMuseum.org.

Planahead

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1

Sustainability Summit – 8am-4pm. Theme: Let it Grow: What is Planted Here, is Fruitful

Ongoing Events

Sunday

Carrollton Runners Club Mile + 5K – 7:30am. A low-key 5K and 1-mile race every last Sun. McInnish Park, 2335 Sandy Lake Rd, Carrollton. CarrolltonRunners.com.

Sunday Service/Meditation and Purification monday to the World. Prepare to be inspired, educated and equipped with the tools to make a positive impact on our planet. Dallas College North Lake Campus, 5001 N MacArthur Blvd, Irving. Tinyurl. com/97aj88et.

– 9-11:30am. Participate in meditation, chanting and readings from the Bible and Bhagavad Gita. 9-9:45am, Meditation and Purification; 1011:30am, Service. Ananda Dallas Meditation & Yoga Center, 4901 Keller Springs Rd, Ste 103, Addison. 972-248-9126. AnandaDallas.org.

Gentle Waves – 9:15-10:15am. A healing meditative practice that moves very slow and intentional. Gaia Flow Yoga, 3000 Blackburn St, Ste 140B, Dallas. Register: GaiaFlowYoga.com.

Celebration Service Live – 11am. Meditation, music and lessons on YouTube live: Unity on Greenville Dallas, TX or Cutt.ly/2tzQx4i. Love offering. Unity on Greenville, 3425 Greenville Ave, Dallas. 214-826-5683. DallasUnity.org.

Dallas Shambhala Meditation Center Weekly Meditation – 11am-1:15pm. Each Sunday, we offer a free meditation, tea and dharma talk session in-person and via Zoom. All welcome. Free. Dallas Shambhala Meditation Center, 2695 Villa Creek Dr, Ste B146, Farmers Branch. Dallas.Shambhala.org.

Greater Dallas Organic Garden Club – 2:30pm. 4th Sun (Jan-Sept). Each meeting includes a special speaker presentation covering many topics of interest to local gardeners. Free. North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Rd, Dallas. 214-3635316. gdogc.org.

Sunday Meditation – 3:15-4:15pm. With Lynne Patterson. Class offers many meditation techniques and styles, with a focus on mindfulness and open awareness. $10. Yoga Mart, 2201 Tucker St, Ste 101, Dallas. 214-238-2433. DallasMeditates.com.

Online: Awakening Heart Meditation – 5-7pm. Interfaith mindfulness meditation, music and message based on the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. Facilitated by Brother ChiSing. Donation accepted. Dallas Meditation Center, 727 S Floyd Rd, Richardson. 972-432-7871. DallasMeditationCenter.com.

Online: Zen to Go – 12-12:45pm. Mon-Thurs. An oasis in the middle of the day offering walking and sitting meditation followed by brief sharing. Donation accepted. Dallas Meditation Center, 810 We Arapaho Rd, Ste 98, Richardson. 972-432-7871. DallasMeditationCenter.com.

Meditation Mondays via Zoom – 7-8pm. Meditation Mondays focuses on the practice and the experience of various forms of meditation. Free. Unity of Dallas, 6525 Forest Ln, Dallas. 972-2337106. UnityDallas.org. tuesday wednesday

Online: Ananda Yoga Sadhana Practice – 5:157:30pm. Also Thurs. Time to recalibrate and center through this transformational practice based on the yoga teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda. Ananda Dallas Meditation & Yoga Center, 4901 Keller Springs Rd, Ste 103, Addison. 972-2489126. AnandaDallas.org.

YES: A Young Adults Meditation Fellowship – 7-9pm. A meditation series for young adults in their 20s and 30s. Each evening will include a beginner-friendly walking and sitting meditation, Dharma teachings and refreshments afterwards. Donation. Dallas Meditation Center, 810 W Arapaho Rd, Ste 98, Richardson. 972-432-7871. DallasMeditationCenter.com.

Hot Yoga 201 on Zoom – 6:15pm. Open to all levels. This flowing-style class links the fundamental asanas (poses) of yoga linking body, mind and breath with music. Yoga4Love Studio Cabin, Ovilla. Yoga4Love.com.

Online: Meditation for Everyone – 7-8:30pm. Classes are great for beginners that want to learn to meditate and great for more experienced meditators that want to expand their meditation. Must register: MeditationInTexas.org.

Online: Metaphysics and Meditation –7-8:30pm. Manifestation and mysticism: 2 sides of the spiritual coin. Let us practice together, while diving more deeply into universal principles and spiritual living. Open to all. Free. A Center for Spiritual Living, 4801 Spring Valley Rd, Ste 115, Dallas. 972-866-9988. CSLDallas.org.

Counties

Ste 115, Dallas. 972-866-9988. CSLDallas.org.

thursday

ImpactNights – More info: Inclusive-Economy. org/impactnights.

Online: Celebrate Recovery – 6:30pm. A safe community to find support, hope and freedom from the struggles and realities that we all face through transitions, hurt, pain, loss or addiction of any kind. Free. First United Methodist Church, 777 N Walnut Creek Dr, Mansfield. FirstMethodistMansfield.org.

Dallas Vegan Drinks – 6:30pm. Meets the 2nd Thurs each month at various veg-friendly locations for fellowship. Currently postponed. Facebook.com/DallasVeganDrinks.

Calendar Of Events

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5

Tour: Republic Services Recycling Center – 10:30-11:30am. Find out about how the City of Plano’s recycling partner, Republic Services, processes your recyclables for the recycling market. See the facility in action. Learn why it is important to reduce, reuse and recycle correctly. Republic Services, 4200 14th St, Plano. Register: LiveGreenInPlano.obsres.com.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 friday saturday

Meadow Bird Walk – 7:30-10am. Birders of all skill levels welcome. A variety of birding habitats explored, and an excellent cross section of North Texas bird species can be counted. Free. Connemara Meadow Nature Preserve, South gated entrance, behind intersection of Bass & Roberta drs, Plano. ConnemaraConservancy.org.

Online: Friday Meditation Happy Hours –5:30-6:15pm. Sessions begin every hour. Release stress with breath and gentle movements as you withdraw from the external and begin the journey within 15-min guided meditation. $10/session. DallasMeditates.com.

Morning Bird Walk – 7:30-8:15pm. 3rd Sat. Join Trinity River Audubon Center for a monthly bird walk and enjoy the grounds and our amazing feathered friends. $10. Trinity River Audubon Center, 6500 Great Trinity Forest Way, Dallas. Registration required: TrinityRiver.Audubon.org.

Butterfly Garden Walk – 9:30-11:30am. Garden docents on hand to help identify the Texas native plants and visiting butterflies. Literature on plants and butterflies will be available. Special activities for families: scavenger hunts, the Metamorphosis Puppet and more. Free. Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 6465 Refuge Rd, Sherman. 903-7862826. FriendsOfHagerman.com.

A Fairy Garden Walk – 1-3pm. Family-friendly event will include an assortment of fairy gardens displayed installed throughout the Village. Master Gardeners will be on-hand to answer questions. Free. Allen Heritage Village, 450 E St Mary Dr, Allen. ccmgatx.org.

Night Hike – 7pm. Explore the thrilling sights, smells and sounds of night with Heard Trail Guides. $12/member, $14/nonmember. Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, 1 Nature Pl, McKinney. 972-562-5566. Heard Museum.org.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8

Meet the Meadow Introductory Trail Walk – 9-10am. An introductory trail walk which is appropriate for families and those new to The Meadow. Led by Texas Master Naturalists and Meadow Volunteers. Free. Details: ConnemaraConservancy.org.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21

Butterfly Garden Walk – 9:30-11:30am. See Oct 7 listing. Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 6465 Refuge Rd, Sherman. 903-786-2826. FriendsOfHagerman.com.

Coppell Farmers Market – 8am-12pm. Yearround market. 768 W Main St, Coppell. CoppellFarmersMarket.org.

Morning Tai Chi – 8:30am. Join Tai Chi Chuan instructor George Deerfield for this interactive class in developing strength, balance, improved breathing. Unity of Dallas, 6525 Forest Ln, Dallas. UnityDallas.org.

Second Saturday Guided Hike – 8:30-9:30am. Learn about our surrounding habitat while you enjoy a hike. All ages. Trinity River Audubon Center, 6500 Great Trinity Forest Way, Dallas. Registration required: TrinityRiver.Audubon.org.

Pregnancy, Childbirth, Postpartum and Baby Classes – 6-7pm. Classes are held virtually online lead by our top AID instructors utilizing state of the art visual aids and activities to keep it fun and engaging while presenting the latest evidenced based material on each topic. $35/class. Child birth-Classes.com.

Early Bird Walk – 8am. With Master Naturalist Jack Chiles. Weather permitting. Bring binoculars or borrow ours. Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 6465 Refuge Rd, Sherman. 903-786-2826. Register: FriendsOfHagerman.com.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15

Thrive Nature Walk – 9-11:30am. A guided walk to connect with nature and the outdoors. All ages. Thrive Nature Park, 1951 S Valley Pkwy, Lewisville. Registration required: CityOf Lewisville.com.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19

Recycling 101 – 9:30-10:30am. A tour of the recycling facility and an opportunity to have your recycling questions answered by an expert. Waste Connections - 2138 S Airport Drive, McKinney. McKinneyTexas.org.

The Refuge Rocks – 10am. Along Came a Spider. Free. Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 6465 Refuge Rd, Sherman. 903-786-2826. Register: FriendsOfHagerman.com.

A Chance to Hike – 10am-12pm. Free guided nature walk for members of the Special Needs community will take place along the wide and level crushed-granite surface of the Cottonwood trail. Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, 201 E Jones St, Lewisville. Registration required: 972-219-3550 or llela.org.

Birding Basics Workshop – 10am-12pm. Join us for an exciting class on the fundamentals of birdwatching. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or just starting to explore the world of birds, our class has something for everyone. $10. Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, 201 E Jones St, Lewisville. Registration required: 972-2193550 or llela.org.

SATURDAY,

October 28

CCMGA Fall Plant Sale – 9am-1:30pm. An opportunity to purchase a wide variety of locally grown perennials, shrubs and bulbs that are well suited to our climate. Show Barn at Myers Park & Event Center, 7117 CR 166, McKinney. ccmgatx.org.

Hay Day Family Festival – 10am-1pm. Activities include hayrides, grass maze, guided trail walks, games and crafts for kids, story time and more. Free. South Gated Entrance to Connemara. ConnemaraConservancy.org.

Zip After Dark – 6-8:30pm. The Heard forest can get a little spooky at night, making this new offering perfect for a fun Halloween experience. Climb a 23-ft tree to our zip platform then soar down the 487-ft zip line. Purchase one ticket ($16 each) for each time you would like to travel down the zip line. Pre-registration required. Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, 1 Nature Pl, McKinney. 972-562-5566. Heard Museum.org.

Hunter’s Full Moon Hike – 8-10pm. Join us for an illuminating evening as we trek along one of LLELA’s trails and enjoy the full Hunter’s Moon. $15. Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, 201 E Jones St, Lewisville. Registration required: 972-219-3550 or llela.org.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31

Spooky Night Hike – 7:30-9:30pm. Join our trail guides this Halloween as they lead a twilight stroll down one of LLELA’s nature trails. $15. Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, 201 E Jones St, Lewisville. Registration required: 972-2193550 or llela.org.

Ongoing Events

NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email Publisher@NADallas.com for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please.

Daily

Grapevine Farmers Market – 9am-6pm, Sun; 8am-8pm, Mon-Sat. Eat healthy with locally-grown produce and products. 520 S Main St, Ste 203, Grapevine. 817-527-7446. FarmersMar ketOfGrapevine.com.

tour including how and what cows are fed, the benefits of grass-crop based feed (silage), the milking parlor, bottle feeding baby calves along with the learning the benefits of drinking raw milk vs pasteurized milk. Everyone gets samples of milk. $7/person age 2 & up. Circle N Dairy, 2074 County Road 446, Gainesville. 940-3720343. CircleNDairy.com.

Blackland Prairie Raptor Center First Saturdays – 10am-2pm. Meet raptors up-close. Take guided prairie hikes. Kids activities. Bring a picnic lunch. Blackland Prairie Raptor Center, 1625 Brockdale Park Rd, Lucas. Erich Neupert: 972442-7607. BPRaptorCenter.org.

Remember, the entrance door to the sanctuary is inside you.

Pass Us Around

Star Coyote Events – Monthly events include gong, Tibetan bowl and crystal bowl sound journeys, shamanic journey with a drum dance, kid’s energy and creativity events, and a Wed morning class series. Please see the calendar at StarCoyoteSoundTemple.com for the exact dates and times as they change each month or call 469-344-6484.

sunday monday

Frisco Fresh Market – 10am-4pm. Also Sat, 8am-4pm. Frisco Fresh Market, 9215 John W Elliott Dr, Frisco. 844-776-2753. FriscoFresh Market.com.

Sunday Celebration Service Agape Center for Spiritual Living – 10am, meditation; 10:30am, service. Noah’s Event Venue, 5280 Town Square Dr, Plano. Rev Lee Wolak: 972-468-1331. AgapeSpiritualCenter.com.

Sunday Worship: Unity Spiritual Center of Denton Service – 10am, coffee; 11am, service. Unity takes spiritual principles and makes them practical in your life. 6071 New Hope Rd, Krugerville. 214-453-0218. UnityOfNewHope.org.

Sunday Brunch –10am-3pm. Serves up farmto-table shared plates, 72 taps (wine & craft beer), and a welcoming atmosphere to create a unique dining experience. Craft & Vine, 310 S Oak St, Roanoke. 817-464-8181. CraftAndVine. Restaurant.

Horizon UU Worship Service – 10:30am-12pm. Horizon Unitarian Universalist Church, 1641 W Hebron Pkwy, Carrollton. 972-492-4940. Horizonuu.org.

Dairy Farm Tours – Mon-Sat, by appt only. Experience life on a dairy farm with an educational tuesday thursday saturday

Buddhist Sangha Online – 7-9pm. The meeting of Horizon’s Buddhist covenant group. Meditation and study of the 8-Fold Path. Horizon Unitarian Universalist Church: Horizonuu.org.

Mystic Mandala Meditations – 6:30-7:30pm. Guided by Vijay Moksha. A non-denominational mindfulness practice to evolve consciousness; to go beyond the mind using the mind itself. MysticMandalaCenter.com.

The Little Sit – 6am. 1st Sat. If you want to learn how to identify the birds of North Texas, the Little Sit is the perfect way to start. A group of dedicated birders meet once a month at the end of Pad H on the West side of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. 6465 Refuge Rd, Sherman. 903-786-2826. FriendsOfHagerman.com.

2nd Saturday Bird Walk – Sept-June. 8-9:30am. Helps beginning and intermediate birders with bird spotting and identification techniques. Included in general admission; free/Heard Museum members. Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, 1 Nature Pl, McKinney. 972-562-5566. HeardMuseum.org.

1st Saturday Nature Walks – 10am-12pm. Monthly naturalist-led nature walk. Each season at LLELA is different, and we never know what we’ll find. All ages. $5/vehicle. Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, 201 E Jones St, Lewisville. Registration required: 972-219-3550 or llela.org.

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