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Table of Contents
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About the Book
From Clara Hughes, the six-time Olympic medalist, celebrated humanitarian, and bestselling author of Open Heart, Open Mind: A story of healing and transformation in midlife.
As an elite athlete—the only person who has won multiple medals in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games—Clara Hughes thrived on powering through pain, with profound consequences for her body and mind. Following her retirement from sport, the mantra ‘‘movement as medicine’’ fueled her public advocacy for mental health and her personal healing journey. However, Clara’s attraction to extremes persisted: grueling months-long hikes and bike-packing trips began to take a toll. In 2021, a catastrophic knee injury coincided with menopausal hot flashes and dizzying mood swings, forcing her into stillness, and her depression, kept at bay for years, loomed larger than ever.
How do you move forward when the body you’ve always relied on doesn’t bounce back like it used to, when you feel like a stranger to yourself, and the punishing voice in your head won’t stop? Clara sought help through traditional avenues, but after realizing how little support there is for people in menopause, she turned to a different kind of medicine. Enter the world of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Through guided experiences—some hilarious, some alarming, and some mind-expanding—Clara begins a winding trip back to herself, and to a deeper awareness of the roots of the inner pain she’d suppressed through sport. Along the way, she forges new relationships; begins the work of repairing old ones; and faces long-held fears.
Learning to Breathe is a vulnerable, funny, wise and fascinating memoir about one human’s healing journey, the terrors and joys of midlife change, and the potential for new beginnings at any stage.
As an elite athlete—the only person who has won multiple medals in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games—Clara Hughes thrived on powering through pain, with profound consequences for her body and mind. Following her retirement from sport, the mantra ‘‘movement as medicine’’ fueled her public advocacy for mental health and her personal healing journey. However, Clara’s attraction to extremes persisted: grueling months-long hikes and bike-packing trips began to take a toll. In 2021, a catastrophic knee injury coincided with menopausal hot flashes and dizzying mood swings, forcing her into stillness, and her depression, kept at bay for years, loomed larger than ever.
How do you move forward when the body you’ve always relied on doesn’t bounce back like it used to, when you feel like a stranger to yourself, and the punishing voice in your head won’t stop? Clara sought help through traditional avenues, but after realizing how little support there is for people in menopause, she turned to a different kind of medicine. Enter the world of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Through guided experiences—some hilarious, some alarming, and some mind-expanding—Clara begins a winding trip back to herself, and to a deeper awareness of the roots of the inner pain she’d suppressed through sport. Along the way, she forges new relationships; begins the work of repairing old ones; and faces long-held fears.
Learning to Breathe is a vulnerable, funny, wise and fascinating memoir about one human’s healing journey, the terrors and joys of midlife change, and the potential for new beginnings at any stage.
Appearances
OCT 18
6:30PM
In Person
Clara Hughes
EVENT - CFUW X Different Drummer, In Conversation with Annette Hamm
Learn MorePort Nelson United Church
3132 South Drive
Burlington, ON L7N 1H7
OCT 18
12:00PM
In Person
Clara Hughes
EVENT - National Menopause Show, In Conversation with Dr. Ariane Ouellet-Decoste
Learn MoreNational Menopause Show
6900 Airport Road
The International Centre
Mississauga, Ontario L4V 1E8
OCT 19
6:00PM
In Person
Clara Hughes
EVENT - Rotman @ the University of Toronto, In Conversation with Nam Kiwanuka
Learn MoreUniversity of Toronto, Rotman School of Management
105 St. George Street
Toronto, ON M5S 3E6
OCT 20
7:00PM
gritLIT: Hamilton's Readers and Writers Festival
177 Sherman Avenue North
Playhouse Cinema
Hamilton, Ontario L8L 6M8
OCT 23
6:30PM
In Person
Clara Hughes
EVENT - Cafe Books X Canmore Public Library, In Conversation with Beckie Scott
Learn MoreCanmore Public Library
101-700 Railway Avenue
Canmore, AB T1W 1N9
OCT 25
10:00AM
In Person
Clara Hughes
FESTIVAL - Vancouver Writers Fest, In Conversation with Joanna Cheek
Learn MoreVancouver Writers Festival
1218 Cartwright Street
Performance Works
Vancouver, BC V6H 3R8
OCT 27
7:00PM
Bolen Books
111 1644 Hillside Avenue, Hillside Centre
Victoria, BC V8T 2C5
NOV 7
3:15PM
In Person
Clara Hughes
FESTIVAL - Whistler Wristers Festival with Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho and the WIBA Winner. Moderated by Leslie Anthony
Learn MoreWhistler Writers Festival
4599 Chateau Blvd
Fairmont Chateau Whistler
Whistler, BC V8E 1G1
About the Author
Photograph © Simon Baker
Six-time Olympic medalist Clara Hughes became the only athlete to win multiple medals in both the Summer and Winter Games. She is a member of the Order of Manitoba and an officer of the Order of Canada, has received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, and was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. Clara was Canada’s flag bearer for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. She was the founding spokesperson for Bell Canada’s Let’s Talk initiative, a campaign dedicated to breaking down the stigma of mental health. In 2014, she was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross, which recognizes those whose outstanding personal commitment has brought honour to Canada. In 2022, she was named an Olympian for Life in recognition of her making the world a better place by promoting the Olympic Values at every stage of her life. Clara lives with her husband, Peter, on Vancouver Island, and continues to enjoy bike touring and hiking.
About the Reader
Photograph © Simon Baker
Six-time Olympic medalist Clara Hughes became the only athlete to win multiple medals in both the Summer and Winter Games. She is a member of the Order of Manitoba and an officer of the Order of Canada, has received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, and was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. Clara was Canada’s flag bearer for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. She was the founding spokesperson for Bell Canada’s Let’s Talk initiative, a campaign dedicated to breaking down the stigma of mental health. In 2014, she was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross, which recognizes those whose outstanding personal commitment has brought honour to Canada. In 2022, she was named an Olympian for Life in recognition of her making the world a better place by promoting the Olympic Values at every stage of her life. Clara lives with her husband, Peter, on Vancouver Island, and continues to enjoy bike touring and hiking.
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster (October 13, 2026)
- Runtime: 7 hours and 18 minutes
- ISBN13: 9781668174883
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Unabridged Audio Download 9781668174883
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