Haley Smith pursuing Olympic dreams with a book of mindful practices
As an aspiring Canadian Olympic cross country mountain bike racer for the Norco Factory Team she has had to overcome anxiety and anorexia.
Haley Smith is fueling her Olympic dream with a book that is intended to help you introduce mindful practices into your daily life. As an aspiring Canadian Olympic cross country mountain bike racer for the Norco Factory Team she has had to overcome anxiety and anorexia. Haley has her bachelor degree in science from Queen’s University with a concentration in kinesiology. she has developed into an avid mental-wellness advocate. Cycling Canada has two spots to fill for the women’s MTB team travelling to Rio, plus one alternate position. The Uxbridge, Ont., native is currently in contention for the alternate spot for the Olympics. In order to continue to pursue her Olympic goal the 22 year-old presents Take a Moment.
CCM: Give me some of the background that led you to write this book?
I have many dreams in life. To represent Canada at the Olympic Games is among them, but one of my foremost goals is to help kids, teens and adults manage and optimize anxiety for happier lives.
What will readers find in your book?
Take a Moment is a collection of colouring and journal pages, inspirational messages and simple recipes that facilitate the practice of mindfulness. It is my hope that this book will help you de-stress and become present. Its foundations are in an eight-year journey to wellness and it was made with an endless amount of love.
What experiences made you interested in mindfulness and other ideas in this book?
For the majority of my teenage years, I struggled severely with anorexia and anxiety. My adolescence was a constant struggle between food-related terror, crippling anxiety and a deep love for sports.
So these ideas and strategies helped you with anxiety and anorexia?
At the age of 22, I feel like I have a handle on my anxiety. I no longer struggle with anorexia, and anxiety no longer rules my life. Throughout my bumpy journey to wellness, I’ve come across and adopted many different anxiety management strategies. At the heart of all these strategies is the principle of mindfulness. This practice helps me to feel level and happy on a day-to-day basis.
So what gaps in your funding are you supplementing with the proceeds you hope to raise from the book?
Racing is possible because I have the support of my provincial and national federations, Norco Bicycles and the Factory Team sponsors, and a few anonymous personal sponsors. However, to continue with my racing career in the elite category, I do not currently have enough funding to attend all the races that are necessary, such as the U.S. Cup races and the full MTB World Cup circuit. I’m hoping that sales from my book will help get me to more races, while at the same time giving me the freedom to make high-performance decisions in other areas such as optimal travel and diet.
With every event between now and the Olympics set to influence the selection process, Haley is focused on the first round of the World Cup in Australia on April 23 to 24. You can preview and buy Haley’s book for $20 here. If you see her at an Ontario Cup mountain bike race or Canada Cup event, you can buy directly from the racer.
