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Hosted by singer-songwriter Nao, The Music & Meditation Podcast is back for series 2 with eight episodes designed to help you find stillness and meet the challenges of daily life. Inspired by Nao’s own journey, the podcast addresses themes relating to mental health and wellbeing.

Each episode sees a different meditation expert addressing themes ranging from imposter syndrome to shaping your inner voice, to starting the day right and sleeping better at night. It's all soundtracked with original music from some of the UK's most talented young composers, exclusively recorded by the 麻豆约拍 Concert Orchestra and 麻豆约拍 Singers.

Here, Nao and the guest meditation guides explain how meditation can provide some amazing life hacks to cope with the pressures we all experience.

I discovered meditation a couple of years back having struggled with stress and chronic fatigue after years of touring. It switched a light on in my brain and now I meditate every day. With more and more noise in our lives, it's just so key that we take some time for ourselves and find at least a few minutes every day to calm our minds. Finding the right guide and the right music is key to accessing the benefits of meditation so I hope this podcast helps people who don't know where to start.

Nao, host of The Music & Meditation Podcast

2. Calm the chaos

With a busy work-life balance as a mum of three little ones, I meditate to help calm the chaos in my mind and to find some peace before the day begins.

Izzy Judd, author, violinist, mindfulness expert and mum of three. Listen to Izzy’s ten-minute guided meditation on 麻豆约拍 Sounds.

3. Let go of pressure

I meditate because in a world that celebrates being busy, it allows me to slow down and find my own pace. Letting go of the pressures of the external world and connecting inwards helps me find internal peace that makes me feel empowered and calm for the rest of my day. It has changed my life and I believe it can do the same for anyone.

Maude Hirst, actor turned meditation coach, writer, and founder of the EnergyRise app. Listen to Maude’s ten-minute guided meditation on 麻豆约拍 Sounds.

4. Start the day right

Meditation helps tap into courage, strength, compassion and love for the day ahead. It’s a fast track to healing your subconscious mind, and when you awaken your mind, you can free your soul. I think meditation is the best way to start the day. Give yourself permission to take a moment for yourself, starting today!

Pauli Lovejoy, drummer, composer, producer, musical director and founder of Flybrations – a radio show on AMP, a wellness day festival and more. Listen to Pauli’s ten-minute guided meditation on 麻豆约拍 Sounds.

I love meditation because I lead a busy life – travelling the world and negotiating different time zones, speaking on global stages, doing interviews, and training budding Rapid Transformational Therapy therapists. So I take that time at the end of the day to unwind, clear my mind and just be present and in the moment. I find it gives me the clarity and focus to tackle each busy day!

Marisa Peer, Rapid Transformational Therapy trainer, author and speaker. Listen to Marisa’s ten-minute guided meditation on 麻豆约拍 Sounds.

6. Enhance sleep and rest

I meditate and practise deep relaxation simply because they provide so many profound benefits for mind, body and spirit. It truly transforms the way I think, making it more likely that I will respond, rather than react, to life’s challenges. Practising meditation can enhance all physiological functions including sleeping better, slowing the ageing process and improving immunity. Finally, it allows us to experience an enduring source of peace. In short, in a world of constant change and so much uncertainty, meditation and relaxation offer us sublime gifts that no other worldly endeavour can.

Rod Stryker, yoga and meditation expert, author and speaker. Listen to Rod’s ten-minute guided meditation on 麻豆约拍 Sounds.

7. Manage difficult emotions and be present

I meditate because it helps me come back to the present moment. So often we’re thinking about what’s happened in the past or what could happen in the future, but meditation is a tool to make you think about now. It’s great for calming your nervous system and reducing stress, especially when experiencing tough times. I love it because you can do it anywhere and at any time, all you need is yourself.

Madeleine Shaw, yoga and meditation teacher, author, nutritionist and founder of The Glow Space. Listen to Madeleine’s ten-minute guided meditation on 麻豆约拍 Sounds.

8. Reconnect with yourself

For thousands of years people have used mindfulness for the relief of anxiety, stress, depression and chronic pain. Others have used it for "spiritual enlightenment". But I’m as spiritual as a house brick, so I use it to reconnect with myself and to appreciate the bittersweet beauty of everyday life. I find that it also dissolves any worries that I may be having by putting them into a wider context. So they feel far less "personal" and important somehow. And this allows me to discover periods of calm in our chaotic world.

Dr Danny Penman, mindfulness meditation teacher, author and journalist. Listen to Danny’s ten-minute guided meditation on 麻豆约拍 Sounds.

9. Give your inner voice space

I meditate because to me it is a quiet act of rebellion to pause for long enough to reflect and set down what is difficult; especially in a society that shouts at us to keep busy and keep moving. The kindest gift I can give to myself is the time and space to remember what it means to be human and listen to my own voice, which is often to just be. It's easy to believe that we're not good enough, and that we need to earn our place here, but my meditation practice allows me to show up as I am, where all the messy, scrappy and delightfully lovely parts of me can all exist.

Giselle La Pompe-Moore, author, speaker and meditation teacher. Listen to Giselle’s ten-minute guided meditation on 麻豆约拍 Sounds.