A Calmer Life

When we're rushing through our day, we're often unaware of what we're eating and view food as fuel. By slowing down and eating mindfully, we can gain a new appreciation of our meals and where the food comes from. In this episode, Francine Russell explains how we can eat more mindfully and reclaim our mealtimes. Find more features about mindfulness on our website: www.calmmoment.com Music "Summer in my Heart" by Adam Drake and Tom Jenkins (Audionetwork).   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We're very excited to be joined by author Matt Haig for the latest episode to chat about his new book! Notes on a Nervous Planet is the follow up to Matt's best-selling book Reasons to Stay Alive, which covered his experiences of anxiety and depression. One of his recent books, How to Stop Time, is set to be made into a movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch. In this episode, we talk to Matt about why modern life seems designed to stress us out and how we need to find ways to disconnect. Notes on a Nervous Planet is published by Canongate priced £12.99 and goes on sale on 5 July. Find more features about anxiety on our website: www.calmmoment.com Music "Summer in my Heart" by Adam Drake and Tom Jenkins (Audionetwork).   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ever been to a yoga class and felt intimidated by other people there? Do you struggle to find your yoga confidence? In the latest episode of the podcast, Sarah Orme and Katharine Bennett chat to Charlene Lim of Trika Yoga to learn how to find your yoga mojo and how to cope with the issue of competitiveness in yoga classes. Music by Adam Drake and Tom Jenkins.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What do mindfulness and opera have in common? More than you might think! In the latest In The Moment podcast, we speak to the Queen's favourite opera singer Laura Wright to find out how she uses music to stay calm under pressure. Soprano Laura often performs at major sporting events including the Rugby World Cup and the Grand National, but she's also performed at the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations in 2016. During her career, she's had to learn to manage her stress and mindfulness has given her the tools she needs to do just that. Visit our website to find Laura's calming playlist: http://www.calmmoment.com/podcast/how-to-use-music-to-stay-mindful-with-opera-singer-laura-wright-in-the-new-in-the-moment-podcast Music by Adam Drake (PRS) / Tom Jenkins (PRS) – Summer in my Heart from Audionetwork (GBFFM1785716).  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Blogger, Youtuber and author Lily Pebbles joins us to talk about the highs and lows of female friendship and her new book, The F Word. Lily was inspired to write the book because her female friendships have always been such an important part of her life. "It's a subject I've always felt passionate about," she says. "I kept a diary from the age of 10-16 and whenever I read it back it's so hilarious. I thought a book would be the perfect place to write about this."  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

First there was hygge from Denmark, then came lagom from Sweden, but now the Finns are getting in on the act with their own wellbeing ethos – sisu. And they could be on to something, because Finland has just been named the happiest country in the world by the Happiness Research Institute. Joanna Nylund, author of Sisu: The Finnish Art of Courage, joined us as a guest on the latest In The Moment Magazine podcast to talk about her new book. You can read more about sisu in issue 10, which is on sale in the UK on 6th March. SISU by Joanna Nylund is published by Gaia, £10 (www.octopusbooks.co.uk) Follow Joanna on Instagram at @joannaulfsdotter. Illustrations by Naomi Wilkinson.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When self-confessed sugar addict Hannah Bellis went to the doctor about her skin, she was surprised when she was advised to cut the sweet stuff out of her diet. But, as Hannah found, quitting sugar was easier said than done.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Christine Bailey, author of The Brain Boost Diet Plan, talks to Sarah Orme and Kate Bennett about what to eat to keep your brain healthy. Most diets focus on your body, so we were excited to hear about a diet that's designed to supercharge your brain. In this podcast, we're talking about what to eat when you're feeling stressed and tired and which foods can help you to stay mentally sharp.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We spoke to Rachel de Thample about how she gathered and grew the ingredients for a very unusual Christmas feast – and discovered a love of foraging in the process. Rachel says: "The idea came to me after I'd finished writing Less Meat More Veg. I think sometimes when you finish a project, you crave the intensity of something new." Rachel decided that she wanted to focus on making a meal and the Christmas dinner seemed the ideal choice: "It seemed like the perfect meal, because the idea hatched at the end of one year, so I had a whole year to do the project, which is pretty much how much time you need to follow it through." Read about urban foraging in London with Rachel de Thample: http://www.calmmoment.com/escaping/discover-urban-foraging-in-london-with-rachel-de-thample/ Music: Summer in my Heart by Adam Drake (PRS) / Tom Jenkins (PRS)  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the first episode of the In The Moment Magazine podcast, we meet Rebecca Sullivan, author of The Art of the Natural Home, to find out what's inspired her to live a more natural life.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.