Music can be a powerful way to help your nervous system relax. Gentle rhythms, soft melodies, and soothing vocals signal to the body that it’s safe to slow down. Even two minutes of listening to a calming melody can help your breath ease and give your mind a little space.
Think of this playlist as a mini reset button.
1. Medieval: “O Virtus Sapientiae – O Power of Wisdom” | Hildegard von Bingen
“O Virtus Sapientiae” is a mesmerizing medieval hymn composed by St. Hildegard of Bingen, a visionary Benedictine abbess of the 12th century. The text exalts wisdom and the power of mystic wisdom, encompassing all aspects of creation.
2. Soft piano ballad: Olivia Dean – A Couple Minutes | A COLORS SHOW
Grammy award winning, London-based singer-songwriter Olivia Dean’s silken tones glide effortlessly through her performance of ‘A Couple Minutes’, a standout track from her album The Art of Loving.
3. Gentle acoustic guitar: “(Yiruma) River Flows in You” | Sungha Jung
Sungha Jung (Korean: 정성하) is a South Korean musician who specializes in acoustic fingerstyle guitar. Jung creates acoustic covers and arrangements, typically by ear and/or by watching videos, and composes original songs, both of which he plays and uploads online. He is often described as a guitar prodigy, though he prefers to be known as a “guitarist” rather than a “prodigy.”
4. Ambient & nature sounds: “Weightless” | Marconi Union
Marconi Union are an English ambient music band formed in Manchester in 2003 by Richard Talbot and Jamie Crossley.
5. Meditative & Yoga Music: “Ong Namo” | Snatam Kaur
Snatam Kaur Khalsa is an American singer, songwriter and author. Kaur performs new age Indian devotional music, kirtan, and tours the world as a peace activist. Listen to this 10 minute song for deep relaxation.
6. Classical Calm: “Gymnopédie No. 1” | Eric Satie
Erik Satie was a French composer and pianist. In the 1880s he worked as a pianist in café-cabarets in Montmartre, Paris, and began composing works, mostly for solo piano, such as his Gymnopédies and Gnossiennes.
