(Raymond Leone/ Washington Post) — Music can have a profound effect on us. It can improve our physical and mental health by helping to reduce blood pressure, alleviate stress and lead to a release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that affects our mood and sense of happiness, research shows.

(Julia Landwher/ Health) — When you’re feeling stressed or having trouble sleeping, it can sometimes be difficult to get out of that headspace and calm down. But the solution may be as easy as taking deep breaths in and out in a specific rhythm.

A breathing technique—dubbed the 4-7-8 method—has been growing  …