A respiration appliance (10) is configured to entrain the breathing of a subject. The breathing of the subject is entrained to modulate the autonomic nervous system of the subject to decrease sympathetic nerve activity and/or to reduce sympathetic/parasympathetic balance in order to provide relaxation to the subject. The respiration appliance (10) restricts the exhalation of the subject, while permitting substantially unencumbered inhalation, to impact the breathing of the subject in a manner that enhances relaxation.