The benefits of yoga are endless. It affects the human mind and body in various ways. Approximately 15 million Americans practice yoga, and the number of participants is expected to increase by twenty percent each year in the United States ("Yoga Statistics"). While yoga is often thought of as a practice that involves circus poses and seemingly impossible flexibility; this is not the case. Even bedridden patients can benefit from imagining themselves striking the poses and practicing the breathing techniques that work for them (Dickenson 24-25). Yoga is not something you do in the studio and leave behind. It becomes a way of life; leading to healthier habits, improving psychological health and encouraging spiritual growth. An article on using yoga in intimate relationships, by Kate H. Feldman says: "It means learning and using relationship skills that you intentionally integrate into your daily interactions: taking the time to listen and discover who your partner; learning to make agreements; learning to set boundaries; learning to use skillful language when speaking and being able to identify your feelings and express them without losing your composure or perspective (16-20). “Yoga could be described as the practice of holding different poses and using different breathing techniques that strengthen the mind and body. , bringing the practitioner into a new state of consciousness. Practicing yoga increases blood flow to internal organs, bringing more oxygen to your body's cells, while strengthening and calming the nervous system. There are many types of yoga. In the United States, the most widely practiced form is known as Hatha, which is a combination of poses taken from all types of yoga b...... middle of paper ......2014:24 -25. Print."News." Yoga. March 2014: 8-9. Print.Feldman, Kate H. “Holding Relationship Posture.” Yoga. February 2014: 16-20. Print."What is Kripalu?" Kripalu. August-November 2013: 4-5. Print. Hartfield, Ned, Jon Havenhand, Sat Bir Khalsa, Graham Clarke and Anne Krayer. “The Effectiveness of Yoga for Improving Well-Being and Stress Resilience in the Workplace.” Scandinavian Journal of Labour, Environment and Health. (2011): 70-76. Internet. April 13, 2014. .United States. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Get the facts: Yoga for health. NCCAM Clearinghouse, 2008. Web. .Forbes, Bo. Interview with Kelly Birch. “Interview with Bo Forbes, PsyD.” Yoga therapy today. Spring 2013. 28-33. Internet. April 7 2014.