More than 20 million Americans are doing yoga according to a 2012 study published in Yoga Journal. Today, the Eastern practice of yoga is gaining popularity and being widely practiced all across the Western Hemisphere and even on college campuses.

On Thursday afternoon a committee for Women's History Month organized a free yoga class for students at Brooklyn College focused on female reproductive health.

The students did about 13 different poses in total with some appearing more difficult than others. Each stance had a different effect on the body geared towards improving women's reproductive health like increasing blood flow, adding direct (or indirect) stimulation as needed, or relaxing tensed muscles. Certain poses, such as The Plough, decreased stress hormones while others, like The Savasana, activated hormones only produced while resting.

Kiersten Cregger, the yoga instructor, said she was delighted to be invited by the Brooklyn College Women's History Committee. She also teaches a yoga class every Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday at Brooklyn Yoga Collective on 795 Franklin Avenue. According to her bio, Cregger fell in love with yoga at age 18 while in her original home studio of Yoga to the People in Seattle. Now teaching in Brooklyn she "strives to strike a balance between strength and surrender."

Cregger smoothly transitioned the students of Brooklyn College on yoga mats through different poses like the Mula bandha, Surya A, Goddess Pose, Camel, Frog, Eagle, Seated Spinal Twist, Supta Baddha Konasana, legs up the wall, and more. Cregger made sure to constantly remind students to breathe in through their nose and out through their mouth as she demonstrated each pose and occasionally left her post to assist an individual with a difficult movement. For Cregger, breathing was priority number one. "It doesn't matter what your pose looks like as long as you are breathing in it," she said while smiling.

At the end of the session all the students rested with their backs against the yoga mat with their eyes closed for about 5 minutes. "We live in a culture that teaches us to work really hard but we don't live in a culture that teaches us how to rest, take time and take care of ourselves," said Cregger.

Taking care of oneself is a huge part of what makes yoga such a popular activity. For college students it can be particularly gratifying.

Sophomore student at Brooklyn College and secretary of the Women's History Committee, Truth Opaleye, admitted the class was a challenge. “But I tried, that's the point. I'm so stiff from class lately,” said Opaleye. “Gotta treat myself," she added.