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If you would like to combine both the physical and the mental sides of tennis into one whilst enjoy a soothing skeletal muscular therapy at the same time, then throw on your saffron shorts and cheese cloth shirt because yoga is definitely for you.

Tennis is a unique sport. It couples the physical attributes such as strength, speed, agility, stamina and balance, with the largely untaught mental game that incorporates discipline, determination, desire, dedication, and composure. A strong mental constitution can be the difference between knowing what to do and doing what you know. Yoga will help you to clearly and freely initiate and execute shots and strategies in unique situations without debilitative negative self-talk.

Yoga helps to channel and focus all your energy's, allowing you to call upon your "experience" some of which tends to lie passive in your subconscious at depths we rarely visit.

Much of yoga involves "static contraction", a tightening of a muscle without accompanying movement in the associated limb. It takes energy to do this, and therefore creates heat. This keeps the sweating mechanism turned on which is a wonderful way to warm up before a match. Often injuries in sport are caused by structural and muscular imbalance and yoga helps also to correct that.

Yoga teaches you how to create power through relaxation rather than muscle tension. As we get older (and often heavier) it becomes even more important that we cut down on joint jamming high impact exercise's and steer toward workouts that will promote longevity and perhaps even improvement in our chosen sport through flexibility.

Many Tennis Pro's have embraced the "yoga solution" to remedy (or to remove the cause of) injuries as well as to gain "focus" in competition. Learning to use the time between points as a winning tool as much as say a break point could provide another edge in an ever more equilateral game.

TRIANGLE POSTURE - UTTHITA TRIKONASANA

This posture tones up leg muscles, removes stiffness in the legs (especially iliotibial band syndrome) and hips, corrects any minor deformity in the legs and allows them to develop evenly. It relieves backache and neck sprains, strengthens the ankles and develops the chest. Shin splints and hamstring tightness are also alleviated.

THE WARRIOR - VIRABHADRASANA II

In this pose the chest is fully expanded which helps deep breathing. It relieves cramps in the calf and thigh muscles, brings elasticity to the leg and back muscles (thus alleviates stiffness in the shoulders, neck and the back) and tones up the ankles, knees and abdominal organs. Frequent practicing of this posture can help chronically sprained ankles

THE CHAIR - UTKATASANA TWO

Utkata means powerful and fierce. The pose removes stiffness in the shoulders. The ankles become strong and the leg muscles develop evenly. The abdominal muscles and the back are toned, and the chest is developed by being fully expanded. The diaphragm is lifted up and this gives a gentle massage to the heart. It is a beneficial pose for endurance athletes.

DOWNWARD DOG - ADHO MUKA SVANASANA

When you're exhausted a longer stay in this pose removes fatigue and re-energizes the body. The pose is especially good for athletes who are tired after a good workout. It will help sprinters develop speed and lightness in the legs. The pose relieves stiffness in the heels, eradicates stiffness in the region of the shoulder blades and helps to relieve arthritis of the shoulder joints. It rejuvenates the brain cells and invigorates the brain by relieving fatigue. It is an exhilarating pose and therapeutic for sprained ankles, shin splints, rotator cuff injury and hamstrings.

HAND STAND - ADHO MUKHA VRKSASANA

This pose develops the body harmoniously building mental and physical focus and agility . It strengthens the shoulders arms and wrist and expands the chest fully

MARYCHYASANA C

Regular practice of this posture will help backache and pains in the hips to disappear rapidly. The liver, intestines and spleen are contracted and so are toned and thus cease to be sluggish. The muscles of the neck gain power. Sprains in the shoulder and displacement of the shoulder joints are relieved and the shoulder movements become free.

BRIDGE: SETU BANDHASANA

This posture tones the spine and shoulders and helps to keep the body alert and supple. The back feels strong and full of life. It gives one great vitality, energy and a feeling of lightness.