tennis tip 5

Today's Tip: Improve your Breathing and you'll Improve your Tennis

When players are about to play a big point what is the one thing almost all players will do? Take a deep breath and exhale. Why? because they're using their breathing as a way of helping them control themselves physically and emotionally. Controlling your breathing is one of the best ways to cope with both mental and physical anxiety.

Also, remember to breathe through your nose which can have an amazing effect on your psychological state, especially when playing a match.

When you breathe through your mouth, you only inflate the upper two lobes of the lungs. These lobes are connected to the sympathetic nervous system. This is the branch that triggers the "fight-or-flight" response.

When you breathe through your nose, you inflate all of the lobes of the lung. And the lower lobes are connected to the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the part of the nervous system that calms you down, slows your heart rate, and helps you relax.

So, nose breathing brings a balance to your system that you simply can't get with mouth breathing.

So remember, when you're feeling tense and uptight, stop and take a few deep nose breaths, you'll be amazed how much it helps you relax.