At the end of a gruelling six hour match to win the championship, two supremely gifted athletes Djokovic and Nadal ventured into uncharted sporting territory, a place that tested the limits of the human condition. 

They were barely separated in their chances of winning the game based on skill. It comes down to whoever can outlast the other, without falling victim to the doubts generated by pains in the exhausted body and mind.

Yoga is a way to literally flick the switch on self doubt and this is why I believe Djokovic won, because he believed he could win it more. (Check out the Facebook page of his yoga teacher https://www.facebook.com/riahaffar)

It’s a little known fact that Novak Djokovic does yoga, and I’ll bet this was a key factor in his victory over Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final which tested the physical and mental limits of man.

Now I’m not saying that yoga helps Djokovic improve his amazing tennis skills. That’s impossible. Nor am I trying to take anything away from his tennis ability, compared with other players, including Nadal. 

The difference in technical skills and talent of these top athletes is almost imperceptible, and the quality seems to be increasing exponentially, so athletes need to look beyond raw talent to find a competitive advantage. 

This is where yoga comes into its own.

Yoga is perceived as a way to improve your physical condition, and based on some of the positions that Djokovic contorted himself into, it does a great job of this.

However, the real value is the ability to hone the mind’s ability to concentrate and focus. Coupled with some breathing practices, yoga helps it to provide a level of control over the mind so that you can watch thoughts as they come and go, which is critical in helping people eliminate self doubt.

Everyone knows that the biggest limitation to achieving your dreams isn’t talent or opportunity, it’s self doubt. Self doubt is the killer that prevents people from realising their full potential.

It’s my aim to pass this gift on to others so they too can bring out their inner Djokovic.