To cope with the rigours of the gruelling season ahead, the Indian cricket team probables have taken to yoga to improve their fitness levels, in addition to other physical exercises.

They wake up to an hour-long yoga session daily in the ongoing conditioning camp at Bangalore, an idea mooted by coach John Wright.

Noted yoga instructor and aerospace scientist Dr S N Omkar puts them through the yoga-related exercises which focus on core muscle stability.

"The response from the players is pretty good and they have been taking a lot of interest in yoga," said Omkar, the Senior Scientific Officer in the Department of Aerospace Engineering of the Indian Institute of Science at Bangalore.

He said master blaster Sachin Tendulkar was having extended yoga sessions. "He spends additional half hour doing intrinsic stretches," said the 42-year-old Omkar.

Omkar, who is a regular whenever the camps are held at Bangalore, said the yoga exercises being imparted are aimed at body stability, flexibility and promoting symmetry and harmony.

"Yoga tunes and tones every muscle. It is aimed at helping players relieve stress and become calmer, it brings about harmony of the entire body," he said.

Coach Wright, physio Andrew Leipus and newly recruited trainer Gregory Allen King have made conscious attempts to infuse an element of fun and healthy competition in the scheme of things.

Volleyball and swimming have been regular features as the team prepares to take on the challenge of New Zealand and Australia in the coming months.