Selection Sunday has passed, the first round bracket has been revealed, and the games have begun. Welcome to March Madness!

This Granddaddy of basketball tournaments is a single-elimination roller coaster ride. The underdog can win it all — or at least advance one glorious round beyond everyone’s expectations.

Excitement rises in my heart this time of year, because I was raised in basketball country, when Bobby Knight coached Indiana.

I was there when Coach Knight visited our packed high school fieldhouse to watch Damon Bailey. Our pep band played to the rafters and there wasn’t an empty seat in the barn.

Years before the movie “Hoosiers” came out, I shot hoops every day, believing that I could become a high school basketball star if I practiced hard enough.

Well, at just over 5 feet tall, I am not a hoops superstar. But I learned a lot from Damon and the rest of our state championship team that year, who embodied the message of that great movie “Hoosiers”: if you believe in yourself and each other, have a great coach, and work really hard, you can achieve more than you ever dreamed possible.

When this happens, it sure is exciting. This is why we love March Madness.

Let’s apply this to our own lives. Have we given up on the game of healthy living? Have we thrown in the towel and put the ball on the shelf? Which area of our health makes us feel the most defeated?

If we feel like the underdog, let’s approach the problem with some college basketball philosophy. We need an experienced coach, a dedicated team, and a top-notch strategy to help us gain the best prize of all: a healthy, happy life.

For example, one member who attends my classes shared her struggle with high blood pressure. Her doctor suggested less salt, more exercise, and less stress (notice her coach and the game plan). She adjusted her diet and regularly attends fitness classes like Zumba, Mind-Body Balance and Tai Chi. Her fellow classmates and instructors became part of her support “team.” Now her blood pressure is in normal range and she feels much better. And you can bet that we are all cheering her on!

Whether our biggest opponent is losing stubborn weight, making time for exercise, changing our eating habits, or anything else, we should find someone with expertise who can become our trusted “coach” and provide us with a winning strategy. Then we can seek out supportive people who will hold us accountable and become our “team.”

Lastly, we must work hard and follow through. No ball club ever won the Final Four without practicing. Remember, the difference between “Try” and “Triumph” is the “Umph!”

During March Madness this month, think about how you can play harder and smarter to win your personal health battle. Each member of our staff at the YMCA of Southwest Michigan is ready to help you along the way.

Let’s “go, fight, and win” the game of healthy living!

Chrissie Kaufmann is a group fitness instructor at the YMCA of Southwest Michigan.