By Michele S. Jang, PT

It is estimated that over 115 million people will watch the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks go at it during Super Bowl Sunday on February 1st. A number of you will find yourself sitting in front of the tube possibly with hot wings, beer and soda, chips, burgers, sweets. The football players will be busting their butts while we sit on ours.  How about channeling some of that adrenaline into a fun exercise challenge with your buddies?
All of the following exercises should be repeatedly performed for 30 seconds for an easier challenge and up to 60 seconds for a more difficult challenge.

Touchdown:  
Made by your team: Simultaneously raise your hands in the air while coming up onto your toes. Lower arms to side and feet to the floor.  Repeat motion of rising up and lowering for duration of time.
Made by the opposing team:  stand and touch your toes with your fingers, then reach hands up towards the ceiling.

Field goal:
Made by your team:  stand and alternate feet kicking gently in front of you.
Made by the opposing team:  stand with feet slightly more than hip width apart.  Touch hand to opposite foot, stand upright, do the same for opposite hand to foot.  Repeat.

Interception:
Made by your team:  single leg balance (for added challenge, perform with eyes closed or while clapping hands)
Made by the opposing team:  run in place as fast as you can

Fumbles
Recovered by your team:  stand & reach both hands to the ceiling, then reach hands out to the side.
Recovered by the opposing team:  squats (any form: wall squats holds, partial squats, squat and touch your toes, etc.)

Penalties
Called against your team:  pushups – any form, on the floor or against the wall
Called against the opposing team: stand tall & march in place bringing your knees as high as you can without rounding your back.
According to the USDA, the Super Bowl is the second largest consumption day of the year.   The average American will consume 2000 calories just while watching the Super Bowl.  Regardless of who wins on Sunday, let’s combat the calories by exercising.  Give it a shot. At least you’ll be a winner.

Michele S Jang, PT is a physical therapist who likes to look outside the box. She has been a physical therapist for over 20 years and has extensive training in manual therapy or the use of hands to help rehabilitate the body. Michele has been an instructor both in the United States and abroad.  She offers Free Consults on Tuesday afternoons.  Michele also has a team of therapists at Spirit Winds who offer an array of expertise on exercise, fall prevention, foot and shoe assessments, body mechanics and proper breathing technique to increase awareness and healing.   Michele can be reached at 805 543-5100 or .   For more information please also visit  www.spiritwindstherapy.com