Balance, by definition, is an even distribution of weightthat enables someone (or something) to remain upright and steady. When used todescribe a concept, like work/life or home decor balance, it refers to elementsthat are in the correct proportion. Both textbook definitions are relevant whenyou're working on improving personal balance - it's about distributing yourbody weight in the correct proportions, if you will.

There are many factors that go into good (or poor) balance:The transfer of information from your brain to your nerves to your muscles, theposition of your center of gravity and how that connects to the spotwhere your feet touch the floor, and the support your feet have whenthey're moving you from point A to point B. All of these things can be improvedupon, though, regardless of your age or current skill. The key? Being as fit asyou can be.

Maintain a strong core

Your core abdominal and lower back muscles are perhaps themost important when the body is trying to maintain balance, as they controlyour center of gravity. The stronger these muscles are, the quicker and more efficientlyyou'll be able to shift this weight where it needs to be in order tostand upright.

Lift weights

That being said, many other muscles come into play whenyou're trying to stay balanced. Your legs, for example, are your supportbase when you're running, walking, dancing or exercising. The strongerthey are, the more support you have. Try keeping your legs and feet as closetogether as you can when you're performing weight lifting exercises. It willbe difficult to find balance at first, but this will significantlyimprove your strength in situations where your support base is narrow.

Practice

One of the best ways to build your balance is to, well,practice balancing. You can add this into your normal workout routine orperform the exercises solo, but they will only take a few minutes each day.Balance on one foot at a time with your eyes closed to see how long youcan hold the pose. If you fall, don't sweat it - just try again. You'll noticethat you'll be able to stand in challenging positions for longer durations astime goes by.

Regular weight lifting may already make a world of adifference when it comes to balancing, but you can add in unilateral exercisesto further build your skills. They're simply moves done using one arm or leg ata time. Take squats, for example - they are usually performed with both feetplanted firmly on the ground, but they can also be done with all your weightshifted onto one leg. Unilateral exercises could give you a challenge inboth strength and balance.

Sit on an exercise ball

This is an easy one - you can do it when you're at work,when you're watching TV, when you're on the computer and even when you'reeating. Sitting on an exercise ball, unlike sitting in a chair, requires you toengage your core and back muscles while you keep your center of gravitydirectly over the ground.

Act like a kid

Do you remember when you were a little kid and you wouldwalk on narrow beams, follow the line of a crack in the sidewalk or moveon a thin line on the edge of a hallway? It turns out that all of thoseexercises are great for promoting balance. Next time you're out on a walk, trywalking along the ledge of a curb or a fallen log.

Try a pair of orthotics

Orthotics are designed to give the feet a little moresupport and create a  stable foundation. As we discussed earlier, both ofthose things are incredibly important when it comes to even weightdistribution. Though orthotics are especially helpful in assistingbalance for the elderly, they can help people of any age. Athletes inparticular are one group of people susceptible to injury resulting from a lackof balance.

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