Exercises to keep you in balance

Who couldn't use a little more grace in their life? Balance and stability exercises are particularly important for healthy aging, but everybody can benefit from balance exercises. Women's Health magazine shares a great balance routine you can add to your workouts a few times each week:

• Single-Leg Reach. Stand with your weight on your left leg and your knee slightly bent. Slowly lift your right leg behind you and hold for two seconds. Do six reps on each leg.
• Single-Leg Squat. Stand on your right leg and lift your left foot slightly off the floor. Slowly sit as if you were sitting. Start with six reps on each side and gradually work up to 12 reps. (I tried this one and it's hard to get the motion down. I used a chair to stabilize myself until I got the hang of it.)
  
• Hop with Stabilization. Stand on your right foot then hop forward 12 to 18 inches, landing on your left foot. Hold the position for a few seconds, then hop backward and land on your right foot. Work up to 12 reps.

AOL Health has more information on balance and exercises to improve your stability.