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If you've committed to regular exercise, you're likely working up a sweat during heart-pumping cardio sessions and feeling the burn with weight-training reps. You might even be stretching it out in downward-facing dog. However, balance training is a key component of fitness that is often left out. So why is it important? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1 out of 4 older adults fall each year. Balance training improves your body's ability to react quickly to everyday missteps, which in turn helps prevent falls. During exercise, balance also helps you move more efficiently for improved performance and injury prevention.

Balance refers to the ability to stay upright and steady, whether you're standing, kneeling, sitting or squatting. Several sensory systems in your body contribute to good balance. Your vision, inner ear and joint receptors provide a sense of where your body is in space. The neuromuscular system synthesizes this information to give you the stability you need to keep your body upright, with your weight evenly distributed.

Balance exercises can train and strengthen your neuromuscular system and increase your stability. Here are some ways to incorporate balance activities into your day: