I'm forever striving for emotional balance. My work schedule overwhelms me at times, threatening to take over my personal time. But here's the rub: if I take too much personal time, I end up neglecting my work. It can be mentally draining and quite challenging when life gets out of balance, don't you think? You are forever trying to make things right, fighting that feeling of being out of control.

But there is another part of balance that can be just as important to maintain, and that is physical balance. It struck me this morning when, attempting to walk my dog, I came across that dreaded "black ice," the invisible coating of treacherous ice that you only notice when you start slipping and sliding uncontrollably. Fortunately, I maintained my balance—and my dignity—managing to right myself when my body threatened to throw me mercilessly to the pavement.

Ice is not the only culprit that can threaten your balance; sometimes there are health-related issues that can wreak havoc on equilibrium, like inner ear infections, medications, low blood pressure, or neurological problems. And there's also that disconcerting condition known as vertigo, caused by crystals that float around the inner ear, making the room seem to spin when in reality all is stationary.

But because balance problems can have devastating effects—like falls that result in injuries, hospitalizations, and surgeries—it's important to make sure you strive for physical balance in your life, especially as you age. The Center for Disease Control backs this up with these startling statistics:

• One out of three adults age 65 and older falls each year.
• Among those age 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury or death. 
• They are also the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma.
• In 2007, over 18,000 older adults died from unintentional fall injuries.
• In 2009, 2.2 million nonfatal fall injuries among older adults were treated in emergency departments, and more than 581,000 of these patients were hospitalized.
• In 2000, direct medical costs of falls totaled a little over $19 billion—$179 million for fatal falls and $19 billion for nonfatal fall injuries.

And here's another frightening fact I learned: women are more likely than men to be injured in a fall. In 2008, women were 46% more likely than men to suffer a nonfatal fall injury.

Ladies, it's time to get proactive here and figure out some ways to maintain our balance so we're not among these dismal statistics. But how?

7 Simple Balance Exercises

Stand on one foot. You can try balancing on one foot in all kinds of scenarios: while waiting in line, at the gym while lifting light hand weights, while brushing your teeth, cooking, or even watching the evening news. Want an extra challenge? Try balancing on one leg while standing on a pillow or other unstable surface.

Shift your weight. Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Your weight should be equally distributed on both legs. Next, shift your weight to the right side, and then lift your left foot slightly off the floor. Hold this position as long as you can maintain good form, for up to 30 seconds. Return to the starting position and repeat on the other side. As your balance improves, increase the number of repetitions. For an extra challenge, close your eyes as you practice this.

Walk heel-to-toe. Put your heel just in front of the toes of your opposite foot each time you take a step; your heel and toes should touch (or come close to touching). To make it even more challenging, put a book on your head while you walk.

Sit and stand. Practice standing up and sitting down—without using your hands for balance. This will also help strengthen your quadricep muscles, vital in keeping your body strong and centered.

Incorporate yoga into your regular routine. Yoga gives you a perfect blend of balance, muscular strength, and flexibility. Plus it's got tons of other health benefits!

Get an exercise ball. You can simply sit on it while you work at the computer or watch television, as it forces you to use your muscles to stay balanced. 

Work on your core. Having a strong core—the muscles not just in your abs, but around your pelvis and trunk—is imperative to keeping your body balanced. 

Sheryl Kraft is Health & Wellness Editor at EndlessBeauty.com.