BALANCE We humans spend most of our lives in a postural balancing act. Whether standing in line, waiting for a subway or bus, climbing up and down stairs, walking or even sitting, we are constantly using muscles in our legs and core to fight against gravity and keep upright.

How do we achieve this? By using input from our vision, our inner ear (the vestibular system) and our proprioception, the sense though which we perceive the position and movement of our body. Age impacts these systems as it does the rest of our body.

Once identified, however, many age-related changes to our balance can be reversed or compensated for. One way is through sessions of multidimensional exercises that strengthen all systems involved in our balancing act, and focus on posture, alignment, lower abdominals and the feet. Another is by going on a walk during which posture, gait pattern, obstacle negotiation strategies and reactions to perturbations are identified and corrected. You can also take balance to a brand new level with an advanced balance class, an intense workout built around sequences of dynamic exercises involving the single-leg stance.

POSTURE Posture is the position in which we hold our body while we stand, sit or even lie down. Good posture helps keep bones and joints in the correct alignment so muscles are used properly. It helps to cut down on the wear and tear of joint surfaces, keeps the spine from becoming fixed in abnormal positions and prevents fatigue, backaches and pain. Unfortunately, the accidents of life, along with injuries and our desk- and computer-bound lifestyle tend to destroy the good posture we naturally had as small children.

What can be done? Regaining perfect posture may not be possible, but we can avoid further damage and improve our posture by re-learning alignments that place the least strain possible on muscles, tendons and ligaments.

FEET Our all-important base of support, the feet are the part of our body that is most in contact with the environment. The information we get from the nerves in our feet is crucial to our balance and stability. Age brings about a loss of sensitivity in these nerves. At 40, our sensitivity in this area is at its peak, but by age 70, we need twice the stimulation to get the same neuromuscular response. No wonder our balance declines, especially if we wear thick-cushioned shoes that muffle sensory stimulation from the feet.

How do we fix this? By walking and exercising barefoot whenever possible to stimulate these nerves and by building strength and mobility in the foot and ankle complex.