Your life may be in order, but when it comes to physical balance, well, you're no Baryshnikov. And that's fine, assuming you won't be stepping out onto your toes anytime soon. But you might be going for a lay-up, and if you land off balance ... well it might not be a pretty picture. We asked a yoga master to suggest three exercises that'll hone both body and mind for better balance:

Focus Pose
This exercise trains your mind to recognise how your body maintains balance. Stand with your
arms at your sides and your feet a few centimetres apart. Look straight ahead. Now lean slightly forward. Concentrate on your feet and ankles; notice how your muscles react to keep you stable. Then, lean slightly backwards. This will help you recognise more quickly when you're losing your balance and make appropriate adjustments.

Stork Pose
Stand straight with your arms at your sides. Focus on a spot directly in front of you for the entire exercise. Now slowly raise your right foot along the side of your left leg until the sole of your foot is resting against your left calf muscle. Hold this for 30 to 60 seconds, then return your right foot to the ground and repeat the exercise with your left foot. As this pose gets easier, try it with your hands over your head. This raises your centre of gravity, making it harder to balance.

Chair Pose
Try this advanced exercise when the first two become easy. Stand straight and hold your arms in front of you, parallel to the floor. Your palms should face downwards. Fix your gaze on a spot in front of you. Now slowly lift your heels off the floor so the weight rests on the balls of your feet. Here's where it gets tricky. Slowly bend your knees until your upper thighs are a few centimetres from being parallel to the floor. Hold this for 15 to 30 seconds, then stand and lower heels to the floor.