Outsmart winter slips and falls

Aside from helping you avoid painful, debilitating falls, staying steady on your feet is so important for overall health that Brazilian research suggests folks with good balance are nearly twice as likely to outlive their unsteady peers. And you can improve your balance the easy way-no hard work required!

- Alex Fulton

✓ Do a little dance

Crank up some carols and rock around the Christmas tree! Dancing for just a few minutes every day slashes fall risk by 37%, say Swiss scientists. Dancing improves "dynamic balance," or the ability to remain upright and stable while moving about. Plus, it sharpens reaction time, so you can catch yourself if you do start to stumble. Need inspiration? Try Body Groove (BodyGroove.com), which offers easy-to-follow 5-minute dances.

✓ Pretend you're in The Nutcracker