Since this month's 31 day balance project includes a bit of meditation, I thought we'd kick it up a notch by chatting about mudras. Mudras, for anyone new to the meditation world, are just a way to position the hands. Different mudras are said to be for different focuses, if you're looking to meditate on a certain topic. I've chosen four to cover today in part one and part two will come mañana. Ok, let's do this.

1. Naga Mudra

How to do it: cup the right hand in the left, and position the thumbs over one again so they form an X shape, with the right thumb on top. Fingers together.

What's it for: Called the mudras of deeper insight, this hand position is for clarity and wisdom in everyday problems or larger issues.

2. Rudra Mudra

How to do it: Place the tip of the index finger and the ring finger on the tip of the thumb and keep the middle and pinky fingers extended.

What's it for: activates the solar plexus, good for relieving stress, exhaustion and fatigue.

3. Kspana Mudra

How to do it: Put the hands together, interlace the fingers, extend the index fingers and cross the thumbs over one another in the shape of an X with the left thumb on top.

What's it for: helps to alleviate negativity from the body