Ask Ayurveda

/
/
/
Pelvic exercises – What are the best Ayurvedic practices for pelvic health?
FREE! Ask an Ayurvedic Doctor — 24/7
Connect with Ayurvedic doctors 24/7. Ask anything, get expert help today.
General Medicine
Question #16796
196 days ago
220

Pelvic exercises – What are the best Ayurvedic practices for pelvic health? - #16796

Mateo

I recently started learning more about pelvic exercises and how important they are for overall health, but I feel like there’s not enough information on how to do them correctly. I’ve heard that strong pelvic muscles can help with everything from preventing incontinence to improving sexual health, but I have no idea where to start or which exercises are actually beneficial. One of the reasons I’m interested in this is that I’ve been experiencing some mild lower back pain and occasional discomfort in my pelvic area, especially when I sit for long periods. A friend of mine who practices yoga told me that weak pelvic muscles could be contributing to these issues. I also read that weak pelvic floor muscles can lead to bladder control problems later in life, which is something I want to prevent. I’ve started looking into Ayurveda because I know it takes a holistic approach to body strength and well-being. Does Ayurveda recommend specific pelvic exercises to improve strength and flexibility in that area? Are there particular yoga poses or breathing techniques that help with pelvic health? I’ve heard that Mula Bandha (root lock) is an important technique in yoga, but I don’t fully understand how to do it properly or how it benefits the pelvic region. Also, do different doshas affect pelvic health? For example, could a Vata imbalance lead to weak pelvic muscles and poor circulation in that area? Or does Pitta dominance cause excessive tension in the pelvic floor? If Ayurveda connects pelvic health to dosha balance, what are the best ways to correct any imbalances that might be affecting this area? I’m also curious about whether Ayurveda suggests using herbal treatments or dietary changes to support pelvic strength. Are there certain foods, tonics, or herbs that help nourish and strengthen the pelvic region? I know Ayurveda often recommends sesame oil massages for muscle and joint health—would that be beneficial for the pelvic area as well? Lastly, I’d love to know if there are any traditional Ayurvedic practices specifically designed to improve circulation and flexibility in the pelvic region. I want to make sure I’m doing things the right way so that I can strengthen my core and pelvic muscles safely. If anyone has successfully improved their pelvic health through Ayurveda, I’d love to hear what worked for you!

FREE
Question is closed
FREE! Ask an Ayurvedic Doctor — 24/7,
100% Anonymous
Get expert answers anytime,
completely confidential.
No sign-up needed.
CTA image

Doctors’ responses

Ayurveda recognizes pelvic health as essential for overall vitality, and it connects pelvic strength to dosha balance, circulation, and energy flow. A Vata imbalance can lead to weakness, instability, and poor circulation in the pelvic region, while Pitta dominance may cause excess tension or inflammation. Ayurveda emphasizes yoga, Mula Bandha (root lock), breathing techniques, and herbal remedies to strengthen and balance the pelvic area.

Yoga poses like Malasana (Garland Pose), Setu Bandhasana (Bridge Pose), and Ashwini Mudra (horse gesture contraction) help activate and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Mula Bandha, when practiced correctly, engages the perineal muscles, improving pelvic circulation, bladder control, and core stability. Pranayama techniques such as Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) and Ujjayi (victorious breath) help regulate energy flow and reduce stress, which can affect pelvic health.

Herbal support in Ayurveda includes Ashwagandha, Shatavari, and Gokshura, which nourish the reproductive system, improve muscle tone, and enhance circulation in the pelvic region. Warm sesame oil massages (Abhyanga), especially on the lower abdomen and pelvic area, can help improve flexibility and blood flow while reducing Vata-related weakness. A diet rich in healthy fats (ghee, sesame seeds), root vegetables, and warming spices can also help stabilize and strengthen the pelvic region.

To ensure optimal pelvic health, Ayurveda recommends maintaining good posture, avoiding excessive sitting, and practicing mindful movement. If symptoms like lower back pain or pelvic discomfort persist, a personalized Ayurvedic approach based on your dosha type may be beneficial. Combining yoga, breathwork, herbs, and lifestyle adjustments can naturally strengthen the pelvic muscles and improve overall well-being.

11913 answered questions
78% best answers
Accepted response

0 replies

Totally get where you’re coming from! The pelvic area plays such a crucial role in overall health, right? Ayurveda indeed provides great insight into enhancing pelvic health, interwoven with the balance of doshas. Let’s dive into it a bit!

First off, the Mula Bandha, the root lock—it’s a fantastic place to start. Think of it like engaging and lifting your pelvic floor muscles, a bit like when you’re trying to stop urine flow. It’s subtle, practice it during yoga or meditation. The benefits? It can enhance your pelvic region’s strength and even aid in relieving that lower back pain you’re experiencing. Combine it with deep, mindful breathing to really help with circulation and relaxation in your pelvic area.

Dosha-wise, you’re spot on in thinking Vata imbalances might contribute to issues like weak pelvic muscles and poor circulation. Vata tends to dry things out, which could weaken the tissues down there. Pitta, though, can lead to inflammation or tension, increasing stress in the area. To correct these, focus on grounding practices. For Vata, warm, nourishing foods like cooked grains, stews, and root veggies can help. If Pitta’s the culprit, cooling foods like cucumbers and cilantro can be soothing.

Yoga poses? Try malasana (garland pose) or baddha konasana (bound angle pose). They’re excellent for flexibility and strength in the pelvic region. Remember, consistency over intensity.

Herbs are also your friend here! Ashwagandha and Shatavari can be great. They’re nourishing and can help with dosha balance while supporting strength. You mentioned sesame oil massage. Yes, absolutely! It’s grounding and nurturing, especially beneficial for Vata.

Traditional practices? Abhyanga (self oil massage) doesn’t just aid with muscular health but encourages circulation. Just apply warm oily goodness before a bath, focusing on the pelvic area.

All these elements combined can make a real difference. Just remember, everyone’s unique, so find what works with your lifestyle and body. Be patient and consistent, yeah?

1742 answered questions
27% best answers

0 replies
Speech bubble
FREE! Ask an Ayurvedic doctor — 24/7,
100% Anonymous

600+ certified Ayurvedic experts. No sign-up.

About our doctors

Only qualified ayurvedic doctors who have confirmed the availability of medical education and other certificates of medical practice consult on our service. You can check the qualification confirmation in the doctor's profile.


Related questions

Doctors online

Dr. Anirudh Deshmukh
I am Dr Anurag Sharma, done with BAMS and also PGDHCM from IMS BHU, which honestly shaped a lot of how I approach things now in clinic. Working as a physician and also as an anorectal surgeon, I’ve got around 2 to 3 years of solid experience—tho like, every day still teaches me something new. I mainly focus on anorectal care (like piles, fissure, fistula stuff), plus I work with chronic pain cases too. Pain management is something I feel really invested in—seeing someone walk in barely managing and then leave with actual relief, that hits different. I’m not really the fancy talk type, but I try to keep my patients super informed, not just hand out meds n move on. Each case needs a bit of thinking—some need Ksharasutra or minor para surgical stuff, while others are just lifestyle tweaks and herbal meds. I like mixing the Ayurved principles with modern insights when I can, coz both sides got value really. It’s like—knowing when to go gentle and when to be precise. Right now I’m working hard on getting even better with surgical skills, but also want to help people get to me before surgery's the only option. Had few complicated cases where patience n consistency paid off—no shortcuts but yeah, worth it. The whole point for me is to actually listen first, like proper listen. People talk about symptoms but also say what they feel—and that helps in understanding more than any lab report sometimes. I just want to stay grounded in my work, and keep growing while doing what I can to make someone's pain bit less every day.
0 reviews
Dr. Manasi Gandhi
I am practicing Ayurveda on my own for around 20 years now and honestly, it’s hard to sum up what that feels like in just a line or two. Over these years, I’ve seen health problems change with time — lifestyle disorders becoming more common, stress showing up in ways people don’t even notice until it’s too late, and seasonal illnesses behaving a bit differently than before. My work is all about looking at the root of the problem, not just the part that’s hurting right now. Sometimes that means working with herbal formulations, sometimes with Panchakarma therapies, sometimes just changing how someone eats or sleeps. I’ve treated a mix of acute issues like fever, colds, stomach upsets, and chronic ones like arthritis, diabetes, skin diseases, and digestive troubles. Women’s health has also been a steady part of my practice, whether it’s menstrual irregularities, PCOD, or post-natal care. And I make time for children’s wellness too, especially through immunity-building practices like Suvarnaprashan. I guess what keeps me going is knowing that Ayurveda gives me so many tools to work with — it’s never just one formula for everyone. I like spending time understanding a person’s lifestyle, diet, and emotional state because without that, the treatment feels incomplete. Over two decades, I’ve learned that small, consistent changes can be more powerful than any single “big” remedy, and that’s something I always try to pass on to my patients!!
5
7 reviews
Dr. Ayush Varma
I am an Ayurvedic physician with an MD from AIIMS—yeah, the 2008 batch. That time kinda shaped everything for me... learning at that level really forces you to think deeper, not just follow protocol. Now, with 15+ years in this field, I mostly work with chronic stuff—autoimmune issues, gut-related problems, metabolic syndrome... those complex cases where symptoms overlap n patients usually end up confused after years of going in circles. I don’t rush to treat symptoms—I try to dig into what’s actually causing the system to go off-track. I guess that’s where my training really helps, especially when blending classical Ayurveda with updated diagnostics. I did get certified in Panchakarma & Rasayana therapy, which I use quite a lot—especially in cases where tissue-level nourishment or deep detox is needed. Rasayana has this underrated role in post-illness recovery n immune stabilization, which most people miss. I’m pretty active in clinical research too—not a full-time academic or anything, but I’ve contributed to studies on how Ayurveda helps manage diabetes, immunity burnout, stress dysregulation, things like that. It’s been important for me to keep a foot in that evidence-based space—not just because of credibility but because it keeps me from becoming too rigid in practice. I also get invited to speak at wellness events n some integrative health conferences—sharing ideas around patient-centered treatment models or chronic care via Ayurvedic frameworks. I practice full-time at a wellness centre that’s serious about Ayurveda—not just the spa kind—but real, protocol-driven, yet personalised medicine. Most of my patients come to me after trying a lot of other options, which makes trust-building a huge part of what I do every single day.
4.95
20 reviews
Dr. Arpita Bhaskar
I am an Ayurvedia practioner who’s kinda always drawn to healing things the natural way... herbs, lifestyle shifts, that deeper root-cause thing—ya that’s where I feel connected. I’ve done my graduation in BAMS from Government Ayurveda College, Jabalpur, MP. Those years were tough and full of grind but it gave me this solid, like really solid, foundation in classical Ayurvedic sciences. And yeah, not just bookish... real world side of it too. Now my focus honestly is to keep learning while helping real people—who come in with digestion problems or hormonal mess or mental stress or even chronic fatigue they can’t explain. Every case is diff, even if symptoms look same outside. That part makes me stop and look closer—what is vitiated? What system is overworking or under? My mind instantly shifts into that mode, trying to trace the imbalance and realign it without suppressin anything. Right now I’m still early in the field, but every patient, every prakriti I see adds a layer to how I understand dis-ease. I don’t rush, mostly just try to listen first... ppl are usually surprised when you sit n listen without cutting them off mid sentence. I don’t claim to fix everything but I do keep that long-term goal in mind—healing that lasts beyond just medicine course. My interest stays rooted in ahar, vihar, and herbal chikitsa. Working with traditional herbs in customized way, not some one-size-fits-all type. I feel Ayurveda demands patience, and yeah, I’m okay with that. Cuz body speaks when we slow down. And that’s what I try to bring in my work—space to slow down, observe, correct gently. Of course I mess up sometimes or miss smth small.. but I reflect and adjust. It’s all part of the practice. I wanna grow steady, keep that fire for real healing alive. This path’s not loud, but it’s deep. And I’m here for it.
5
1 reviews
Dr. Anjali Sehrawat
I am Dr. Anjali Sehrawat. Graduated BAMS from National College of Ayurveda & Hospital, Barwala (Hisar) in 2023—and right now I'm doing my residency, learning a lot everyday under senior clinicians who’ve been in the field way longer than me. It’s kind of intense but also really grounding. Like, it makes you pause before assuming anything about a patient. During my UG and clinical rotations, I got good hands-on exposure... not just in diagnosing through Ayurvedic nidan but also understanding where and when Allopathic tools (like lab reports or acute interventions) help fill the gap. I really believe that if you *actually* want to heal someone, you gotta see the whole picture—Ayurveda gives you that depth, but you also need to know when modern input is useful, right? I’m more interested in chronic & lifestyle disorders—stuff like metabolic imbalances, stress-linked issues, digestive problems that linger and slowly pull energy down. I don’t rush into giving churnas or kashayams just bcz the texts say so... I try to see what fits the patient’s prakriti, daily habits, emotional pattern etc. It’s not textbook-perfect every time, but that’s where the real skill grows I guess. I do a lot of thinking abt cause vs symptom—sometimes it's not the problem you see that actually needs solving first. What I care about most is making sure the treatment is safe, ethical, practical, and honest. No overpromising, no pushing meds that don’t fit. And I’m always reading or discussing sth—old Samhitas or recent journals, depends what the case demands. My goal really is to build a practice where people feel seen & understood, not just “managed.” That's where healing actually begins, right?
5
45 reviews
Dr. Maitri Bhavesh Kumar Acharya
I am Dr. Maitri, currently in my 2nd year of MD in Dravyaguna, and yeah, I run my own Ayurvedic clinic in Ranoli where I’ve been seeing patients for 2 years now. Honestly, what pulled me into this path deeper is how powerful herbs really are—when used right. Not just randomly mixing churnas but actually understanding their rasa, virya, vipaka etc. That’s kinda my zone, where textbook knowledge meets day-to-day case handling. My practice revolves around helping people with PCOD, acne, dandruff, back pain, stiffness in knees or joints that never seem to go away. And I don’t jump to giving a long list of medicines straight away—first I spend time figuring out their prakriti, their habits, food cycle, what triggers what… basically all the small stuff that gets missed. Then comes the plan—herbs (single or compound), some diet reshuffling, and always some lifestyle nudges. Sometimes they’re tiny, like sleep timing. Sometimes big like proper seasonal detox. Being into Dravyaguna helps me get into the depth of herbs more confidently. I don’t just look at the symptom—I think okay what guna will counter this? Should the drug be snigdha, ushna, tikta? Is there a reverse vipaka that’ll hurt the agni? I ask these questions before writing any combo. That’s made a huge diff in outcomes. Like I had this case of chronic urticaria that would flare up every week, and just tweaking the herbs based on sheetala vs ushna nature... helped calm the system in 3 weeks flat. Not magic, just logic. I also work with women who are struggling with hormonal swings, mood, delayed periods or even unexplained breakouts. When hormones go haywire, the skin shows, digestion slows, and mind gets foggy too. I keep my approach full-circle—cleansing, balancing, rejuvenating. No quick fixes, I tell them early on. What I’m hoping to do more of now is make Ayurveda feel practical. Not overwhelming. Just simple tools—ahara, vihara, aushadha—used consistently, with some trust in the body’s own healing. I’m still learning, still refining, but honestly, seeing people feel in control of their health again—that’s what keeps me rooted to this.
5
265 reviews
Dr. Anupriya
I am an Ayurvedic doctor trained at one of the most reputed institutes (yeah, the kind that makes u sweat but also feel proud lol) where I completed my BAMS with 70%—not just numbers but real grind behind it. My focus during & after graduation has always been on treating the patient not just the disease, and honestly that philosophy keeps guiding me even now. I usually see anywhere around 50 to 60 patients a day, sometimes more if there's a health camp or local rush. It’s hectic, but I kinda thrive in that rhythm. What matters to me is not the number but going deep into each case—reading every complaint, understanding symptoms, prakriti, current state, season changes etc. and putting together a treatment that feels “right” for that person, not just for the condition. Like, I don’t do one-size-fits-all plans. I sit down, make case reports (yup, proper handwritten notes sometimes), observe small shifts, modify herbs, suggest diet tweaks, even plan rest patterns when needed. I find that holistic angle super powerful. And patients feel it too—some who come in dull n restless, over weeks show clarity, skin settles, energy kinda gets back... that makes the day worth it tbh. There’s no shortcut to trust, and i get that. Maybe that’s why patients keep referring their siblings or maa-papa too. Not bragging, but when people say things like “you actually listened” or “I felt heard”, it stays in the back of my mind even when I’m dog tired lol. My goal? Just to keep learning, treating honestly and evolving as per what each new case teaches me. Ayurveda isn’t static—it grows with u if u let it. I guess I’m just walking that path, one custom plan at a time.
5
115 reviews
Dr. Surya Bhagwati
I am a Senior Ayurveda Physician with more than 28 years in this field — and trust me, it still surprises me how much there is to learn every single day. Over these years, I’ve had the chance to treat over 1 lakh patients (probably more by now honestly), both through in-person consults and online. Some come in with a mild cough, others with conditions no one’s been able to figure out for years. Each case brings its own rhythm, and that’s where real Ayurveda begins. I still rely deeply on classical tools — *Nadi Pariksha*, *Roga-Rogi Pariksha*, proper *prakriti-vikriti* mapping — not just ticking symptoms into a list. I don’t believe in ready-made cures or generic charts. Diagnosis needs attention. I look at how the disease behaves *inside* that specific person, which doshas are triggering what, and where the imbalance actually started (hint: it’s usually not where the pain is). Over the years I’ve worked with pretty much all age groups and all kinds of health challenges — from digestive upsets & fevers to chronic, autoimmune, hormonal, metabolic and degenerative disorders. Arthritis, diabetes, PCOD, asthma, thyroid... but also things like unexplained fatigue or joint swelling that comes and goes randomly. Many of my patients had already “tried everything else” before they walked into Ayurveda, and watching their systems respond slowly—but surely—is something I don’t take lightly. My line of treatment usually combines herbal formulations (classical ones, not trendy ones), Panchakarma detox when needed, and realistic dietary and lifestyle corrections. Long-term healing needs long-term clarity — not just short bursts of symptom relief. And honestly, I tell patients that too. I also believe patient education isn’t optional. I explain things. Why we’re doing virechana, why the oil changed mid-protocol, why we pause or shift the meds after a few weeks. I want people to feel involved, not confused. Ayurveda works best when the patient is part of the process, not just receiving instructions. Even now I keep learning — through texts, talks, patient follow-ups, sometimes even mistakes that taught me what not to do. And I’m still committed, still fully into it. Because for me, this isn’t just a job. It’s a lifelong responsibility — to restore balance, protect *ojas*, and help each person live in tune with themselves. That’s the real goal.
5
556 reviews
Dr. Manjula
I am an Ayurveda practitioner who’s honestly kind of obsessed with understanding what really caused someone’s illness—not just what hurts, but why it started in the first place. I work through Prakruti-Vikruti pareeksha, tongue analysis, lifestyle patterns, digestion history—little things most ppl skip over, but Ayurveda doesn’t. I look at the whole system and how it’s interacting with the world around it. Not just, like, “you have acidity, take this churna.” My main focus is on balancing doshas—Vata, Pitta, Kapha—not in a copy-paste way, but in a very personalized, live-and-evolving format. Because sometimes someone looks like a Pitta imbalance but actually it's their aggravated Vata stirring it up... it’s layered. I use herbal medicine, ahar-vihar (diet + daily routine), lifestyle modifications and also just plain conversations with the patient to bring the mind and body back to a rhythm. When that happens—healing starts showing up, gradually but strongly. I work with chronic conditions, gut imbalances, seasonal allergies, emotional stress patterns, even people who just “don’t feel right” anymore but don’t have a name for it. Prevention is also a huge part of what I do—Ayurveda isn’t just for after you fall sick. Helping someone stay aligned, even when nothing feels urgent, is maybe the most powerful part of this science. My entire practice is rooted in classical Ayurvedic texts—Charaka, Sushruta, Ashtanga Hridayam—and I try to stay true to the system, but I also speak to people where they’re at. That means making the treatments doable in real life. No fancy lists of herbs no one can find. No shloka lectures unless someone wants them. Just real healing using real logic and intuition together. I care about precision in diagnosis. I don’t rush that part. I take time. Because one wrong assumption and you’re treating the shadow, not the source. And that’s what I try to avoid. My goal isn’t temporary relief—it’s to teach the body how to not need constant fixing. When someone walks away lighter, clearer, more in tune with their system—that’s the actual win.
5
102 reviews
Dr. Narendrakumar V Mishra
I am a Consulting Ayurvedic Physician practicing since 1990—feels strange saying “over three decades” sometimes, but yeah, that’s the journey. I’ve spent these years working closely with chronic conditions that don’t always have clear answers in quick fixes. My main work has been around skin disorders, hair fall, scalp issues, and long-standing lifestyle stuff like diabetes, arthritis, and stress that kinda lingers under everything else. When someone walks into my clinic, I don’t jump to treat the problem on the surface. I start by understanding their *prakriti* and *vikriti*—what they’re made of, and what’s currently out of sync. That lets me build treatment plans that actually *fit* their system—not just push a medicine and hope it works. I use a mix of classical formulations, panchakarma if needed, dietary corrections, and slow, practical lifestyle changes. No overnight miracle talk. Just steady support. Hair fall and skin issues often feel cosmetic from outside—but internally? It’s about digestion, stress, liver, hormones... I’ve seen patients try 10+ things before landing in front of me. And sometimes they just need someone to *listen* before throwing herbs at the problem. That’s something I never skip. With arthritis and diabetes too, I take the same root-cause path. I give Ayurvedic medicines, but also work with *dinacharya*, *ahar* rules, and ways to reduce the load modern life puts on the body. We discuss sleep, food timing, mental state, all of it. I’ve also worked a lot with people dealing with high stress—career burnout, anxiety patterns, overthinking—and my approach there includes Ayurvedic counseling, herbal mind support, breathing routines... depends what suits them. My foundation is built on classical *samhitas*, clinical observation, and actual time with patients—not theories alone. My goal has always been simple: to help people feel well—not just for a few weeks, but in a way that actually lasts. Healing that feels like *them*, not just protocol. That’s what I keep aiming for.
5
573 reviews
Dr. Khushboo
I am someone who kinda started out in both worlds—Ayurveda and allopathy—and that mix really shaped how I see health today. My clinical journey began with 6 months of hands-on allopathic exposure at District Hospital Sitapur. Honestly, that place was intense. Fast-paced, high patient flow, constant cases of chronic and acute illnesses coming through. That taught me a lot about how to see disease. Not just treat it, but like… notice the patterns, get better at real-time diagnosis, really listen to what the patient isn’t saying out loud sometimes. It gave me this sharper sense of clinical grounding which I think still stays with me. Then I moved more deeply into Ayurveda and spent another 6 months diving into clinical training focused on Panchakarma therapies. Stuff like Abhyanga, Basti, Shirodhara—learned those not just as a list of techniques, but how and when to use 'em, especially for detox and deep healing. Every case felt like a different puzzle. There wasn’t always one right answer, you know? And that’s where I found I loved adapting protocols based on what the person actually needed, not just what the textbook says. Alongside that, I got certified in Garbha Sanskar through structured training. That really pulled me closer to maternal health. Pregnancy support through Ayurveda isn’t just about herbs or massage, it’s like this entire way of guiding a mother-to-be toward nourishing the baby right from conception—emotionally, physically, all of it. That part stuck with me hard. My overall approach? It’s kinda fluid. I believe in balancing natural therapies and evidence-based thinking. Whether it's seasonal imbalance, hormonal issues, Panchakarma detox plans, or just guiding someone on long-term wellness—I like making people feel safe, heard, and actually understood. I’m not into rushing plans or masking symptoms. I’d rather work together with someone to build something sustainable that really suits their body and where they’re at. In a way, I’m still learning every day. But my focus stays the same—use Ayurvedic wisdom practically, compassionately, and in a way that just... makes sense in real life.
5
143 reviews

Latest reviews

Emily
7 hours ago
This answer was super helpful for understanding my symptoms! It was clear, detailed, and really eased my worries about what I'm experiencing. Thanks a lot!
This answer was super helpful for understanding my symptoms! It was clear, detailed, and really eased my worries about what I'm experiencing. Thanks a lot!
Levi
1 day ago
Thanks so much for the info! Answer was super clear and really helped ease my worries about what to take. Appreciate the help!
Thanks so much for the info! Answer was super clear and really helped ease my worries about what to take. Appreciate the help!
Natalie
1 day ago
Thanks, that was super reassuring! Puts my mind at ease knowing I can go ahead with the treatment. Much appreciated! 👍
Thanks, that was super reassuring! Puts my mind at ease knowing I can go ahead with the treatment. Much appreciated! 👍
Thomas
1 day ago
Thanks for the straightforward advice! I appreciated how simple and clear your recommendations were. Feeling more hopeful now!
Thanks for the straightforward advice! I appreciated how simple and clear your recommendations were. Feeling more hopeful now!