I certainly do not want to influence you to do something harmful. But ...I have found that there are so many things doctors tell you not to do, especially with a bad back.. Turns out that a lot of those things are exactly what will improve your condition.

It is true that you body will be able to do things you can't do if you are "cold" but it's a controversy whether that is a bad thing.

My husband and I have both had conditions that doctors were totally into DO NOT, etc. Well the doctors didn't fix us but Bikram did. As with anything, you have to be in touch with your body and pay close attention to where the pain thresshold is. You want to be working but not going over the edge.

The Yoga instructors are very good in telling you what to be careful of.

Bottom line. I would go. I don't buy the stuff about pulling the muscles into a dangerous zone by fooling them, actually that kind of talk is a favorite of regular yoga people who have an ax to grinde with Bikram and I think it's just plain stupid .... I mean, of course a warm muscle goes further than a cold one, that's why we warm up for any sport. Bikram has helped me where nothing else did and I'm totally convinced of it's so very well thought out program.

Good luck, I hope I've been of some help ;'~)

Hmm, I'm not sure I'd listen to a chiropractor. (They aren't actual doctors, many of them are quacks).

Bikram, like ANY activity, can result in injury if you push beyond the limits of your body. You have to respect your limits, which will change from day to day.

Unfortunately, Bikram teachers try and get you to push pretty hard, some of them at least. But you have to use their encouragement at your OWN level-- yeah, they say "lock your knee", but if there's no way you're gonna lock your knee without tearing a muscle...don't lock your knee. They are encouraging the Ideal posture, which is something that you may or may not obtain with practice. Yoga is a practice, and you get better at it by gently poking at your limits, and inching them out as you become fitter/healthier/more flexible. You do not get better by going balls-to-the-wall and trying immediately to be the Perfect-Posture yogini. You'll just get injured that way.

So, I'd say- as long as you are in touch with your body and can handle working at your own limits, go for it. But if you're someone who's totally macho and feels some sort of need to PROVE something, Bikram probably isn't for you. (not saying you are, just...in general)