Be flexible so you can change with change.
~Bruce Lee
Have you heard that the practice of yoga can make you flexible? I would bet that most of the people reading this question are thinking that I mean the physical body. Yes, a well balanced asana (physical) practice will definitely help with the flexibility of the body. But, when I asked that question above, I am referring to the flexibility of your mind.
Flexibility of the mind is defined as the ability to transition from thinking about one concept to another. Obviously the opposite of flexibility is rigidity. When our thoughts are rigid, we may have a hard time shifting our thoughts to accommodate in-coming changes. A rigid mind may reject the point of view or perspective of others around them. In both the Yoga Sutras & the Bhagavad Gita, a rigid mindset is referred to as Avidya. The English translation of Avidya is ignorance or incorrect knowledge.
In the Yoga Sutras, Avidya is listed as one of the five Kleshas. The Kleshas are veils that colour our perception of the outside world. Pantajali (the author of the Sutras) tells us in Sutra 2.3
Dissolving the five Kleshas, or veils, brings forth the radiance of the Divine Self.
~The Secret Power of Yoga by Nischala Joy Devi
Avidya or incorrect knowledge is the foundation for the other Kleshas to grow from. The other four veils are Asmita or ego, Raga or attachment, Dvesha or aversion & Abhinivesah or fear of death. A friend of mine gave me the most beautiful visual to explain the Kleshas. She said imagine your soul like a salt lamp- a beautiful soft glowing light. Now just imagine how dim that light is when hidden by these five veils.
I have taught yoga for many years and I know that modern day yoga is not marketed as building mind flexibility. All I have to do is google yoga images and most of the pictures are going to be of a lady in an asana (posture). The yoga we market is circus like, showing the physical body in extreme shapes; shapes that most bodies will not be able to achieve. Sadly, we (here I am referring to the yoga culture as a whole) are marketing yoga with the foundation of Avidya.
But there is a silver lining, yoga works though the physical body to get to the mind, which is why Asana is part of a well balanced yoga practice. So, if you are going to your yoga classes to build physical flexibility, that is just fine. This is a great reason to go to class! If you are going to yoga classes regularly and you are focusing on your breath as you move through your asana, you are training your physical flexibility and your mental flexibility as well!
According to the Yoga Sutras there are three actions that clear the Kleshas for us. They are
Tapas: igniting the purifying flame.
Svadhyaya: sacred study of the Divine through scripture, nature, & introspection.
Iswara Pranidhana: wholehearted dedication to the Divine Light in all.
~The Secret Power of Yoga by Nischala Joy Devi
The first two actions- Tapas and Svadhyaya, can be accomplished in a yoga asana class. Igniting the purifying flame or Tapas, will help us remove built up tension, tightness and rigidity- in the physical body and, guess what, in the mind too! When we are focused on keeping our breath deep, smooth and rhythmic, while we move through asana; we are building our ability for introspection. Then over time, with this practice of introspection, we may start to see that we live in an eco system that is bigger than ourselves and deeply connected to all (nature) around us. Maybe, we start to recognise that everyone has that inner glow from their metaphorical salt lamp!
So, my advice is to keep going to your yoga classes! Practice your asana and your breathing and let the yoga do it’s work to increase your flexibility-of your mind!
The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it and join the dance.
~Alan Watts