A Sanctuary for the Soul
The living current of sacred sound, and the luminous lineage of masters from whom this practice flows.
The Meaning of Shruti
In the Sanskrit tradition, Shruti (श्रुति) means “that which is heard” — the eternal wisdom revealed in deep silence to the rishis, the ancient seers of truth. It is not knowledge composed by human minds, but the primordial vibration of the cosmos received by those whose hearts had become still enough to listen.
The Vedas and the Upanishads are called Shruti because they are not authored — they are overheard from the breath of the Divine itself. Shruti is the inner sound, the nāda, the subtle current of consciousness that hums beneath all of existence.
To practice Shruti Yoga is to attune the body, breath, and mind until that sacred current can once again be heard within — a remembering of who we have always been.
Our Lineage
Shruti Yoga flows from an unbroken stream of realized masters — a current of love, wisdom, and direct inner experience passed from guru to disciple across generations.
Eternal
The Deathless Guru of the Himalayas
Revered as a deathless mahavatar — a great incarnation — Babaji is said to have resided for centuries in the high Himalayas, guiding the spiritual evolution of humanity from behind the veil. It was Babaji who, in the 19th century, revived the ancient science of Kriya Yoga for the modern age, entrusting it to Lahiri Mahasaya so that householders and seekers everywhere could once again know the inner path of breath, light, and Self.
1828 – 1895
The Yogavatar — Father of Modern Kriya Yoga
A humble government accountant and devoted family man in Varanasi, Shyama Charan Lahiri received initiation directly from Mahavatar Babaji in the Himalayas. He became the first to openly transmit Kriya Yoga to thousands of householders, demonstrating that the highest realization is not the privilege of renunciates alone — it belongs to anyone willing to sit quietly and turn the breath inward.
1855 – 1936
The Jnanavatar — Incarnation of Wisdom
A disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, Sri Yukteswar united the precision of a scientist with the depth of a sage. Author of The Holy Science, he revealed the inner unity of yogic, Vedic, and biblical scripture and taught the cosmic ages of the yugas. From his ashram in Serampore he trained his most luminous disciple, Paramahansa Yogananda, with a discipline that was as fierce as it was loving.
1893 – 1952
The Premavatar — Incarnation of Divine Love
Sent west by his guru, Yogananda brought Kriya Yoga to the world through his timeless Autobiography of a Yogi — a book that has awakened generations of seekers. With a heart wide enough to embrace every tradition, he taught that direct, personal communion with the Divine is the birthright of every soul, and that love is the highest yoga.
Portraits shown are devotional artistic renderings created in the classical Indian sacred-art tradition, offered with reverence to the lineage.
Meet the Founder of Shruti Yoga
Barbara Fretes is the founder of Shruti Yoga, a 500-hour E-RYT, and a full-time yoga teacher devoted to preserving and sharing the living wisdom of the classical yogic tradition.
Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Barbara’s lifelong path in movement began through ballet, contemporary dance, music, and the arts. In 2001, she moved to the United States, where her search for deeper meaning eventually led her to yoga.
In 2015, she began studying at Anuttara Yoga Shala under Philip Christodoulou, completing advanced training in Anuttara Vinyasa, Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, and Bhakti Yoga within the lineage of Kriya Yoga and Self-Realization. In 2024, she formally received initiation into Kriya Yoga, deepening her lifelong commitment to daily sadhana and the path of inner transformation.
Barbara’s teaching weaves together asana, pranayama, meditation, mantra, and the timeless teachings of the Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, and Vedanta. Her intention is not simply to teach postures, but to offer yoga as a complete path for cultivating clarity, compassion, discernment, and inner freedom.
Through Shruti Yoga, Barbara has created a home for authentic practice, immersive retreats, and teacher trainings rooted in lineage, guided by experience, and offered with humility. Every class, retreat, and training is an invitation to slow down, study deeply, practice sincerely, and reconnect with the wisdom that already lives within.
“May these teachings continue to be preserved, lived, and lovingly shared for generations to come.”
My deepest aspiration is to preserve the living wisdom of classical yoga and share it with authenticity, humility, and devotion—so these timeless teachings may continue to transform lives for generations to come.
— Barbara F