An experimental yoga and arts collective exploring the sacred and the silly.

Shruti means "that which is heard" in Sanskrit. It reflects the idea that oral transmission was the only way that South Asian spiritual traditions were kept alive before the written word.

At Shruti, we bring together sound yoga, art and self-less service to create community experiences that help queer folks and allies to explore their spiritual journeys.

We are queer-led and all of our services are queer and trans+ inclusive. Our work is underpinned by the authentic principles of:

  • Nāda yoga (yoga of sound and vibration)

  • Bhakti yoga (yoga of loving devotion)

  • Karma yoga (yoga of selfless action and duty)

  • and Jnana yoga (yoga of wisdom and self-inquiry)

We are a volunteer-led London (UK) based community initiative.

Two south asian women covered in extravagant gold jewellery, facing towards one another and playing a stringed instrument in one of their hands

Our Team

A profile picture of Shay, looking back over their shoulder at the camera, with orange eye shadow and short black hair
A picture of Pri, black hair, black top, smiling at the camera with flower arrangements on then wall behind them
A picture of Henna wearing a white t-shirt and glasses. With food on the table in front of them and their left hand on their cheek.

Pri ‘P’ (they/them)

Shay (they/them)

mx puja (they/them)

Henna (they/them)

Our Values

  • “A choir can sing a beautiful note, impossibly long because singers can individually drop out to breathe as necessary and the note continues.”

    We aspire for our Collective to work in the same way.

  • We steward our work to the cycles of the moon and the spirit of each season. This allows us to balance ambitious work with honouring our limits, and the natural rhythms of the Earth.

  • We call in an abundance of resources and creative ideas to fuel our mission, carefully prototyping and testing ideas to see if they work or don’t work. This enables us to be bold, invite possibilities and learn from missed goals.

  • We value knowledge, experiences, and histories in the margins of any given system. We know future systems will draw on the new and the old.

An image of Shay wearing a peacock coloured gopi dress and a black t-shirt in front of a palace and lake in India, Vrindavan

Shay (they/them) the co-founder of the Shruti Collective in Vrindavan, India where Sri Radha (the divine feminine) and Sri Krishna (the divine masculine) spent their childhood years together causing mischief.

Origin Story

"Shruti was born out of a desire to see queer people share music and devotional sound with friends and allies.

In India, I noticed Kinnar (third gender) people sitting outside or away from the temple grounds, and found myself wondering why they weren't going inside…or why they weren’t allowed inside.

I don’t believe in God or the divine as dogma (organised religion), but the divine as something that is to be realised and experienced. For queer people struggling with understanding their path ahead, that can start by simply looking in the mirror and recognising your own divinity.

Devotional singing has shaped my gender identity and expression. It connects me with my ancestors, opens space for future visioning, and grounds my nervous system in the present moment.

I sing not to perform or sound good to others, but to remember that I am divine within, regardless of what the outside world may say.

My clothing choices and self-adornment are work-in-progress but I know they represent an expression of the divine. Trans+ people are powerful because we realise we are not our bodies but are divine souls - and we express how our souls want us to express.”

Community Safeguarding

  • Shruti is not a replacement for professional therapy and for queer folks, not a replacement for professional gender therapy. Our community agreements include respect for others, optional cameras during online events, and not pressuring others to adopt labels. We will never contact your employers/families, or share your personal data.

  • Shruti is an affirming space for trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse people. We are not a forum for debating the validity of trans identities. Our team includes trans+ and non-binary facilitators, and we are committed to creating a respectful, inclusive community.

  • Shruti provides facilitation, reflection, and community support. We do not provide medical care, psychotherapy, psychiatric assessment, or clinical diagnosis. Our services are not a substitute for therapy, medical advice, or emergency support.

  • We do not exist to delay, direct, or influence any particular outcome in relation to gender transition. Our role is to support you in listening more deeply to yourself. You retain full autonomy, consent, and agency over your identity, expression, and any medical or social steps you choose to take outside of Shruti.

  • We also recognise that there are multiple valid outcomes in gender exploration. When appropriate, we encourage members to seek support from qualified, trans-competent clinicians and relevant community organisations.

  • If you experience increased distress, urgent mental health needs, or feel at risk of harm to yourself or others, please contact a qualified professional or one of the UK support services listed below. If you are in immediate danger, call 999 or attend your nearest A&E.

Immediate danger

  • Call 999 or go to your nearest A&E

  • NHS Urgent Mental Health Support: Call 111 and select the mental health option (24/7)

24/7 Emotional Support

General Mental Health Support

Mind - call 0300 123 3393

www.mind.org.uk

NHS England – find local mental health services

www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-urgent-mental-health-helpline

Hub of Hope – search local support by postcode

www.hubofhope.co.uk

Trans+ & LGBTQ+ Affirming Support

If you are outside the UK, please search for national crisis or suicide prevention services in your country/region.