The docuseries *Breath of Fire*, focusing on the life of Guru Jagat, made its debut on HBO on October 23, 2024. Directed by Hayley Pappas and Smiley Stevens, this four-part series draws inspiration from Hayley Phelan’s 2020 article in Vanity Fair.
This series chronicles Guru Jagat’s swift rise within the Kundalini Yoga community, detailing her transformation from Katie Griggs to the revered Guru Jagat. It provides an in-depth exploration of Kundalini yoga’s history and its controversial introduction to the United States by Yogi Bhajan in the 1970s.
*Breath of Fire* also thoughtfully explores the implications of blending Kundalini Yoga with commercialism and its effects on practitioners, and it is now available for streaming on HBO.
Born Katie Griggs on August 30, 1979, in Fort Collins, Colorado, Guru Jagat emerged as a significant figure in the Kundalini Yoga realm. She was known by various names, including Athena Day and Kundalini Katie.
Her journey into spirituality was triggered by personal adversities, including a traumatic experience of sexual assault during her college years, which led her to struggle with substance abuse.
In search of healing, she discovered Kundalini Yoga, becoming a devoted follower of Harbhajan Singh Khalsa, or Yogi Bhajan. Her close mentorship with him profoundly shaped her trajectory, although her claims about spending time with him during his later years have raised eyebrows following his passing in 2004.
In 2013, she established the Ra Ma Institute for Applied Yogic Science and Technology in Venice, California. The success of her studio spurred rapid growth, leading to the opening of branches in cities such as Boulder, New York, and Mallorca.
Guru Jagat’s methodology intricately wove together spiritual elements of Kundalini Yoga with dynamic business practices, attracting a diverse following of celebrities and wellness devotees.
However, her practices were not without controversy; she faced criticism for the commercialization of Kundalini Yoga and her interpretations of Sikh teachings, which some viewed as cultural appropriation. Allegations regarding substandard pay for her staff and a toxic work environment further complicated her leadership reputation.
Beyond the yoga studio, Guru Jagat significantly leveraged social media to promote her teachings, amassing a considerable fan base through engaging content on Instagram and YouTube.
In addition to her yoga initiatives, she launched a fashion brand and a record label, and authored the book *Invincible Living*, which delves into her perspectives on yoga and holistic health.
Her alignment with controversial figures and ideologies marked her career, as she interacted with conspiracy theorists and endorsed QAnon-related concepts, which further divided her audience. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her opposition to public health initiatives and vaccinations exacerbated these controversies, challenging her public image.
Tragically, despite her expanding influence and empire, she passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on August 1, 2021, at the age of 41. Complications following surgery on her left ankle resulted in a pulmonary embolism that ultimately led to her death.
The journey of Guru Jagat and the wider narrative surrounding Kundalini Yoga’s proliferation in the West is poignantly captured in the HBO docuseries *Breath of Fire*.
This insightful series can be streamed on HBO for subscribers.
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