Breath of Fire: The story behind Guru Jagat and Kundalini yoga

THE HBO Original series, Breath of Fire has been set to debut on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 and has been based on Guru Jagat, the controversial founder of the RA MA Institute. 

Released as a four-part documentary, the shocking history behind the yoga studio has unveiled the multi-million-dollar industry and the scandalous rise of its leader, Guru Jagat. 

The new four-part documentary has been directed by Hayley Pappas and Smiley Stevens who both worked on White Hot: The rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch. 

Set to stream on Max, the new episodes have been planned for subsequent Wednesdays with the last debuting around mid-November. 

Spiritual millennial

Born on August 30, 1979 in Colorado, United States, Guru Jagat, otherwise known as Katie Griggs, was a millennial YouTube astrologer until 2013. 

She opened up the Los Angeles branch of Ra Ma Institute which describes itself as “not your average yoga studio”.

Donning a white toga, she led and became the face of the brand which oversaw the spiritual guidance and healing of many. 

It was during this time, she adopted the new title, having studied Kundalini yoga in New Mexico. 

But on August 1, 2021, aged 41, the teacher, podcaster and author died from a cardiac arrest whilst undergoing surgery on her left ankle. 

A shocking history

Located on Lincoln Boulevard, in Venice, Los Angeles, the Ra Ma Institute served an array of famous celebrity clients including Kate Hudson, Alicia Keys, Demi Moore and Kelly Rutherford. 

Breath of Fire claims to uncover the shocking history of Kundalini from the 1960s and is based on the Vanity Fair story by Hayley Phelan, . 

In the article, the writer describes Griggs as a “middle-class white girl” who some view as a “bona fide spiritual leader” whilst others a “fraud” and some go even further claiming she was a “bigot”, “feminist”, and “rape apologist”. 

The controversy behind the latest series began after Griggs’ death when “wild theories” and conspiracies started to whirl.

Griggs’ life was not without campaign or criticism, however, which led to Phelan interviewing Guru Jagat before her death.

A controversial leader

One of the predominant founders of kundalini, Yogi Bhajan, was accused of rape, sexual misconduct and financial malfeasance after his death in 2004.

In 2020 his former employee and lover published a memoir detailing accusations and a report that followed by an independent third party found abuse “more likely than not occurred”. 

Jagat took to social media to voice her opinion and received widespread backlash which snowballed into anonymous claims about poor working conditions at her institute and abuse suffered by staff.

Nicole Norton, a former personal assistant to Jagat, described the business as a “cult within a cult”.

The controversy then peaked when an anonymous employee described Jagat’s alleged “habit of promoting QAnon rhetoric”, embracing far-right beliefs and even telling the Vanity Fair writer, “I’m a controversial figure”. 

She continued: “This goes with the territory. I’m not, like, love-and-light Suzie. I’m very direct and I talk about s**t people don’t want to talk about.” 

A deep-dive series

Through conversations with former employees, family members and fans of Jagat the series brings together the history behind Kundalini’s prominent figures.

Based off the Vanity Fair article, the show has used a variety of other sources including activists, journalists, mothers and religious scholars. 

The documentary release has been separated into four episodes, which looks to unravel what happened chronologically. 

Debuting with an episode about Katie Griggs’ transition to Guru Jagat, the episodes look to go in-depth. 

Where can you watch HBO's Breath of Fire?

The first episode has been scheduled for release on October 23. 

All of the releases of the series have been set for consequential Wednesdays from 9pm.

Each installment will be one hour long and will be available to stream on Max.

The HBO Original four-parter has not confirmed whether there will be any further episodes or series.