Following the NXIVM scandal and recent allegations against P. Diddy, a new controversy has surfaced: the Kundalini Yoga cult—a dark, unsettling story exposing a disturbing side of human nature.
Now, Max has revisited everything that happened within this cult, transforming it into a docuseries that explores the events leading up to and following the downfall of its leader, known as Guru Jagat.
Read also: Leaked Chilling Video of an Alleged Satanic Ritual in Diddy’s Freak Off Parties
Kundalini Yoga: The True Story Behind This Dark Cult
HBO’s documentary Breath of Fire delves into the life and controversial career of Guru Jagat, a popular Kundalini yoga teacher who founded the Ra Ma studio and attracted a following of devoted students and celebrities alike.
According to Philip Deslippe, a yoga expert and Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Kundalini yoga is “a strange mix of different exercises, so it can vary greatly from one class to another.”
In 2021, this type of yoga was hit with scandalous rumors about hidden practices led by Guru Jagat, a figure who allegedly exploited her influence to dominate numerous individuals.
The series reveals how Katie Griggs (Guru Jagat’s real name) overcame personal traumas and found herself drawn to Kundalini yoga, created by the controversial Yogi Bhajan, who faced accusations of sexual abuse, alleged drug trafficking, embezzlement, and turning Kundalini into his personal cult.
Guru Jagat, however, was criticized for defending Bhajan despite the sexual abuse allegations against him. She was also heavily scrutinized for promoting COVID-19 denial theories.
Her trauma from a college sexual assault led her to substance abuse, which was when she began following her Kundalini teacher, whom she viewed as a father figure. In 2012, she took on the name Guru Jagat and, the following year, founded her own yoga studio in Los Angeles, drawing in celebrities like Alicia Keys.
The series includes testimony from former employees and family members, who describe the toxic environment they worked in, the financial troubles of her business, and the control and manipulation tactics they experienced under Guru Jagat’s influence.
Guru Jagat’s sudden death in 2021 at age 41 brought renewed attention to the testimonies, scandals, and cult-like environment she was allegedly creating.
This article was originally written in Spanish by Alan Cruz in Cultura Colectiva.
