Guru Jagat

Guru Jagat
Born
Katie Griggs

(1979-08-30)August 30, 1979
Fort Collins, Colorado
DiedAugust 1, 2021(2021-08-01) (aged 41)
Venice, Los Angeles
Alma materAntioch College
OccupationYoga instructor
Years active2013–2021
OrganizationRa Ma Institute

Katie Griggs (August 30, 1979 – August 1, 2021), professionally known as Guru Jagat, was an American Kundalini yoga teacher, podcaster, author, and the owner of both a fashion brand and record label.

She is noted for sharing QAnon conspiracy theories and interviewing conspiracy theorists on her podcast.

Early life and education

Katie Griggs was born in the summer of 1979 in Fort Collins, Colorado.[1][2] Her mother was a farmer[1][2] and a therapeutic clown,[3] and brought her up surrounded by New Age teachings.[2]

Before adopting the Guru Jagat moniker, she also used the aliases Athena Day, Katie Day, and Kundalini Katie.[1] After initially dropping out of school, she obtained a degree from Antioch College.[1] She studied Kundalini yoga in New Mexico under the mentorship of Harbhajan Singh Khalsa.[3]

Career and views

Journalist Emily Guerin described Griggs as an attention seeker and someone who was both a victim and perpetrator of injustice, referring to her abuse of employees and incorporation of cultish elements in her corporate yoga enterprises.[4]

Griggs was the owner-operator of Kundalini yoga studio the Ra Ma Institute, located on Lincoln Boulevard[2] in Venice, Los Angeles,[5] which opened in 2013.[2] Her clients included actor Kate Hudson, singer Alicia Keys,[5] and actors Kelly Rutherford,[6] Demi Moore, and Laura Dern.[2] Staff at the studio were paid less than minimum wage.[1] She opened her second yoga studio in Boulder, Colorado in the summer of 2014.[2]

Griggs operated the podcast Reality Riffing with Guru Jagat.[5] During the COVID-19 pandemic, she used her podcast to share conspiracy theories about COVID-19 being spread by chemtrails and artificial intelligence taking over.[5] On the podcast she interviewed conspiracy theorist Arthur Firstenberg[5] and conspiracy theorist and antisemite David Icke.[5][7] Griggs did not follow California's public health rules during the pandemic and refused COVID-19 vaccines.[5]

Griggs used social media to share supportive statements about her mentor,[3] the late Harbhajan Singh Khalsa, more popularly known as Yogi Bhajan, who was accused of rape, child abuse, and financial impropriety.[1] Griggs also shared QAnon conspiracy theories, including the Pizzagate conspiracy theory.[1] In 2021, two former employees of Griggs accused her of running Ra Ma Institute as a cult, and calling a Black Lives Matter supporter a "cockroach".[8]

Griggs owned the clothing line Robotic Disaster[1] and the record label RA MA Records.[2]

Invincible Living (book)

In 2017, Harper Elixir[9] published Griggs' book Invincible Living: The Power of Yoga, The Energy of Breath and Other Tools for a Radiant Life (ISBN 978-0062414984.)[6] Invincible Living includes lessons previously shared by Griggs via her media outlet RA MA Media on the topic of Kundalini yoga.[9] The illustrated book includes instruction on simple breathing and moving exercises as well as lifestyle and wellness advice.[3] The book includes advice that claims to increase metabolism, improve mood, increase creativity, reduce stress, and slow aging.[10] It also provides advice on financial prosperity and improving readers' sex lives.[6]

Personal life and death

Griggs married husband Teg Nam in a Sikh ceremony in Scotland in 2019.[1]

Griggs died on August 1, 2021, at the age of 41.[5][11] She died of a cardiac arrest caused by a pulmonary embolism following surgery on her left ankle.[1] She is buried in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.[1]

Legacy

HBO Max produced a documentary-series about her life called Breath of Fire, titled after one of the breathing techniques used in Kundalini yoga.[12] It premiered on October 23, 2024, on HBO.[13] LAist featured Griggs in season four of their Imperfect Paradise (podcast).[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Phelan, Hayley (December 1, 2021). "The Second Coming of Guru Jagat". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Nelson, Steffie (December 14, 2015). "In a Land of Spiritual Seekers, Kundalini Teacher Guru Jagat Is Rising Above Them All Los Angeles Magazine". Los Angeles Magazine. Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Hartman, Eviana (January 12, 2017). "Meet the L.A. Yoga Guru Taking On Resting Bitch Face and Donald Trump". Vogue. Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  4. ^ "Brief: Long Live Guru Jagat (w/Emily Guerin)". Conspirituality (Podcast).
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Guerin, Emily (January 2, 2023). "She was a popular yoga guru. Then she embraced QAnon conspiracy theories". NPR.org. National Public Radio. Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Diderich, Joelle (August 12, 2019). "Guru Jagat Branches Out Into Fashion". Women's Wear Daily. Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  7. ^ "Encore: QAnon's toehold in the wellness world". Wyoming Public Media. January 7, 2023. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  8. ^ Wang, Jessica (December 7, 2021). "The bizarre claims made by Kundalini yoga boss Guru Jagat". News.com.au. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Herman, Valli (September 20, 2017). "How Guru Jagat helps you get your groove back in a techy and complex era". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  10. ^ "Kate Hudson and Kelly Rutherford Swear by Kundalini Yoga Practice to Stay Centered". People. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  11. ^ Diderich, Joelle (August 4, 2021). "Obituary: Kundalini Yoga Teacher Guru Jagat Dies at 41". Women's Wear Daily. Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  12. ^ Pedersen, Erik (December 1, 2021). "'Breath Of Fire' Docuseries About Guru Jagat Set At HBO Max From Vanity Fair & SecondNature". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  13. ^ "What's New On Max This October". Warner Bros. Discovery. September 23, 2024. Archived from the original on September 23, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2024.