The much-anticipated four-part docuseries Breath of Fire is set to debut on Wednesday, October 23 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT, delivering a deep dive into the rise of Guru Jagat and the controversial underbelly of the Kundalini yoga movement. Directed by Hayley Pappas and Smiley Stevens, the series promises to unearth the mystique behind modern wellness culture, featuring the secret history of Kundalini yoga, its rise in the 1960s, and its more complex, often controversial, cultural ramifications in today’s wellness circles.
Premiering weekly, Breath of Fire tackles head-on the evolution of Katie Griggs, a millennial YouTuber who skyrocketed to fame under the persona of Guru Jagat, founding the RA MA Institute in Los Angeles. Known for her signature white turban and her bold rebranding of Kundalini practices, Guru Jagat became an influential figure, bridging astrology, yoga, and celebrity culture.
The docuseries explores the layers behind this enigmatic figure while tackling themes such as cultural appropriation, spiritual exploitation, and the often precarious line between modern self-proclaimed gurus and their followers. The narrative also traces the origins of Kundalini yoga and its migration to the West, focusing on how its teachings morphed into a wellness trend, attracting Hollywood stars and millennials alike.
Breath of Fire is based on the Vanity Fair feature “The Second Coming of Guru Jagat” by Hayley Phelan, who serves as co-executive producer on the project. The series is executive produced by a powerhouse team that includes Matt Ippolito, Pappas, Stevens, Agnus Chu, Helen Estabrook, Sarah Amos, and more. With its Tribeca Festival world premiere already generating buzz, the series is expected to attract both those familiar with the wellness movement and audiences new to the conversation surrounding the darker aspects of spiritual influencers.