{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Short description|American yoga instructor (1979–2021)}} {{Infobox person | name = Guru Jagat | birth_name = Katie Griggs | birth_date = {{Birth date|1979|08|30}} | birth_place = Fort Collins, Colorado | death_date = {{death date and age|2021|08|01|1979|08|30}} | death_place = Venice, Los Angeles | alma_mater = Antioch College | occupation = Yoga instructor | years_active = 2013–2021 | organization = Ra 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 was noted for sharing 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.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Phelan |first=Hayley |date=December 1, 2021 |title=The Second Coming of Guru Jagat |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/11/the-second-coming-of-guru-jagat |access-date=2023-01-09 |work=Vanity Fair |language=en-US |archive-date=November 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130211406/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/11/the-second-coming-of-guru-jagat |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":3" /> Her mother was a farmer<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> and a therapeutic clown,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Hartman |first=Eviana |date=January 12, 2017 |title=Meet the L.A. Yoga Guru Taking On Resting Bitch Face and Donald Trump |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/kundalini-yoga-guru-jagat-book-invincible-living-meditation-stress-anxiety |access-date=2023-01-09 |work=Vogue |language=en-US |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109235503/https://www.vogue.com/article/kundalini-yoga-guru-jagat-book-invincible-living-meditation-stress-anxiety |url-status=live }}</ref> and brought her up surrounded by New Age teachings.<ref name=":3" />
Before adopting the Guru Jagat moniker, she also used the aliases Athena Day, Katie Day, and Kundalini Katie.<ref name=":1" /> After initially dropping out of school, she obtained a degree from Antioch College.<ref name=":1" /> She studied Kundalini yoga in New Mexico under the mentorship of Harbhajan Singh Khalsa.<ref name=":4" />
== Career and views == Griggs was the owner-operator of Kundalini yoga studio the ''Ra Ma Institute'', located on Lincoln Boulevard<ref name=":3" /> in Venice, Los Angeles,<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Guerin |first=Emily |date=January 2, 2023 |title=She was a popular yoga guru. Then she embraced QAnon conspiracy theories |language=en |work=NPR.org |publisher=National Public Radio |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/01/02/1146318331/yoga-guru-qanon-conspiracy-theories |access-date=2023-01-09 |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109032653/https://www.npr.org/2023/01/02/1146318331/yoga-guru-qanon-conspiracy-theories |url-status=live }}</ref> which opened in 2013.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Nelson |first=Steffie |date=December 14, 2015 |title=In a Land of Spiritual Seekers, Kundalini Teacher Guru Jagat Is Rising Above Them All Los Angeles Magazine |url=https://www.lamag.com/longform/in-a-land-of-spiritual-seekers-kundalini-teacher-guru-jagat-is-rising-above-them-all/ |access-date=2023-01-09 |work=Los Angeles Magazine |language=en-US |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109034041/https://www.lamag.com/longform/in-a-land-of-spiritual-seekers-kundalini-teacher-guru-jagat-is-rising-above-them-all/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Her clients included actor Kate Hudson, singer Alicia Keys,<ref name=":0" /> and actors Kelly Rutherford,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Diderich |first=Joelle |date=August 12, 2019 |title=Guru Jagat Branches Out Into Fashion |url=https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-features/kundalini-yoga-teacher-guru-jagat-branches-out-into-fashion-kate-hudson-alicia-keys-1203235419/ |access-date=2023-01-09 |work=Women's Wear Daily |language=en-US |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109033015/https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-features/kundalini-yoga-teacher-guru-jagat-branches-out-into-fashion-kate-hudson-alicia-keys-1203235419/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Demi Moore, and Laura Dern.<ref name=":3" /> Staff at the studio were paid less than minimum wage.<ref name=":1" /> She opened her second yoga studio in Boulder, Colorado in the summer of 2014.<ref name=":3" />
Griggs operated the podcast ''Reality Riffing with Guru Jagat.''<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref name=":0" /> On the podcast she interviewed conspiracy theorist Arthur Firstenberg<ref name=":0" /> and conspiracy theorist and antisemite David Icke.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 7, 2023 |title=Encore: QAnon's toehold in the wellness world |url=https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2023-01-07/encore-qanons-toehold-in-the-wellness-world |access-date=2023-01-14 |work=Wyoming Public Media |language=en |archive-date=January 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114050937/https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2023-01-07/encore-qanons-toehold-in-the-wellness-world |url-status=live }}</ref> Griggs did not follow California's public health rules during the pandemic and refused COVID-19 vaccines.<ref name=":0" />
Griggs used social media to share supportive statements about her mentor,<ref name=":4" /> the late Harbhajan Singh Khalsa, more popularly known as Yogi Bhajan, who was accused of rape, child abuse, and financial impropriety.<ref name=":1" /> Griggs also shared QAnon conspiracy theories, including the Pizzagate conspiracy theory.<ref name=":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".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wang |first=Jessica |date=December 7, 2021 |title=The bizarre claims made by Kundalini yoga boss Guru Jagat |work=News.com.au |url=https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/the-bizarre-claims-made-by-kundalini-yoga-boss-guru-jagat/news-story/ba7cbd18ccf92f481805214ce5a451a0 |access-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-date=January 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122003515/https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/the-bizarre-claims-made-by-kundalini-yoga-boss-guru-jagat/news-story/ba7cbd18ccf92f481805214ce5a451a0 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Griggs owned the clothing line ''Robotic Disaster''<ref name=":1" /> and the record label ''RA MA Records.''<ref name=":3" />
== ''Invincible Living'' (book) == In 2017, Harper Elixir<ref name=":03">{{Cite web |last=Herman |first=Valli |date=September 20, 2017 |title=How Guru Jagat helps you get your groove back in a techy and complex era |url=https://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-guru-jagat-20170923-story.html |access-date=2023-01-10 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110002500/https://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-guru-jagat-20170923-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> published Griggs' book ''Invincible Living: The Power of Yoga, The Energy of Breath and Other Tools for a Radiant Life'' ({{ISBN| 978-0062414984}}.)<ref name=":2" /> ''Invincible Living'' includes lessons previously shared by Griggs via her media outlet RA MA Media on the topic of Kundalini yoga.<ref name=":03" /> The illustrated book includes instruction on simple breathing and moving exercises as well as lifestyle and wellness advice.<ref name=":4" /> The book includes advice that claims to increase metabolism, improve mood, increase creativity, reduce stress, and slow aging.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kate Hudson and Kelly Rutherford Swear by Kundalini Yoga Practice to Stay Centered |url=https://people.com/health/kate-hudson-alicia-keys-kelly-rutherford-kundalini-yoga/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |work=People |language=en |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110002500/https://people.com/health/kate-hudson-alicia-keys-kelly-rutherford-kundalini-yoga/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It also provides advice on financial prosperity and improving readers' sex lives.<ref name=":2" />
== Personal life and death == Griggs married husband Teg Nam in a Sikh ceremony in Scotland in 2019.<ref name=":1" />
Griggs died on August 1, 2021, at the age of 41.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Diderich |first=Joelle |date=August 4, 2021 |title=Obituary: Kundalini Yoga Teacher Guru Jagat Dies at 41 |url=https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-features/kundalini-yoga-teacher-guru-jagat-dead-at-41-1234892856/ |access-date=2023-01-09 |work=Women's Wear Daily |language=en-US |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109032653/https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-features/kundalini-yoga-teacher-guru-jagat-dead-at-41-1234892856/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She died of a cardiac arrest caused by a pulmonary embolism following surgery on her left ankle.<ref name=":1" /> She is buried in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.<ref name=":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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=December 1, 2021 |title='Breath Of Fire' Docuseries About Guru Jagat Set At HBO Max From Vanity Fair & SecondNature |url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/guru-jugat-docuseries-breath-of-fire-hbo-max-vanity-fair-1234882617/ |access-date=2023-01-09 |work=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=December 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201155450/https://deadline.com/2021/12/guru-jugat-docuseries-breath-of-fire-hbo-max-vanity-fair-1234882617/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It premiered on October 23, 2024, on HBO.<ref name="WBD">{{cite web|url=https://press.wbd.com/us/media-release/whats-new-max-october-0|title=What's New On Max This October|website=Warner Bros. Discovery|date=September 23, 2024|access-date=October 29, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923182210/https://press.wbd.com/us/media-release/whats-new-max-october-0|url-status=live}}</ref> LAist featured Griggs' story in season four of their ''Imperfect Paradise'' (podcast).<ref name=":0" />
== See also ==
* Yoga in the United States * Sexual abuse by yoga gurus
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://ramayogainstitute.com/ Ra Ma Yoga Institute] – official website
{{Portal bar|Biography|Los Angeles|Medicine}} {{authority control}} {{Conspiracy theories}} {{Yoga}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guru Jagat}} Category:1979 births Category:2021 deaths Category:American interview podcasters Category:American yoga teachers Category:American conspiracy theorists Category:American businesspeople in fashion Category:People from Fort Collins, Colorado Category:Antioch College alumni Category:21st-century American women writers Category:COVID-19 conspiracy theorists Category:Women yogis Category:Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery Category:American women podcasters