Breath of Fire promotional poster (Image via HBO)

Where is Nicole Norton now? All about Guru Jagat's former assistant from Breath of Fire on HBO

Modified Oct 23, 2024 18:11 GMT

Breath of Fire, based on a Vanity Fair story titled The Second Coming of Guru Jagat by Hayley Phelan, brings us a detailed account of the origins of Kundalini yoga and the exploitative system of the controversial yoga leader Guru Jagat, who was a white woman whose real name was Katie Griggs.

The docuseries features exclusive interviews from former employees, disciples, students, and family members, as well as footage of the two advocates of the wellness and spiritual industry. One of the most prominent interviews in the series is by Nicole Norton, Guru Jagat's former assistant, who has detailed the systematic oppression within Guru Jagat's cult and the plight of those who became her victims.

Directed by Hayley Pappas and Smiley Stevens, HBO’s newest docuseries, Breath of Fire, uncovers the truth about the illusive life of Guru Jagat and the late Yogi Bhajan. The series premiered today, October 23, 2024.

Who is Nicole Norton, and where is she now?

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Nicole Norton, who hails from Green Bay, Wisconsin, served as the personal assistant of Katie Griggs, the kundalini yoga instructor who called herself Guru Jagat and founded the RA MA Institute in Los Angeles. Norton worked as her assistant, and during her time there, she came across Katie's alleged negative side, which was different from what was perceived by the rest of the world.

To unmask Katie's true nature, Nicole posted reports of her bad behavior online but did so anonymously as she gathered more dark truths about her boss. She was one of the few employees and disciples of Guru Jagat who spoke against her.

Nicole Norton joined the RA MA Institute for Applied Yogic Science and Technology in March 2018. There, she first served as the Personal Assistant, Director of Special Events, and Studio Director before becoming the Yoga Instructor. After her short stint at the institute, she went on to work elsewhere.

Currently, Nicole Norton is in a relationship with Joshua Peguero, a reporter at 8 News Now. The couple decided to take the next step in their relationship when Joshua proposed to Nicole on May 12, 2024. Nicole Norton spends her time hiking and bonding with her cats. Starting from Green Bay, Wisconsin, Nicole's life experiences have led her to Las Vegas, Nevada, where she lives with Joshua and her beloved cats.

Everything we know about Breath of Fire on HBO

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Breath of Fire released its first episode today, Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO. The docuseries consists of four episodes and will be available to stream on Max. New episodes will be released every Wednesday through November 13, 2024.

The official synopsis of Breath of Fire reads as follows:

"YouTube astrologer Katie Griggs rose to fame as the face of Kundalini yoga and reinvented herself as Guru Jagat, attracting followers — including celebrities and fee-paying devotees — with promises of prosperity, physical health, and spiritual fulfillment. Breath of Fire offers a multi-decade examination of the corruption within Kundalini yoga and a portrait of a misguided guru and master manipulator, spotlighting the uneasy nexus of the American dream, self-invention, and fanatical ideology."

Guru Jagat, the founder of the celebrity-loved Ra Ma Institute, succumbed to a pulmonary embolism following an ankle surgery on August 1 at the age of 41. She left behind a devout group of followers as well as fierce critics who have called out her exploitative ways.

Catch the full story of Guru Jagat in HBO's Breath of Fire.