Breath of Fire

This series is extraordinarily well done and manages to avoid the usual sensationalism that is a standard feature of most documentaries about cults. In large part this is due to the interviewing style of Hayley Pappas, whose compassionate and empathic approach elicited heart-felt and deeply moving responses. There were a couple of things that might have enhanced the series. I thought the "comic relief" of the bit explaining Kundalini Yoga was a bit silly, and the use of models and dancers dressed up to look like female yogis struck me as odd and unnecessary. The producers also left out a huge piece of the Kundalini Yoga culture, which was the music. Granted, the musical sound track was quite good, but for many in the cult, the music was a large part of the appeal. Overall, however, I give the producers high marks.

The abuses and crimes in Yogi Bhajan's Kundalini Yoga world were hidden for far too long. This documentary proves that history can repeat itself if truth-telling is not done.

Breath of Fire will make it more difficult for this group's current leaders to sweep their dark history under the Yoga Mat.

Highlights for me: the picture painted of GuruJagat's past, the revelation of the actual criminal Harijiwan (nick-named toner-bandit), and the sensitivity with which the testimony of the survivor of sexual abuse is brought.

The documentary makers did a great job on so many different levels. A big thanks to all those who contributed!

I don't usually write reviews on here but after watching the 2 episodes that have been released so far (out of 4, that haven't all been released yet..) i think the series is great so far! Its highly entertaining, very well produced, and they are talking with the people who were closest to Yogi Bhajan and "Kundalini Katie", aka Guru Jagat..

As someone who taught hatha and vinyasa yoga for 12 years myself and dabbled in kundalini from time to time i'm very familiar with the yoga world, although i didn't know the full story of the background of the origins of kundalini yoga, and Yogi Bhajan himself, i'm not too surprised.. it does seem like most people who desire to become 'gurus' and amass a following have a certain personality type, and are often followed by scandals and controversy when put under further investigation.

It seems that the other reviewers have taken this obviously completely objective documenting of this story personally?.. which would only lead me to believe they have adopted the system being shown and discussed in this series as their own personal belief system?..

anyways i've always believed the most profound and truthful spiritual teachers live pretty humbly and don't necessarily desire the attention, following and acclaim that many who have created cult like communities and followings seem to desire. I heard someone discussing this topic recently saying be weary of anyone who physically elevates themselves over others, ie. Sitting above their 'students' or followers.. obviously to be taken with a grain of salt, but i have to agree some of the greatest teachers have lived simply and their life and their actions themselves were their teaching/message..

that said i also think people need to give up this idea of trying to find someone to follow and learn that the greatest wisdom is within ourselves; of course we can learn so much from others and we can have many teachers and find truths everywhere and from everyone, the point being not to follow another person or elevate them above yourself in importance or it starts to become a form of idolatry.

Breath of Fire is a fine, fascinating and frightening 4 part documentary about a lineage of Kundalini Yoga Masters. They get their students to wear white clothes and huff and puff, while pumping their arms every which way. This causes Yogi Bhajan's Kundalini yogis to get very stoned and gullible.

Kundalini Yoga students pay lots of money, and offer their labor for free, to experience Kundalini Crack. This cult is still going strong. It is a huge, global yoga mafia, with a history of lots of crime and horrible abuse of women and children. The founder, Yogi Bhajan, was pure evil.

To make it even worse, the cult members pretend to be Sikhs, but they aren't.

Of course, at some level all cults are the same, but this one deserves to be exposed and brought down. Sharing "Breath of Fire" is a great way to help that cause. It is NOT boring one bit.

I am a kundaliniyoga teacher but I had already left the Yogi Bhajan strict style of yoga around 2015-2017. Living in Sweden I was far from the toxic ashram environment but it was very informative to see the documentary. I would have liked more about Yogi Bhajan and less about Guru Jagat but I understand she was also a charasmatic leader and that for many viewers she is more interesting since she was active more recently.

I am currently foing Relgious Studies at a university in Sweden and I think it is important to know the history of some of these "cults" (cult has a specific definition within academic studies but here I refer to the more generic meaning).

I recommend the documentary.