Nicole Norton and Becky Lovell
Nicole Norton and Becky Lovell are whistleblowers, exposing the abuses of the RA MA Institute for Applied Yogic Science and Technology and its leader Guru Jagat (Katie Griggs).
The stories of abuse, money motivation and a culture of worship of the guru are reminiscent of scientology and so many other high control organizations.
Becky and Nicole reached out to us to tell their stories after watching The Aftermath. We had planned to do this show for some time, but scheduling issues delayed it. In the meantime, Katie Griggs died of a pulmonary embolism following surgery on her ankle. It doesn’t change the facts or the real abuses that have occurred any more than the death of L. Ron Hubbard ended the abuses of scientology. A culture of abuse remains and will no doubt continue to hurt people.
Short background: RA MA first opened in Venice Beach in 2013. It is based on the teachings of Yogi Bhajan (also deceased) —who introduced Kundalini yoga to the US in the late 60s. Kundalini is promoted as “ancient technology” that could “optimize your system.” Griggs pitched herself as the millennial edition of Yogi Bhajan and sat beside a giant portrait of him. She told her students that there was nothing wrong with wanting to get rich and look good, and that practicing Kundalini could help them achieve it.
In addition to hosting numerous expensive workshops and retreats around the world, she launched RA MA TV, a digital library of Kundalini videos,. She started a label called RA MA Records and a podcast called Reality Riffing, and launched two clothing lines. The RA MA umbrella also includes a business school, non-profit foundation and a feminist group called the Aquarian Women’s Leadership Society.
Griggs partner/advisor/employee, Harijiwan is a convicted felon who spent 18 months in federal prison in 2000 for his involvement in one of Yogi Bhajan’s telemarketing schemes.
Yogi Bhajan is accused of committing a number of rapes (if you have not watched it, this is a horrifying documentary on with remarkable similarities: Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator). An investigation conducted by a company his organization hired found the abuse had “more likely than not” occurred. But Jagat began attacking Bhajan’s accusers on social media.
Becky and Nicole have an Instagram account (@ramawrong) where there is a lot of information about RA MA:
For a much more in-depth look at RA MA and Guru Jagat, read this excellent article from Vice News: Inside the dubious world of RA MA yoga
To be very honest I never trusted Guru Jagat. Saw her videos online only, but there was something that didn’t combine with me… A too much egocentric creature, very different from other kundalini yoga teachers I’ve been following on youtube.
The guru cult leader died last month…..https://www.newsweek.com/guru-jagat-celebrity-yoga-teacher-dies-age-41-1615574
This is an offshoot of Yogi Bhajan’s 3HO (Happy Healthy Holy Organization). I recognize that latter name from long ago.
They were a cult of the era that seemed to appeal to young people who were more on the traditional, capitalistic and even militaristic side (the men I remember all wore some sort of dagger, and their major enterprise was a security company), but still looking for a non-mainstream group, and attracted to Eastern spiritual trappings (the Yogi’s qualifications, and mixing of elements from several practices, were questionable). Rev. Moons Unification church seems to me to have attracted a similar socially conservative demographic, with messianic Christian trappings.
I just thought of something Mike; in one’s Freshman year of H.S. there should be a Cult recognition course. How much damage could be averted if young people were trained what to look for before falling into any of these cults?
Maybe an online course that covers all the salient points with examples.
Wonderful idea
As an ex scientologist this was a fascinating listen. It’s always interesting to hear different cult similarities.
Something they never answered but referred to were instances of physical abuse. Did they actually witness that? I think either Nicole or Becky referred to that. Got it on the yelling and screaming and verbal abuse (just like scientology).
Yes, I was hoping to hear about the abuses beyond the screaming and being overworked/underappreciated. I had those issues at every law firm I worked for!
O/T. Scientology Gold Meritorious Joy Villa says that she is “sick of jab promotion and fat acceptance propaganda!!!”
Gold Meritorious = $1 million in cumulative donations to the Church of Scientology.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CT9nELDqAOo/
Archived with a screenshot on ESMBR at:
https://exscn2.net/threads/scientology-gold-meritorious-joy-villa-says-that-she-is-sick-of-fat-acceptance-propaganda.4045/
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Sorry, but WHO?
The detritus that one might see if there was some trolling going on has been appearing here recently.
Some little rodent heads have been popping out everywhere anyone has anything true to say about scientology.
It’s happening more now. Just wait!
Give it your best shot osa.
It’d good that you and Leah occasionally take a break from concentrating exclusively on Scientology in the podcasts. By the way, it’s curious to see where else distorted bits of Sikhism have ended up being culturally appropriated — the weird cult of “Eckankar”, for instance.
O/T. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley notes support of Church of Scientology National Affairs Office (among others) for Amendment to Place Moratorium on Transfer of Military Equipment to Police.
https://pressley.house.gov/media/press-releases/pressley-offers-ndaa-amendments-end-militarization-police-and-boost-global
Archived on ESMBR at:
https://exscn2.net/threads/rep-ayanna-pressley-notes-support-of-church-of-scientology-national-affairs-office-for-moratorium-on-transfer-of-military-equipment-to-police.4043/
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It’s all kicking off on Tony’s blog… he’s stamping his feet because ASL dared to suggest that Suri may not be Tom’s daughter. Bit sad really. Infighting only ever helps the church.
So and why then would you bring it here totally off topic and not keep it there where the discussions take place and chime in there?
I can’t escape the feeling that next to the discussions someone is stirring the pot for ‘infighting’.
NOTHING helps the ‘church’ other than recognizing the organization for what it really is. Those currently inside may disagree with me, but all who have been and gone know that they’re in better shape, overall, after recognizing the enterprise for what it really was and then rejecting its false promises; ALL the falsehoods.
While I love Leah and Mike’s work, this episode was tough. I listened to this episode three times and have no idea what these two ladies are talking about. I really struggled to understand the issue. Leah and Mike desperately tried to pull “the point” out and I couldn’t get it. Nicole and Becky need to understand that not everyone lives in this yoga world and if they want others to understand the problem, you have to be descriptive and succinctly state the facts in a clear, coherent manner. They took so long to get the point and some of what they complained about “being on a 1099” and texts in “all caps” and other trivial points detracted from the real abuses. From what I heard they could walk away without significant financial or family consequences. Based on this episode it was a crappy investment/toxic work environment and not a true cult.
Leah and Mike do great work and I love the Aftermath and this podcast. I hope one day the “church” of Scientology loses the all-important tax exemption status. I’ve seen and listened to every episode and loved them all, except this one.
Read the ‘Vice News’ article — that should make it a lot clearer. 😊
Yes! I just listened to this podcast episode and feel the same way! And I am a yoga person. But I still didn’t understand what they are talking about. I also work in health care and see the kind of verbal and metal abuse they describe. But where is the crime here? Also, if this bad yogi women has died than what next? Are there more of these similar groups out there? They don’t say! And I did read the Vice news article.
What I found the most fascinating from these ladies story is that the leader set up the yoga practice based on Scientology and could totally see the similarities such as the contracts, specific program for whatever your problem, money scheme etc. But unlike Mike and Leah, the ladies don’t pull-off the message of what crimes actually took place. Although, I will think twice about paying money for a yoga retreat ever again.
Hello Mr. Rinder,
Is it true that you are having an affair with Leah Remini?
That’s a fun new troll! Havent heard this one before…
I love Leah like a sister. I love her husband and daughter. And mother and sisters. They are family to me.
But I love my wife more than all of them combined.
So, no, not true.
Enjoy your day.
What you say, as well as being deliberately inappropriate, also makes you ‘anonymously’ pathetic.
If you are trying to make your way as a clown you will have a hard time.
OMG! Funny. This reads like something a Scientologist doing Lower Conditions would say.
Yes, I thought I might give them some brownie points with the Ethics Officer by responding. They can honestly say “look, he saw it as he answered — that is my real effective blow to the enemies of the group.”
They are just friends…you know like all the girls in high school wanted to be with you when you asked them out…”let’s just be friends”
What am I missing? When I go to watch the latest video, after reading your blog, I cannot find access to it. Is it just not public yet or am I missing the place that I can listen to it?
There is a link in the post now so you can listen
Just curious. Do the sponsors of the podcast get fair gamed?
Havent heard anything about that…
Wow…and the Grift Grinds On…
Bookmarked this podcast, definitely gonna check it out.
Thanks to Mike, Leah, and the crew of folks who help you.🤗👊🏽
It seems that ANYTHING, any study, can be twisted to support sociopaths’ “need” to hurt and destroy, even the gentle study of yoga. It’s sad but true that hurters gotta hurt.
We are SO EXCITED to be apart of this. Thank you for giving us a platform to expose the truth.
I have read a bit about it. I’m very excited to hear this episode!
so are we! Please feel free to reach out to us @ramawrong on instagram if you have any questions!