He left the IIT path. Today, 1.5 crore people in 169 countries do yoga with him

Saurabh Bothra, an IIT-BHU graduate, built Habuild into a global online yoga platform reaching 15 million learners in 169 countries. The journey from personal practice to daily digital sessions shows how consistency turned yoga into a habit for millions.

Talk about yoga, and the first country that comes to mind is India. A young Indian Saurabh Bothra, a 34-year-old IIT-BHU graduate who chose a path far removed from a stable engineering career. He struggled for 6 years before the turning out of Habuild as a big thing.

Through the startup Habuild, Bothra has built a global yoga community that has reached over 1.5 crore people across 169 countries.

Yet, the story is not just about scale. A significant share of Habuild's participants are women above the age of 40, many of whom had never followed a regular fitness routine before joining the platform. He is all loved by these women.

Over the years, Bothra has become a familiar face in households, earning the reputation of being everyone's favourite "son" who reminds them to show up for their health every day.

Born in Maharashtra, Bothra grew up listening to stories of service and social impact. His grandfather, a doctor, left city life to serve in a remote village, while the teachings of Swami Vivekananda shaped his understanding of purpose from an early age.

After securing admission to IIT-BHU, he appeared set for a conventional career.

However, a chance encounter during a train journey introduced him to meditation and yoga. What began as personal curiosity gradually evolved into a larger mission.

Instead of following the typical IIT route, Bothra chose to teach yoga.

Through years of travelling and conducting sessions, he noticed a common challenge: people wanted to become healthier but struggled to remain consistent. That insight eventually became the foundation of Habuild.

Launched in March 2020, just days before the Covid-19 lockdown, the self-funded startup began with a handful of participants.

Bothra's approach was simple: show up every day.

As millions stayed indoors during the pandemic, the daily online sessions started attracting larger audiences. Word spread through families and communities, turning a small initiative into a global wellness movement.

Habuild's growth was driven by habit-building more than fitness goals alone.

Daily sessions, community participation and structured challenges encouraged people to make yoga part of their routine. The model particularly resonated with women balancing family and professional responsibilities, offering an accessible way to prioritise their health.

Today, Habuild employs more than 300 people and hosts some of the world's largest virtual yoga and meditation sessions. For Bothra, however, the focus remains unchanged. The objective is not merely to teach yoga, but to help people build lasting habits that improve their lives.

From an IIT classroom to a platform spanning 169 countries, Bothra's journey reflects how an ancient Indian practice can find new relevance in a digital world, one daily session at a time.

- Ends