Bengaluru, 15 June 2026:In Dhanaj, a small village in Maharashtra’s Washim district, his grandfather, Dr. Lakshmichand Bothra, was known not just as a doctor but as someone who dedicated his life to the well-being of the community. After completing his medical studies from Nagpur Medical College in 1955, he chose to stay back in rural India rather than pursue opportunities in bigger cities. Over the years, he helped improve healthcare access, supported local development, and served as the village sarpanch.
For young Saurabh, these examples quietly shaped his understanding of success. It was never only about personal achievement. It was about creating value for others.
Like many students from middle-class Indian families, Saurabh worked hard academically and eventually secured admission to IIT-BHU, Varanasi. For most, an IIT degree is seen as a gateway to a stable and successful career. But during his college years, Saurabh found himself increasingly drawn towards something very different.
What began as a personal interest in yoga gradually became a deeper pursuit. He started practising regularly and soon began conducting informal sessions for friends and fellow students. Around the same time, a book gifted by his grandfather left a lasting impression on him, strengthening his belief that physical and mental well-being are closely connected.
Even then, he had no plans of building such a large community.
The turning point came years later during the COVID-19 lockdown.
As uncertainty and anxiety gripped households across the country, Saurabh began conducting online yoga sessions from home. The first few classes were modest, attended by only a handful of participants, the first class had just 3 participants.Yet the conversations that followed revealed a larger challenge.
Many people wanted to adopt healthier lifestyles but struggled with consistency. Others found fitness intimidating. Among them were women in their forties and fifties dealing with knee pain, stiffness, stress, and lifestyle-related health concerns.
One of those voices belonged to his own mother.
She often shared how difficult it was for many women her age to follow complicated fitness routines or intensive workout programmes. What they needed, she felt, was something simple, practical, and sustainable.
Saurabh listened.
Instead of designing programmes focused on quick transformations, he started simplifying yoga practices and making them easier to follow for beginners. The emphasis shifted from intensity to consistency. The idea was simple: if people could show up every day, even for a short period, they could build habits that would improve their health over time.
That philosophy eventually became the foundation of Habuild.
What started as a few online sessions grew steadily through word of mouth. People invited family members, friends, and neighbours. Participants returned not because they were chasing dramatic results but because the sessions felt approachable and achievable.
Over time, Habuild evolved into a habit-building platform centred around daily wellness. Today, people from across age groups join its guided yoga sessions, with women and senior citizens forming a significant part of the community. The platform’s programmes focus on helping individuals incorporate movement, mindfulness, and healthy routines into their everyday lives.
The scale of the movement has expanded far beyond what Saurabh could have imagined when he first started teaching online. Participants now join from across India and around the world, creating a global community connected by a shared commitment to daily wellness.
Along the way, Habuild has earned recognition through several milestones and world records, including largest virtual yoga sessions. Yet for Saurabh, the most meaningful achievement lies elsewhere.
It is reflected in the stories of people who have made yoga a daily habit after years of inactivity. It is seen in older adults who have regained mobility and confidence, and in families who now practice together from different parts of the world.
Over the years, Saurabh Bothra and Habuild have also achieved several world records, including:
- Largest live-streamed yoga session on YouTube
- Largest virtual yoga class
- More than 2000 consecutive days of personal yoga practice
At a time when wellness is often associated with expensive memberships, complex routines, and constant performance, Saurabh continues to advocate a different approach. His belief is that lasting health does not come from dramatic changes but from small actions repeated consistently over time.
From a village in Maharashtra to a community that now spans continents, his journey reflects the enduring relevance of a simple idea: meaningful change often begins with one habit, practised every day.
