(Jun 16, 2026) What started as a pandemic-era effort to teach yoga from Nagpur and build a community of just 1,000 people has since evolved into one of India’s most visible wellness success stories, reaching millions across the world. Today, Saurabh Bothra has emerged as one of India’s leading wellness entrepreneurs, building a global community of more than 1.5 crore people and bridging India’s ancient yoga wisdom with the modern wellness economy.
Along the way, his venture Habuild has earned Guinness World Records for highest number of participants in yoga livestream. It recently gained national visibility through a campaign featured on IPL, India’s flagship cricket league with an audience spread across the world. Ahead of International Yoga Day on June 21, the wellness entrepreneur launched a new world record attempt, aiming to set the mark for the highest online yoga participation over an eight-day period.
For the Nagpur-based entrepreneur, the IPL spotlight marked a special moment. Having grown up with cricket at the centre of family life, he never imagined that a yoga-focused initiative would one day find space alongside India’s biggest sporting spectacle.
Guiness World Record
Habuild launched its latest world record initiative on June 14, aiming to achieve the highest online yoga participation over eight days, once again. Saurabh views such record attempts not as personal milestones but as “opportunities to inspire and motivate people to embrace a healthier lifestyle.”
The wellness entrepreneur and government-certified yoga trainer also identifies as a content creator. “I love to create YouTube videos to share my thoughts and expertise on health and wellness, with the goal of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to explore,” he shared.
Through his videos, he translates complex health ideas into simple, practical routines that people can incorporate into daily life. Across digital platforms, his content now reaches millions of people worldwide.
Habuild helping people cultivate fitness
Founded in 2020, Habuild started with just three students and a small team. Today, the technology-enabled platform has grown into an international wellness community.
“I host live Yoga classes for our community every day and I’m also deeply involved in looking out for better ways to serve our members through different health and wellness programs, remarked Saurabh who has hosted a number of events, all aimed at improving health and well-being of people.
Habuild offers a wide range of programmes including Yoga Everyday, Ayurvedic Detox, Mindful Journaling, Marma Healing, Her Health Matters, Kitchen Gardening and several other initiatives designed to encourage sustainable lifestyle changes.
The wellness model
The platform operates through a messaging automation tool integrated with WhatsApp. One of the favourites among members is the daily reminder system that helps them stay consistent and gradually incorporate healthier habits into their routines.
“At Habuild, we firmly believe that taking small, consistent steps towards a healthier lifestyle can lead to significant positive life changes,” said Saurabh.
Each member’s journey is personalised with lessons suited to individual needs. Attendance tracking and automated notifications help participants remain engaged, while monthly challenges reinforce the philosophy of habit building. Habuild also provides chat support and access to experts in yoga, nutrition and physiotherapy, ensuring that users receive guidance suited to their concerns.
Where India’s soft power meets the wellness economy
Habuild’s growth comes at a time when India is actively promoting yoga as an instrument of soft power and building a larger wellness economy around it. By combining ancient Indian practices with technology-driven community engagement, Saurabh Bothra and his team have tapped into a growing global appetite for preventive healthcare and mindful living, illustrating how homegrown wellness brands are helping carry India’s yoga movement to the world.
The beginning
Saurabh, an alumnus of IIT BHU and a lifelong fitness enthusiast, began conducting yoga classes along with his friend Pramod Yadav during the pandemic. He used to host 45-minute sessions every morning through Zoom and YouTube from Nagpur, introducing participants to breathing exercises, Surya Namaskar and various asanas.
Initially, the initiative was simply his way of giving back to society. He had no plans of building a startup around it. However, the growing popularity of the classes eventually led him to join hands with his sister Trishala Bothra and fellow IIT alumni Anshul Agrawal to establish Habuild.
The venture has since expanded far beyond India, with members spread across countries including the United States, Canada, Dubai and Singapore.
Saurabh Bothra
Love for creating change
Creating positive change has long been a part of Saurabh’s personality. During his years at IIT BHU, he launched two initiatives that became popular on campus.
He co-founded the “Let’s Read” club, which encouraged students to exchange books and cultivate a culture of reading and knowledge sharing. He also spearheaded the Satvik Mess initiative, which quickly became a student favourite. “We managed to offer Satvik food choices that led to a close-knit community,” shares the wellness entrepreneur who studied mechanical engineering.
“I did not turn out to be an engineer after IIT, but my college experience taught me the problem-solving skills crucial for my entrepreneurial journey. Every day in business, I use the lessons I learned during those special years,” he remarks.
From conducting yoga sessions for just a handful of participants to nurturing a wellness movement that now spans continents and touches over 1.5 crore lives, Saurabh’s journey reflects the power of consistency and community. For the entrepreneur who once hoped to build a small group of 1,000 people, seeing Habuild’s story on IPL screens may be a milestone, but it is perhaps another step in a mission that continues to inspire millions to build healthier habits, one day at a time.