IITs are considered the pinnacle of education in India. Graduates are guaranteed the creme-of-the-crop when it comes to placements. Everybody expects nothing less than stratospheric success when it comes to IITians. However, Saurabh Bothra had to face six years without any stable income when he graduated from IIT BHU. Positivity portal The Humans Of Bombay shared his inspiring journey from engineering student to yoga guru on Instagram. Saurabh and his sister Trishala grew up in a one bedroom home in Nagpur, which they had to share with two cousins and other relatives. Living in such confined spaces installed within him a sense of discipline. “We were eight people staying in a one hall, bedroom, kitchen, so we all would wake up really early. The entire house was up by 5 am. This habit stayed with me all my life,” he told Humans Of Bombay. During a train journey from Banaras to Nagpur, an unexpected meeting changed the direction of his life. He came across a meditation community, and the experience sparked a profound transformation within him. As he began practicing meditation consistently, he noticed something remarkable—his lifelong struggle with asthma, which had troubled him since childhood, started easing. For the first time, he experienced genuine relief and a sense of physical well-being that he had never known before.By 2014, his future had become crystal clear. He no longer saw himself pursuing a career in engineering or following the path others had envisioned for him. His heart was firmly set on yoga, and he knew it was the calling he wanted to dedicate his life to.Although he briefly returned to assist with his family’s business, the arrangement lasted only a few months. Within three months, he chose to leave it behind. Determined to follow his passion, he set out on a journey across the country, travelling from place to place and sharing the teachings and practice of yoga with people from all walks of life.Initially, he started online yoga classes with just three students, teaching them for free. Gradually, three grew into a hundred. For Saurabh, the impact he was creating felt meaningful and fulfilling, and he was content with the path he had chosen. However, the arrival of the devastating second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic became a turning point that transformed his vision entirely.As people across the country searched for ways to stay healthy and connected during lockdowns, many of Saurabh’s friends began participating in his online yoga classes. Among them was his fellow IIT graduate, Anshul Agrawal, whose encouragement proved to be a game changer. Anshul urged Saurabh to think beyond small-scale efforts and consider expanding his reach to a much larger audience. He encouraged him to establish clear targets and work towards achieving them systematically. One ambitious milestone was set—to bring at least 5,000 people into the program within a year.Motivated by this challenge, the two carefully mapped out a strategy and began executing their plan. What followed exceeded even their most optimistic expectations. The first major online yoga session attracted an overwhelming response from participants across different regions. The turnout was extraordinary, with more than one lakh people joining the live event, turning what had started as a modest initiative into a nationwide movement almost overnight.In the interview with the Humans Of Bombay, Saurabh revealed how one advice from his mother changed the trajectory of his business. Once she requested him to teach her yoga to relieve her knee pain. Gradually, she pointed out hoe his teaching methods did not suit elderly women, who are not familiar with technical lingo. “I told him that women my age need simpler asanas and easier language to follow, not technical terms meant for youngsters. To my surprise, he really listened and changed his entire approach. Today, when I see him designing yoga sessions especially for women over 40, I feel proud that he’s making it accessible for people like me, women who’ve spent years caring for others, and are now finally learning to care for themselves,” she told Humans Of Bombay. From that point forward, Saurabh dedicated his efforts to empowering women who spent most of their time caring for their households and loved ones, often neglecting their own health and well-being. “Words like ‘hamstring’ didn’t make sense to her generation. That was an eye-opener. I realised that women above 40 — especially mothers are the ones who need yoga the most…” he told HoB. Recognizing the challenges they faced in setting aside time for fitness, he designed yoga programs that were both accessible and convenient. He offered classes at flexible hours to fit around their daily responsibilities and modified yoga postures to make them easier for beginners to learn and practice. To further support their physical health, he also provided complimentary physiotherapy sessions, helping newcomers overcome discomfort, build confidence, and begin their wellness journey in a safe and comfortable environment.As per an Indian Express report, Habuild has trained over 80 lakh people, making it the world’s largest yoga community. 4 lakh people log in everyday, 70% of them women. In 2023, his yoga startup Habuild set a world record by having 1,34,057 participants in a virtual yoga class. Today, the platform he launched during Covid-19 pandemic, in 2020, has gained 12 million students across 169 countries.