Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sonal Bhatia. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Sonal, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
When I was a young girl growing up in Mexico, I often felt different. I came from a different culture, spoke a different language, and saw the world through a unique lens. While being different sometimes led to pain and exclusion, it also sparked something deep within me—a passion for creating equity, particularly in healthcare. This drive took root early in my life, fueled by the influence of my grandfather, a healer who practiced Ayurveda. I witnessed firsthand the transformative power of compassion and care, and I was inspired by how healing could transcend just the physical realm to encompass the whole person.
As I became a practicing physician, I began to see the limitations of traditional Western medicine. Prescriptions could address symptoms, but they didn’t create lasting change. I felt an internal pull, a realization that something was missing from the way we approached health. I knew there had to be more than just the conventional approach to healing. That “something else” turned out to be education—empowering patients to take control of their own health, arming them with the knowledge and resources they needed to heal from within. True healing, I realized, wasn’t just about the pills we prescribe; it was about activating the body’s inherent ability to heal itself.
This realization led me to devote my career to bridging the gap between healthcare and education. I spent 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, working to bring innovative treatments to patients, including those with rare diseases who were desperate for hope. As a leader, I made it my mission to empower my teams to make impactful decisions, to act with purpose, and to deliver meaningful solutions. And time and again, I witnessed transformation. There’s no greater reward than seeing an entire human life change when the right solution is found. But even with all this progress, I still felt there was more to do.
That’s when I realized the path I had been on was preparing me for something new. I wanted to go beyond just science and medicine; I wanted to integrate the holistic practices that had always intrigued me. I wanted to create a space where people could find balance in mind, body, and spirit, and tap into their inner healing intelligence. This is what inspired me to create Ojas Vida.
Ojas Vida is grounded in the principles of Ayurveda, but it’s not just about ancient wisdom—it’s about applying that wisdom in the context of modern life. Through personalized coaching, I help individuals discover their unique path to wellness, unlocking the healing power that resides within them. My approach is holistic, addressing the person as a whole rather than just focusing on isolated symptoms. It’s about creating a sustainable, transformative change that lasts. I believe this approach is unique because it empowers people to be active participants in their own healing journey, taking control of their health in a way that is both practical and profound.
What excites me most about Ojas Vida is that it offers something that is often missing in conventional healthcare—a holistic, integrative approach that nurtures the body, mind, and spirit. It’s about creating lasting, meaningful change, not just quick fixes. I’m passionate about helping people live in alignment with their true selves and guiding them to a place of balance and wellness.
At Ojas Vida, we’re not just solving a problem—we’re empowering individuals to reclaim their health and their lives. This is a unique opportunity to challenge the status quo of healthcare, moving away from symptom-based treatment and toward a more comprehensive, sustainable model of wellness. And that, to me, is the true essence of healing.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
When I was a young girl growing up in Mexico, I was different. I came from a different culture, spoke a different language, and saw the world through a unique lens. While being different often led to pain and exclusion, it also ignited within me a deep passion for creating equity—especially in healthcare. This drive began early, inspired by my grandfather, a healer who utilized principles of Ayurveda and showed me the profound impact of compassion and care.
As a practicing physician, I found myself struggling by the limitations of traditional medicine. Prescriptions alone didn’t create lasting change. I knew there had to be more, and that “something else” turned out to be education. I realized that true healing doesn’t come from pills alone—it comes from empowering patients with the knowledge, resources, and confidence to take charge of their own well-being.
I then devoted my life to bridging the gap between healthcare and education. 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, bringing innovative science to patients, including rare disease patients who sought hope from us, and leading teams of compassionate individuals who share the same mission: to bring equity, healing, education and hope to patients facing disease. My goal was to empower my team with the autonomy to make impactful decisions, the mastery to execute them, and the purpose to act with passion. During this time, I witnessed … transformation. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing an entire human life change when the right solution is found and delivered.
Today, I want to go beyond just the science and the pill and bring this same passion for empowerment and healing to my holistic coaching practice, Ojas Vida, grounded in the principles of Ayurveda. We all have an inner healing intelligence, and the key is to unlock and activate it.
Through personalized guidance and a focus on mind-body-spirit balance, I help individuals not only overcome challenges but thrive in all areas of their health and wellness. My approach is grounded in the belief that real change happens when we address the whole person, not just the symptoms. Let’s work together to create lasting, meaningful transformation in your life.
At Ojas Vida, we offer three transformative programs designed to guide individuals on their own journey to holistic well-being.
“Discover” is a personalized health audit that helps identify imbalances and creates a customized roadmap for each person’s healing journey.
“Integrate” is a six-week program focused on implementing sustainable lifestyle shifts, blending Eastern and Western wellness approaches to restore balance and vitality.
For deeper healing, “Embody” is a six-month immersive experience providing continuous support, integrating Ayurvedic wisdom and modern science to help each person achieve lasting transformation in mind, body, and spirit.
Each program is tailored to meet individual’s unique needs, with simple and manageable tools, empowering them to reclaim your health and well-being. The goal is to work on not the symptom but the cause.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
My first major pivot came when I stepped away from traditional Western medicine—a career dedicated to treating individual patients with prescriptions that addressed immediate concerns. Physicians work within the boundaries of existing medicines, and I began to feel the limitations of that approach. The turning point came when I lost my best friend to breast cancer before she turned 30. That profound loss ignited a deeper calling within me—a duty to go beyond one-on-one clinical care and seek a broader impact.
The decision to pivot was uncomfortable, daunting, and filled with uncertainty. Yet, I took a step back to explore what else a physician could do. This journey led me to the pharmaceutical industry, where I spent 20 years bringing innovative medicines to patients. In this space, I wasn’t just treating individuals; I was helping expand the very toolbox that doctors rely on to meet patients’ needs.
At the heart of it all, my mission remained unchanged—understanding and advocating for patients. This shift opened doors to new possibilities, allowing me to drive transformation on a larger scale. Looking back, I see this pivot not as a departure from medicine but as an evolution of my purpose—one that has ultimately led me to Ojas Vida and a new way of healing.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Resilience has been a constant thread throughout my life and career, shaping my journey in unexpected ways. My first experience of resilience was when I left my home country to pursue my dream of studying medicine. It wasn’t an easy decision—leaving everything behind to start over in a new country, but my determination to become a physician pushed me forward. I earned my MD and began my medical career with a deep sense of purpose.
As my career evolved, I felt the need for a shift—a desire to make a broader impact than what traditional medicine allowed. This pivot was not clear-cut, and I didn’t know exactly how to make it happen. But with resilience, I learned new skills, navigated the business world, and excelled in my role as Chief Medical Officer at a pharmaceutical company. This transformation required me to push beyond my comfort zone, embracing the unknown with each step.
Along the way, I became intrigued by Ayurveda, and despite the demands of my career, I pursued a Master of Science in Ayurveda. Balancing work, study, children and life required immense resilience, but it gave me invaluable insight into the mind-body connection and holistic living.
Eventually, I realized that my true calling was to align my purpose with a deeper commitment to helping others live healthier lives—mind, body, and spirit. This realization led me to leave the pharmaceutical industry and create Ojas Vida, a platform where I could help others achieve holistic wellness through conscious living.
Resilience has been the driving force that has allowed me to challenge the status quo, live in alignment with my values, and learn from my falls. It’s the fuel that keeps me going, constantly pushing me to rise again with purpose, to live out my mission, and to inspire others to do the same.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sonalbhatia.com
- Instagram: @sonalb926
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonal-bhatia-md-8a0ba95/
- Other: https://substack.com/@innerhealing
Image Credits
Sonal Bhatia
Triba Roosevelt Island Business Association