HRITWIK SETH

I had the pleasure of meeting Hritwik during my Yoga Teacher Training course at Sivananda Ashram, Uttarakhand, last year. From day one, we instantly connected, and by the end of the month-long course, it felt like we were reunited from a past life. At just 24, he defies every Gen Z stereotype that millennials (read: me) love to joke about—no entitlement, no trend-chasing, no validation-seeking—just clarity, wisdom, and a strong sense of purpose! In an era where social media dictates worth and competition never slows down, Hritwik’s maturity, clarity and deep sense of fulfillment are truly awe-inspiring. His story is a testament to the power of knowing oneself and staying aligned with what truly matters. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or in doubt, he encourages you to take a step back, and ask yourself a few questions.…..continue reading to find out more.

Me: Hritwik, thank you so much for doing this today. I have always had such deep admiration for you and I am thrilled to finally share your wisdom through this blog!

Hritwik: Trust me, the honor is mine!

Me: Can you start by telling us about your journey—how did you decide to practice nutrition? I know you have intentionally decided to stay back and build your practice in the town you are from - Ranchi, Jharkhand - when all your friends decided to leave for the lure of the metro cities. What are some of the benefits or unique experiences you’ve discovered by living and working there?

Hritwik: The first 20 years of my life were not that great health-wise. I used to suffer from severe sinus issues, psoriasis, IBS and on top of it anxiety induced from all these conditions. The situation worsened while I was living in Delhi during my under graduation. But then the pandemic hit and I had to come back home. With all the free time in hand, I started researching and trying out different things to manage my condition. When I saw great benefits from some nutritional changes I made in my diet, I was so inspired that I decided to pursue further education in the subject. I realized that much of what I was learning was not common knowledge and it sparked the desire in me to share it with others. At the same time, I started waking up at 4:30 am and going to the gym, mostly because there was no one in the gym at the time, but doing this along with eating healthier made me realize that I am really enjoying this lifestyle. The drinking and partying late night of college days paled in comparison to the dopamine kick I was getting. I noticed that my sinus did not trouble me anymore, no trace of any IBS, my skin condition improved so much that from being someone who used to hesitate going out in public without covering my hands, I transformed into a much more confident and good looking individual, all thanks to the lifestyle changes.

Also, being closer to family brought me immense joy and contentment, I am a homebody! I would be lying if told you I never had FOMO about my friends moving abroad or their metro-city lifestyles, but over time I saw the other side of their stories - the traffic, the stress, the pollution, the health issues…It made me appreciate the lifestyle I have here even more. My family and my focus on my health are my top priorities!

Me: I really admire that! I know that apart from your day job as a nutritionist, you also help out your Dad in his retail business. How do you manage these two worlds which are poles apart, how do you balance your priorities? And how does working in these different areas influence your approach to health and wellbeing?

Hritwik: If you look deeply, you will realize that these two fields are more similar than you thought possible. In both, there is a client on one side and a provider on the other side. And in order to make both these interactions successful you need to be a good listener to first understand the client's problem and then a good articulator to help solve it. And this is the exact skillset I have inherited from my Dad, and I have realized that I am good at it. I am nothing but what I have learned from my parents and for that I am forever indebted. So helping out my Dad is my way of easing some of his stress and responsibilities as he gets older. If I play table tennis with them for an example, or keep them accountable for their workout routines, or just make them laugh a little more everyday, it gives me a lot of satisfaction.

Me: So do you parents workout with you and take your nutrition advice? Because I have been failing terribly with my family.

Hritwik: Oh yes! My Dad has started coming to the gym with me and my Mom works out with a trainer who specializes in training women her age group. And yes, they do follow my nutritional advice religiously. To be honest, they have seen the changes in their energy levels and fitness as a result of all this and they are more than happy to follow along.10

Me: That is incredible! So next question, you have mentioned on a few occasions about the spiritual inclination your family has and how you have been inspired by your Granddad's and your Dad's contentment in life. Can you tell me a bit more about this.

Hritwik: Yes, my Granddad spent a lot of time in Bihar School of Yoga and other ashrams in India. I think he passed on many of his qualities to the family without ever explicitly asking anyone to do so. Like my parents have now been associated with Sahaja Yoga Foundation for over 15 years. But growing up I remember being very tuned out of our dinner table conversations around this topic, I did not relate to it and no one tried to make me understand either. But my brother and I were always encouraged to ask as many questions as we came up with and to follow our own path. Both of us lead a very simple lifestyle and are not striving for a lavish lifestyle or buying a fancy car, and when I look back, it is clear that we have inherited this from our parents. I did not realize it back then but I think this is why I ended up in Sivananda Ashram. I think spirituality has a way of finding you even when you are not seeking it.

Me: So if it is not a fancy car, not money, not fame…what is the driving force in your life?

Hritwik: You know it makes my day when someone tells me that after following my advice, their blood pressure or sugar levels have returned to normal, or they recovered from PCOS or they are now fitting into 12 year old clothes! That’s when I realize how much I love what I do. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives.

Me: That's beautiful! You have mentioned that you really look up to your elder brother and you have always learned from his mistakes. This is truly intriguing to me because in my life experience, humans hardly ever learn from their own mistakes, let alone other people's mistakes! Tell me more about this.

Hritwik: My brother is four years older than me, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve been his biggest fan. To me, he is the definition of "cool." I wanted to be just like him—whatever TV show he watched became my favorite, whatever video game he played, I had to play too. I’ve always turned to him for guidance, and his advice has never steered me wrong because he knows me so well. His judgment on what I should or shouldn’t do has consistently led me to great outcomes.

He was the first to recognize my passion for nutrition and the one who nudged me towards yoga and Sivananda Ashram. The energy I get from him, the trust I have in him—it’s like neuroplasticity, shaping me in ways I never realized until now.

(Hritwik's elder brother Anant Seth is the founder of YouTube channel - TheBohoSapiens)

Me: As a nutritionist and fitness expert, what does a typical day in your life look like? What routines or practices do you consider essential for staying grounded, productive, and happy?

Hritwik: Waking up at 4:30 am every day is non-negotiable. It sets the tone for my day and gives me the mental clarity I need to focus on my goals. After that, I hit the gym—it’s my way of releasing happy hormones, which make me feel good and confident in my body.

Me (interrupting): Wow, 4:30 am? Every single day?

Hritwik: Yes, because working out is my top priority. I want it badly enough that I don’t even need an alarm. In fact, if your "why"—the reason behind what you want—is strong enough, you’ll never struggle with motivation. This isn’t just about waking up early; it applies to everything in life. Once you have clarity on your "why," the drive to follow through comes naturally.

Me: So after your workout, what comes next?

Hritwik: After my workout, I have a nutritious meal. I usually eat 2 meals a day, both consisting of a lot of protein sources and veggies.

Then I dive into work, starting with client meetings. After that, I dedicate time to studying—I make it a point to stay updated on the latest science in my field, and this is a crucial part of my day.

After an early dinner, I help my dad with his business. And before calling it a night, I always make time for a round of table tennis with my parents—it’s our little ritual to catch up on each other’s day.

There’s still a lot more I want to incorporate into my routine. I’m a work in progress. But yeah, that’s how my day looks—sounds pretty boring, right?

Me: Not at all! If anything, it’s incredibly inspiring. I love how you prioritize your workout and family time above everything else. These are exactly the two things that everyone should strive to make time for, yet they’re often the first to be neglected in the daily hustle of life.

Me: How did you build such strong consistency and motivation for your workouts? For many people, including myself in the past, the idea of working out feels unnecessary, time-consuming, and even boring after a few days. It’s just easier to not do it than to do it. The challenge is that consistency only comes when you start loving the feeling you get after a workout—but you won’t get that feeling unless you’re consistent. It’s like a chicken-and-egg situation. So what helped you stay consistent in the beginning, and what advice do you have for people struggling to get there?

Hritwik: A couple of things. First, I struggled with a severe case of psoriasis—so much so that I felt ashamed of my appearance and didn’t step out of the house for months. That period of isolation forced me to reflect on what I could do to change my situation. At the same time, social media was bombarding me with stories of 20-year-olds becoming millionaires and launching groundbreaking companies, while I felt stuck in my room.

I asked myself: What is one thing I can do for myself that would make me feel proud? That’s when I decided to start working out. My goal wasn’t about how I would look—it was about building one positive habit, hoping it would lead to another, then another. Over time, I actually started enjoying it, and that kept me going. Once I stayed consistent, I saw the benefits—physically and mentally. In many ways, working out saved me. And today, it plays a huge role in everything else I’m striving for, both in my life and career.

Me: Can you share a recent experience—a mistake, a setback, or a valuable lesson life has taught you?

Hritwik: One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that mistakes are completely normal, and the key is not to let them break you. I’ve always been passionate about working out, but in the beginning, I set unrealistic goals for myself. I made a lot of mistakes, and there was always a learning curve.

A big part of my job involves managing social media, which comes with its own challenges. I used to get overly attached to certain outcomes, setting goals that weren’t always realistic. When things didn’t go as planned, it affected me more than it should have, and I ended up wasting a lot of time.

Now, I’ve learned to accept that mistakes will happen, and instead of getting caught up in them, I stay neutral and focus on what I can learn. In fact, I welcome mistakes because they bring growth. This mindset shift has helped me approach life with more balance and ease.

Me: Amazing. I love that perspective because fear of making mistakes holds so many of us back. We hesitate to try new things because we’re afraid of failing. I’ve been in that boat myself—always striving for perfection before taking action. But perfection is an illusion, and in waiting for it, I’ve lost valuable time. The clarity you have at such a young age is truly inspiring. I’m in awe of how you’ve embraced mistakes as part of growth. I’ve heard this lesson before, but the way you’ve put it really hits home.

Me: Okay, last question - for someone who might be feeling overwhelmed by societal pressures or by chasing latest trends on social media - what advice would you offer on finding balance and staying true to one's path?

Hritwik: I think the key is to start asking yourself the right questions—and to be completely honest with your answers. For example, if you’re spending too much time on social media, instead of justifying it by saying, Oh, it was for work or It was for research, admit that it’s not serving you. The first step is self-awareness, followed by honesty. And write it down—not on your phone or laptop, but with pen and paper - trust me, it’s far more satisfying and helps imprint the realization in your mind!

Also, ask yourself: Is this making me truly happy? If yes, How long does this happiness last? Is it sustainable? When you reflect on these questions, you’ll likely find that your happiest moments weren’t tied to material success but to times spent with loved ones—those carefree moments in school or college, when you had no money but were fully present.

Humans are designed to spend most of their time in a relaxed state, where the parasympathetic nervous system is dominant. But in today’s fast-paced, capitalistic world, we’ve conditioned ourselves to be in a constant state of stress, activating the sympathetic nervous system all day. It’s important to slow down, reflect, and ask yourself what truly brings sustained happiness. When you do that, the right decisions will follow naturally.

Me: Wow! I can’t believe we’re ending on such a powerful note. Thank you so much, Hritwik, for being a guest on my blog and sharing your thoughts on finding your FLOW with us!

Follow Hritwik on Instagram @fit.wik

Also visit his website - www.lifeofhealthy.com