Amit Vaidya is first and foremost an inspiration. While his life has taken him from Wall Street and Hollywood to the rural farmlands of India, he has always embraced the “live for today” philosophy (a phrase his Mom repeated constantly as he played caregiver to her as she battled a terminal brain tumour). His own mantra that happiness is the constant has guided him to advocate for patients and individuals alike. As a late-stage cancer survivor himself, he opted not to return to his cush life back in the United States, published his best-selling memoir, Holy Cancer: How A Cow Saved My Life instead and founded Healing Vaidya Foundation, designed to empower individuals to be in the driver’s seat of their own lives. Leading by example, he’s opted to take the road less traveled and lead an organic way of life where diseased or healthy, he follows one simple routine and subsequently enforces it with discipline. He champions this lifestyle through social media campaigns, empowerment talks across schools, colleges and companies and also via educating his followers through articles and books. With the upcoming #foodismedicine cookbook series and a sequel to his memoir chronicling the challenges of returning “back to life” slated for release next year, Amit is finding different ways to alert seekers to the realities of life and the practical steps required to make permanent changes with acceptance and a smile. Amit is the in-house Wellness expert for Kapiva Ayurveda and has collaborated with them for a series of limited edition, hard to source/scale natural products that he believes in, has a monthly Ask The Expert column in Mans World India, contributes to Conde Nast Traveller and also curates events like “Detox In The City” in association with the Indian Chamber of Commerce to help urbanites manage city stresses. “We have to put in the hard work to heal and improve our own lives. Rather than just blindly following coaches, gurujis or Googleji, I want every person to be comfortable enough to trust their instincts, listen to their body and be their own best advocate in life."
