Competitive vegan bodybuilder urges ‘universal kindness’ for mental health

Hilmi Hayan

“Be kind to everyone. The reason why we chose to be vegan is to be kind to animals. If you are kind to animals, why won’t you be kind to humans too? Treat others the way you wish to be treated.”

From tennis players, the Williams sisters to car racing champion Lewis Hamilton, the list of international vegan athletes goes on. Close to home, competitive bodybuilder Hilmi Hayan adds to the list. However, plant-powered bodybuilding is not his only forte. Hilmi is a man of many talents.

Hilmi holds the distinction of being among the founders of the Malay Muslim vegan community in Singapore, at its inception on a facebook page, Muslim Vegans of Singapore, as one of the administrators and owning among the first malay-muslim vegan businesses in Southeast Asia, formerly a vegan restaurant La Zat, in Kuala Lumpur and co-owning a home-based vegan curry puff business in Singapore, Vegan Haven, that is currently on pause as his competitive training intensifies. 

Hilmi has been participating in bodybuilding competitions around Southeast Asia and most recently, in the FM League Musclewar tournament in September 2022. He was also formerly a volunteer with Animal Allies Singapore (AASG), the outreach program of Centre for Responsible Future (CRF) where he was part of outreach activities, promoting ‘universal kindness’ to both man and beast. He believes that the population at large will be more comfortable with vegans and open toward adopting a vegan lifestyle if vegans practised kindness and inclusivity.

However, as a sports science expert, his most passionate cause, that is also currently his self-employed vocation, is that of personal and wellness training. As a mental health advocate too, he provides holistic wellness by connecting physical and mental wellness for clients.

He was inspired to advocate for mental health due to his own experiences of being left out at work when he chose the path of veganism. He believes true fitness encompasses both physical and mental aspects of health and therefore provides value-added services which includes mental health wellness.

Hilmi Hayan, with his mother, Zubaidah Hamzah, formerly a home-based cook with Vegan Haven

“As a wellness coach and a mental health advocate I urge everyone to learn how to be kind to themselves first, followed by kindness towards other living creatures and fellow humans. Universal kindness is the first step towards a happy life.”