Monk Coleman (vegan) – From Alleys of Darkness to Highways of Enlightenment, Part 1 of 2

We are so happy to feature the colorful life of vegan bodybuilder, life-style coach and meditation instructor, Monk Coleman, previously known as Joe Coleman. Mr. Coleman’s story paints an arc from difficult beginnings as a directionless young man who got entangled in addiction and the criminal world, to rediscovering and trusting his inner voice, guiding him to become the compassionate, vibrant vegan success he embodies today. Before fully adopting his new name, Monk underwent some profound changes in his consumption habits. Over time and through meditation, he discarded all unhealthy practices, including eating meat or any other animal products. After he stopped eating meat, Monk felt sure that he was no longer hurting anyone. A few years later though, when he started to notice the word “vegan” appearing more often during his research into vegetarian bodybuilding, he began to dig deeper, only to discover the sad truth about the processes behind other animal products, such as eggs and milk. In a 2019 motivational clip for Shining World Compassion Award recipient, Mercy For Animals, Monk shared his experiences of meditation, becoming vegan and plant-based bodybuilding. “Basically, through my meditation practice, I became reconnected to all life and didn’t want to do any harm to any other beings, and at that moment, I became vegan.” Mr. Coleman, an IFPA (International Federation of Physique Athletes) Pro and WNBF (World Natural Bodybuilding Federation) champion in Natural Physique, attributes his success in bodybuilding to the tried and tested characteristics of consistency, hard work, commitment, as well as his switch to the plant-strong diet. Monk said: “It was about one year after turning vegan that my body started to change some. I got leaner, healthier, more energetic, and I healed quicker. It felt good.” Monk recommends the following to people wanting to go vegan today: “My advice for anybody that wants to go vegan is to do some research. There are all kinds of good information out there. There’s nothing bad about going vegan. In fact, just the opposite, it’s a win-win-win, for the animals, your health, and the planet.”