These are stories and true experiences of students/clients, all are happy to be contacted for verification.
Deepening my skill of peace and clearing thoughts
Dear Sifu Joan,
Thank you again for an excellent weekend of Chi Kung. I had some very peaceful experiences over the two days and felt a genuine deepening of my practice. Your smile from the heart advice, when stray thought arise, proved to be quite effective yesterday and this morning. Thoughts will probably arise in my mind for a long time to come but I know now not to worry about them, but smile to them. Best wishes Kevin Barry August 09
An Exquisite Opening of the Heart!
For 11 years for reasons I cannot fully recall I have not spoken to my husband’s brother and partner. I have been resolute and stubborn that I would never make a move to have anything to do with them and those who know me fully appreciated that I could easily go to my grave without resolving anything. There were a lot of hurtful things said on both sides and it just didn’t seem possible to forgive and forget.
I first went to Sifu Joan on the recommendation of a friend for back problems and other issues, never mentioning anything about the situation with family members. I always assumed that my physical aches and pains were just that, physical, but I now know that a lot of symptoms were to do with the hurt and anger I carried around with me for 11 years.
After practising with Joan for almost a year and using Chi State of mind as much as I could it just came to me one morning after practice that it was time to make my peace with husbands’ brother. This was completely out of the blue and I was shocked at the very thought but the idea just grew and grew. The decision was made for me by me and when I told my husband there was no turning back. I mentioned it to Joan and she did recommend sending them blessings before speaking to them.
Last weekend at a family gathering the situation arose where they were both in my company and I did it, I apologised for my behaviour and asked them to join me in letting go of the hurt, anger and hate. I didn’t assume that they would just agree and was fully prepared to take whatever they wanted to throw at me but that was not the case. They were both so responsive and delighted and there were even tears, happy ones, to be finally rid of it all. For me it just fell like tightness around my heart has broken, my lower back is strangely comfortable and I have slept more deeply than I have in years for more than 2 nights in a row. I just know that things will only improve from here. I truly know that if I was not practising Chi Kung I would still be carrying that garbage around with me and I am deeply grateful to my friend who recommend Chi Kung to me, Sifu Joan for teaching it and Master Wong for teaching her. Smile from the heart. Emma, Killarney, June 2009
SHAOLIN TESTIMONIAL
I started Shaolin Kung Fu in November 2006 in Ireland. Sifu Jamie Robson was my instructor in the beginning, Sifu Jamie was kind enough to come over from Scotland to teach us once a month. My Sisook Mark Hartnett recommended Shaolin Kung Fu to me as I was previously a keen martial artist but had not practiced for a while. (I had previously practiced Tae Kwon Do for eight years). Mark explained to me a bit more about the combat aspects of Shaolin Kung Fu and that punching, kicking, felling and gripping were all part of it. He also explained to me about Chi Kung and all its benefits and I was intrigued so I joined up.
After my first training session of Shaolin Kung Fu I realised how superior it was to any other martial arts I had practiced or seen. I thoroughly enjoyed the stances, the training methods and the Chi Kung. As I previously mentioned I had practiced Tae Kwon Do for eight years and we used to practice in two ways. Firstly we practiced tradional sets and patterns but these were only for practice and gradings, we also used to use sparring to kick and punch each other senseless every night. We were told that the traditional style was not practical and would not work out in the street in a fight. I achieved my black belt and thought myself to be well able to defend my self. After my first training session in Shaolin Kung Fu I discovered that my cousin Greg Hartnett who had been practicing under a year in Shaolin Kung Fu was beating me easily. Before the class started he said to me to come at him with some Tae Kwon Do techniques just to see the contrast in styles. When I went to kick him he just moved out of the way with his stances and I found he was pressing me quite easily without even striking me. I could’nt even get near him and it was all from footwork. When I tried to kick high he would just sink down and stop his strike a bit too close for comfort. I was intrigued and fascinated and wanted to learn more.
The Chi Kung was the hardest part for me at the start as I was quite sceptical about how doing the simple exercises could benefit me and that everybody else seemed to be moving or falling around and that could seem to let my “chi” flow. I started regular Chi Kung classes with my Siguma Joan Browne soon after beginning Shaolin Kung Fu as I felt it would all be beneficial to my training. A year had passed and I was just about to lose hope that I would never have a chi flow when something strange happened to me. After doing lifting the sky with Siguma Joan and going into Chi Flow I felt a surge of energy from my left temple all the way out to my left small finger. It was as if I was attached to a car battery and the energy was surging through me yet it didn’t hurt. I then started to fall around any started to have happy europhoric feelings. It was the strangest and one of the best feelings I had ever experienced in my life. After we slowed down and I had time to reflect on it all I felt a clarity in my mind which I had never experienced. I now practice it everyday and after a hard days work I find it fantastic to clear my mind.
I also used to do a very physical job I was a plasterer for ten years and I found that I used to get a lot of aches or pains from it. I started to practice Chi Kung every morning on my first break at 10 am every morning I then found that the aches and pains were gone by simply practicing Chi Kung every day.
I am also a chronic hayfever sufferer and from early May to August my eyes would water and my nose would run constantly. I was taking tablets twice a day and a nasal spray three times a day every summer all my life. I have found since I have been practicing Chi Kung and Kung Fu that my hayfever symptoms have not been as severe eventhough the pollen count has never been as high as it has been in previous summers. I also noticed that last summer my hayfever only seemed to last for the month of June and I only used ten tablets for the whole summer . Every year it is affecting me less and less. I am hopeful that I might finally cure myself of hayfever just from Chi Kung.
I would definitely recommend the Shaolin Arts for anyone who is looking for something different, something to benefit your health and vitality as I believe it has only made my life better as a result. And from the martial arts perspective Shaolin Kung Fu covers so many aspects from the punching, kicking, felling and gripping. And it is also so practical as with other martial arts you could spend all night kicking bags where as with Kung Fu we spar with each other barehanded but with compassion. As with anything you need good fundamentals or basics, so when you have this in Shaolin Kung Fu that is when you can progress and learn more advanced techniques. Eric Shannon Shaolin Wahnam Ireland 18/05/2009
OVERCOMING CROHN'S DISEASE. Tralee student.
Tuesday May 20th 2008.
In June 2004, I was working as a beauty therapist in Kenmare. I became quite ill and visited Dr. Waterhouse in the town. I had severe stomach pain and no energy. I was losing weight. I had blood tests done but nothing showed up. This persisted for a time until eventually I was unable to get out of bed for work, she advised me to return home to my own hometown.
I was admitted to the Bons Secours hospital in Tralee, for further tests and afterwards went to the Bons Secours in Cork, where I was seen by Dr. Wm Stack. After more tests he diagnosed Crohns Disease. I was very weak at this stage, I was passing blood and my weight had fallen to six and a half stone from over eight.
I was prescribed steroids (Deltracortil) and Asacolon. I began to feel better straight away. However as I decreased the dosage of steroids, I saw my old symptoms reappear. I began suffering side effects from the steroids too. I became depressed and extremely anxious. My hands shook so much that I could not apply my make up. I stopped taking the steroids. Needless to say I could not return to work and I was still passing blood. I began seeing a psychiatrist for the depression, but it did not seem to lift it.
Then in February 2005, I saw an advertisement in the paper for a Chi Kung course. To be honest, I started going for my mental state as this overshadowed my physical symptoms at the time. From the first class I felt my spirits lift. I couldn’t explain how it happened but I knew I felt a deep sense of relaxation and peace. I began to feel like my old self again. When I returned home, I realised that I had stopped passing blood. This convinced me that I was on to a winner.
Over the subsequent weeks, I learnt from Sifu Joan the 8 basic patterns of Chi Kung. Once I learnt them, I was able to practice them myself at home. This is the beauty of Chi Kung- there is no special equipment or requirements. I kept practising and I became stronger. My weight started to go on, my energy increased, the pain became less severe. Flare ups lasted less and were not so severe. Slowly my health returned and I started work again. Under the guidance of my doctor, I stopped taking Asacolon as this time and to date do not take any medication at all.
I have continued with Chi Kung since then and today incorporate it with Wahnam Tai Chi Chuan. The results have been amazing- today I live a full life. I have recently returned to college. My energy levels are great, my outlook on life has returned also. Because of the nature of Crohns I know that it can return as flare ups but these are so few today that I forget that I have the disease. Any time that it does flare up I just know to do my Chi Kung and I have as yet ( May 2008) never had to return to the doctor or hospital. I cannot recommend Chi Kung highly enough. It not only eased the pain of the Crohns but it benefited me emotionally and mentally also. .
As this student does not wish to be named, I have omitted her name for privacy reasons but deeply appreciate her contribution, she may be contacted for verification through me.
ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS Before & After. Joanne Killarney student.
BEFORE Hello Joan,
following our short telephone conversation this morning. I would like to take part in your beginners weekend on March 8th & 9th. Joan, I am a 37 yr old lady, married mother of two.I am a housewife & mom.I too was an RGN & finished work after my youngest was born. However 5 yrs ago was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis, am on Methotrexate. Most days & nights I am in moderate pain feel very down almost depressed most days ( yet I'm good at hiding it.) am short tempered and feel my life is passing me by.I am very unhappy and want to work at changing this. I need help...........Regards Joanne AFTER Hi Joan ; Joanne here .........I did your weekend course earlier in the year and boy have i seen a major difference since then ......... for the better of course. havent a pain or an ache and am smiling from the heart . God Bless you.....I am looking for a place on your weekend for teens , Ciara my 10 yr old daughter ( nearly 11) is interested .Shes had a hard year , socially and emotionally........sincerely Joanne
BUSY CORPORATE LIFE . Mark -Dublin student.
Dear Sifu,
Here are the 3 key benefits for me
Clarity of mind- seeing situations, issues or opportunities clearly at their heart and being able to respond appropriately- my regular chi kung practice let's off the steam and stress and gives relaxed yet aware view, Tai Chi Chuan helps me to stay clear and not get stressed in the first place , the relaxed elements of Tai Chi Chuan would be key here.
Calmness - related to clarity , chi kung initially then Tai Chi Chuan practice, let's me stay in the centre of situations without anxiety or stress over whelming me. I have found I am able to be still and even find humour in the most challenging business circumstance. The Tai Chi Chuan practice of staying at the dan tien then pushing hands is the parallel here.
Aggression and frustration - in daily work not everybody we meet is positive, and it can be easy to be drawn into conflict or bickering professionally or personally, the Tai Chi Chuan principle of yielding initially helped me to avoid force meets force clash, which has made my interactions much smoother and doesn't tire me as it used to, the circular approach to straight or the straight approach to circular is something I am working on at present in interactions that can be difficult. Mark- Dublin
STRESS AND LIFE Maria -Killarney student
Maria Sullivan Testimonial
24th January 2009.
Today I attended a Chi Kung class given by Sifu Joan, here in Killarney.
During the class Sifu gave us an assessment sheet which detailed no less than 41 factors that have been identified in relation to stress. We were asked to study the list and identify any of the factors relating to our current life. The sheet was subdivided into 5 sections covering physiological, psychological, cognitive, behavioural, and social symptoms.
I came up with one out of forty one possibilities.
I was astonished. If I had been asked to do this 7 years ago I would have been scoring thirty nine out of forty one.
I have been practicing Chi Kung, and more lately Tai Chi Chuan since August 2004 and can honestly say this has had a direct impact on my life. I have written a testimonial in November 2007. This testimonial today shows other aspects of the benefits of my training with the Shaolin Wahnam Institute.
My family and friends would support this testimonial wholeheartedly. They have also benefited by my more positive healthy balanced outlook.
Thank you so much Sigung for your teaching and to Sifu Joan for her commitment to keeping her teaching aligned with that of Sigung.
MORE ENERGY AND CALMER (This Lady had only one private session with me) Sam- UK
Hi Joan Sam here - hope you are well.
Just wanted to say thank you so much for introducing Chi flow to us! When thinking about it, it has been so powerful without me knowing! If I look back on how I was I have changed for the better. I have more energy, I'm calmer and my life is honestly flowing superbly! We both enjoy doing it so so much! Sam
PAINFUL PERIODS - Killarney student.
Hi Joan
Thanks for last night class and this is a bit private so I didn’t really want to share with the group.
I am sooooo delighted to tell you that for the first time in seven years I am experiencing my first almost pain free period.
Normally, I would be unable to function, the pain would be so bad, not to mention half way through a box of Nurofen plus (only took two at the very beginning) and there is no way I would have walked last night never mind taken the class. So a huge huge big THANK YOU – I was never so happy to be having my monthlies hee hee – should I say a normal one anyway.
Smiling for the heart, big time!!
Have a great week and see you next week. Mary.(name changed for privacy reasons, but this lady can be contacted for verification)
HIATUS HERNIA by Peter Clayton- Killarney student
In November 2005, while attending a meeting with a voluntary organisation, I felt faint, dizzy, and nearly collapsed. At 23 (then) I had never experienced ill health of this kind so I was taken to a doctor. Fast forward, the doctors could only speculate on a few things (they actually did an ok job). It was possibly an ulcer, stress or gastritis. I found myself on prescription drugs, which if I didn't take them, I would be in considerable pain after food. In the meantime, I had long been promising to attend Sifu Joan's chi-kung classes for a couple of years and was now kicked into action (also by an inspiring email from Sifu herself!). Coincidentally, my last pill was on the day I travelled to Kerry. I never took one again. Mid-course I had a gastroscopy (camera vs. throat situation ). The results said I had a small hiatus hernia. Two months after my last class with Sifu and the symptoms seem to have vanished. I can eat whatever I choose without ill-effect. I would just like to express my thanks to Sifu & Sigung. WSS, Peter Clayton.
EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS by Damien - Cork student
Chi Kung has helped clear away a lot of emotions that were making me feel depressed, stressed out and also very tired. It has helped me to listen to myself and take action quicker. It has also helped me to see the bigger picture in life, like happiness with what I’ve got and not to be searching for more possessions.
Damien Murray.
WHIPLASH AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS by Noreen - Cork student
On April 20th 2006, I had an accident and injured my neck and back. I started Chi Kung on April 24th and today July 3rd I would describe my injuries as 80% cured, thanks to Chi Kung.
About 2/3 weeks ago at Chi Kung class I was telling Sifu Joan that when I stand for a few minutes after Chi Flow, I feel an incredible flow of what I describe as chi flowing down my arms into my hands and also down my legs into my feet. During the last week, I got a result of a blood test taken in early April (before Chi Kung) from a consultant and he told me that the tests were mildly positive for Rheumatoid Arthritis. The Chi Kung had already found it.
Noreen
MENIERE'S DISEASE and OSTEOARTHRITIS by Theresa - Cork student
I have been suffering from Meniere’s disease fro 17 years. Traditional medicine controls it but I am looking for a cure.
Since practicing Chi Kung for 9 months, I have found a remarkable improvement. I haven’t had an attack in months and don’t feel any pressure in my head. I have much more energy and osteoarthritis in the hip and knee has disappeared. I practice everyday and will continue to do so. Long live Chi Kung!
Theresa
BACK PAIN by Mary - Cork student
Since attending Sifu Joan’s classes on Chi Kung, I am happy to say that my back pain and shoulder trouble has improved so much. I did not need to attend my osteopath for the past 10 months, whom I usually had to go to six or seven times a year for the past 9 years.
Chi Kung is relaxing and revitalizing and is now part of my daily life.
Thank you Sifu Joan.
Mary
BABY LEO- Killarney student
Hello, my name is Eric and I am currently practising Shaolin Kungfu with Sifu Mark and some Wahnam Tai Chi Chuan with Sifu Joan. One night during class, Sifu Joan asked us to write about any experiences that we may have had while training.Sifu Joan always asks us during our weekly classes if we would like to send a blessing to somebody as they are very powerful so here is my experience! My fiancee wqas pregnant some time ago with our first child and after five months the baby had not kicked at all. My fiancee was beginning to worry a little that all minght not be well, even though all the doctors said she and the baby were doing fine. So one night, while I was training, I decided to send a blessing to my fiancee and the baby. After I returned home after training, my fiancee met me and she was smiling and laughing. She said that the baby had started kicking like mad!She was delighted and we were both so relieved, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy since and we named him Leo. He is now seven months old and has not stopped kicking since!
The following is a beautiful and inspiring story generously shared by Shaolin Wahnam Instructor, Sifu Piti, from South America in the days immediately after his wonderful Mom's passing.
Through the eyes of a child
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
My mother Ofa passed away on Sunday morning. It took us all as a surprise because she had been very healthy and vital. My father tells me that on Saturday she got up, insisted on practicing her morning Shaolin Chi Kung session and then went with him to the doctor's for an appointment. The doctor talked with her for some time and they decided she should stay in the hospital. That night she gave my dad a very warm and caring good-bye kiss and sent him back home. Right before 6:00 am she passed away, ten minutes before my dad’s arrival.
My dad says it all seemed pre-arranged, pre-planned by her. She went away the way she had always wanted to do it – without a long agony, without much noise, by herself, trying to cause the least pain to him and to all of us.
My 6 year-old son Nicolás and I were abroad and got there at night. I talked to him about what had happened and he insisted to come along to the funeral house and to the funeral service the next day. There he described how Ofa’s colors had already left the casket and were floating on top. They were the bright and happy colors of the rainbow. The next morning the rainbow had ascended and had formed a dome-pointed rainbow “with nice rounded points to go up to Heaven but not hurt God”. During the service he described how the colors “went up and turned into sparks that danced in the sky, going up until they disappeared in Heaven”. Then he looked at me with a big smile and said that his grandma Ofa was dancing happily with God.
My mom learned Shaolin Chi Kung from me seven years ago. She was my first student and my most disciplined one. Since she learned she practiced twice every day without missing one single practice. She used to practice once in the morning “to get ready for the day” and once in the late afternoon, right before going to church, “to be closer to God and to be able to chat with Him”. It was a daily practice of Spiritual Joy and Vitality.
In April, during the Chi Kung Healing Course, Sifu talked about the Five Blessings. But it was not until this Sunday that I started to fully understand the fifth of those blessings – Good Passing.
My mother lived a full life, a wonderful old-age, and had the passing she always had wanted – simple direct and effective.
I am now even more motivated to continue the practice and transmission of the wonderful and magical Art of Shaolin Chi Kung.
Thank you Sifu!
Piti Sifu, thank you and Nicolas, for your kindness, in giving me permission to share this on my website.
Much has happened.-ASTHMA
When my darling son was born in November 2002, he was a jolly but very demanding baby...being new to motherhood I had no clue how to handle him. But with with the amazing love and support of my mother, Ramaa and husband, Sippe, I learnt to comfort, coax ;-) and calm my dear little treasure. I had practised yoga all through the pregnancy and my son's sensitivity seemed to bear proof of that to me somehow. The first four months of my life with Esran were super, and then....the illnesses started.
Esran was never a good sleeper or feeder. Feeding times and bedtimes were extremely demanding, to say the least...and when he started getting eczema and asthma attacks - at 4 months old, mind you (!), it broke my heart to see him. All of 2003 we suffered silently, becoming sleep-deprived and more and more at a loss. But our joy and love of Esran never seemed to abate. Everyone around us had a lot to say, more often that not negative - and my confidence in being good enough to bring my son up diminished with each opinion.
Then, after a particularly disastrous holiday - awful is being mild - we had to sit up with him all night and he was in a hospital every two days - nightmarish is really the word I believe - the worst was that you could not do anything about it all - just stand and watch as he was administered drugs and oxygen, hoping nothing really bad will happen to him - but knowing how awful it all felt. Being an asthma patient myself I felt doubly bad - that I knew what my dearest one was going through, but that I had indirectly given him this weakness through my genes...
In 2004 the situation was well out of control - Sippe and I had not slept for as long as we could remember. Esran reacted very badly to most solids and had to be given Ventolin regularly in the hospital. His screams when the mask was placed on him still give me nightmares ...well almost gone since I practise Chi ;-). But after harrowing months, the doctor decided to put him on Prednisol, a strong drug - which, ironically, would stunt his growth, and interfere in his normal eating and sleeping patterns!!!!!!! These drugs are supposed to help - but Esran would get worse - his asthma would lessen, but he would run wildly across the rooms and not eat or sleep at all - and get another asthma attack.
That year, for my husband's birthday I gave him Sifu's book on Shaolin Kung Fu- picked on feeling from Amazon(!). Sippe never really reads much else than texts on Yoga and Indian Philosophy, but his avid love of Kung Fu led me to give him this book, and after finishing the book in record time he asked me the question I had never heard ever from him - are there other books available from this Master? I ordered all the available ones from Amazon, and Sippe read them all - a real record!!!
A few months after he told me that he was going to email the Master from 'those books'. He was amazed at the prompt and loving reply he received from Sifu - that we should bring Esran to him as soon as possible. Sippe trusted this totally and was planning to even go to Malaysia, but my son's health began to deteriorate even more. After emailing Sifu once more, Sifu graciously asked us to visit him anywhere, even in Europe where he would be travelling. After many long waits with a dreadfully sick child at Schiphol airport to go to Barcelona - we finally managed to get a ticket to Helsinki, Sifu Markus Kahila was very very kind to let us bring Esran to see Sifu.
The flight up was a nightmare, Esran cried and cried...finally, we were at the venue, and just as we arrived, I saw Sifu got out of a car, in a lovely, calm, airy courtyard before the centre where he was giving the Finnish courses - and instantly I was reassured, and felt great waves of affection and blessing flow over me. amazing, really! Sifu was wonderfully kind - he came at once to our room, and warned me not to be scared by his actions. He began to swing Esran around, and soon we had to open the windows, and Sifu told us that there may be some unrest in my son that night. Dear Sifu Kahila helped us by giving us a room in the neighbourhood of other participants who would not mind Esran's screams and sleeplessness.
It was actually the worst night. The next three days we stayed near Sifu and he helped Esran heal. We also saw the students attending the course bloom with each day. Sifu said that Esran had very good energy and that is was good that Sippe would do the Intensive Course in Sabah, so then he could keep up with his son!
On the way home Esran not only slept in the car, but it was the calmest flight we had ever made with him.
Sippe attended the Intensive Chi Kung Course in July in Sabah that year, learnt how to help our son. After a few months (July-December) my son improved dramatically - Sifu had asked us to stop the medication, with trepidation I did so - Sippe was totally confident. I love his conviction, it gives me so much!
On the 3rd of October I had our second child, a lovely baby girl, very much a Chi baby - she slept like an angel, fed well, and was the soul of discretion;-). Although I could not practise as I was pregnant, Sifu's suggested gentle visualisation exercise helped so much that the delivery was easy and smooth.
The 17th of January 2005, the consulting paediatrician at the Children's Hospital could not believe her ears when she listened with her stethoscope to Esran's lungs - 'he's completely clear' she said, amazed - and that too in the most critical time of the year - winter!!! The Doctor made a note in Esran's dossier that it was thanks to Sifu's Chi Kung, so that other parents could avail of the information for their children should they be in the same state.
Much has happened since, but that's another story as it is said....my son is living proof of Sifu's Effectivity to heal with Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung. And every day I read my son a bedtime story and see him fast asleep at 8 pm, and still snoring at 6 am in the morning, I send my prayers of gratitude - this was the boy who was completely awake every two hours each night...
Thank you Sifu, really. It's amazing, but true.
My daughter has no asthma or eczema. Thanks to the blessings and guidance of Sifu she is strong and healthy!
If I go on more it will become an epic...which it promises to be, but let's keep part two for another time...
