Joan attending a recent Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung course in Malaysia conducted by Shaolin Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit (3rd & 4th from left, front row).  Wei Foong (Sifu's wonderful daughter) 1st from right and Chun Nga (Sifu's eldest and wonderfully kind son) 2nd row 1st from left.  5th from left from row is Sifu Robin Gamble, a Wahnam Tai Chi Chuan instructor in the UK.         Shaolin Wahnam Ireland was founded in Ireland by Joan Browne from County Kerry in honour of having overcome a serious longstanding back and neck problem using Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung. This art was taught to her by renowned Shaolin Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit of Malaysia of whom Joan says ‘ I owe this great Grandmaster my life, I will be forever grateful for his generosity, knowledge and kindness. My back problem had come to the stage where doctors had advised me to live with the pain as best I could, using painkillers, home traction, physiotherapy  and osteopathy. I had become very depressed and despairing. Being accepted on Sifu’s course in Malaysia was a Godsend and I feel very blessed.’   Her vision is: ·         To ensure that the genuine Shaolin Arts are passed down concisely to the next generations. ·         To help people overcome chronic illness and to help people realise that Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung is a complete art and healing system in itself. ·         To teach people how to live a more rewarding and happy life. ·         To share the Genuine Shaolin Arts with deserving students. ·         To help increase vitality and mental focus for each individual. ·         To increase happiness and peace within each individual. ·         To enable people develop personally and spiritually using the Shaolin arts of Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung, Wahnam Tai Chi Chuan ,Shaolin Kungfu and Zen meditation. ·         By practicing Shaolin Kungfu and Wahnam Tai Chi Chuan that not only will the individual develop combat efficiency, but also compassion and Spiritual cultivation. ·         To build a unique center in Ireland, where only the genuine Shaolin arts are taught to enable people become well holistically and to honour all of the past Shaolin Masters.   These benefits are only possible by practicing a very high level art, which Joan has very blessed to have found by being accepted as a disciple of Shaolin Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit who teaches through Heart to Heart transmission. Shaolin Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit of Malaysia  is fourth generation successor directly descended from the Shaolin temple in China.  Reading one of his many well written and easy to understand books, Chi Kung for Health and Vitality was a life changing experience for Joan.   She says, that one of the reasons for travelling 14,000 miles to Malaysia ('Would you travel 14,000 miles to overcome chronic back pain? )  in great distress and pain was the fact that Grandmaster Wong stressed in the book that 'health and happiness are our birthright'. Why then are so many people not sitting up and taking notice, most people are ill, either physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.....take a good look around you.....how many people do you know are holistically well. Very few I bet! Most people 'put up' with daily pain, stress and sadness as part of their lot and have long forgotten what it is to feel really happy, carefree, uplifted and pain free. It is taken for granted that each year the dreaded flu will visit, despite many taking vaccinations to stave it off, few people use natural preventative measures that actually do work. After Joan's visit to Malaysia and eight months of daily enjoyable practice, she found that what Grandmaster Wong stressed in the book to be absolutely true. She even noticed that  while in Malaysia that Sifu was a living example of what he preached, he exuded health, vitality, happiness and a joy that is hard to find anywhere else.   Having overcome her own constant crippling pain, flus, colds and despair she wished to share this great secretive and ancient art with others. In 2001, Grandmaster Wong accepted her as his disciple and has since given her his authorisation to teach Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung. This is a huge honour for any disciple, but for Joan coming from such a small rural area it is an exceptionally privilaged position. She now teaches full time - privately and with groups. She is the only authorised teacher in Ireland and also organises Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit's courses here in Ireland as well as having taught  Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung in London and Manchester. Joan was a former Psychiatric nurse, working in acute and geriatric psychiatry. She was sister- in- charge of a 34 bedded Alzheimer's unit in London for some time until she returned to her beloved Kerry. She has a certificate in Youth leadership and is also authorised to teach Louise Hay's philosoply on healing. She now teaches Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung around Ireland and also in London. Contact Sifu Joan on wahnam@eircom.net if you wish to enjoy your birthright of good health, happines and to Smile from the Heart