Poi is a gentle, rhythmic movement practice proven to support emotional wellbeing. As an extension of your body, poi doesn’t doesn’t push, force, or demand. Instead, it invites you to tune in. As a movement based mental health tool, poi fosters regulation, body awareness, and a felt sense of safety through gentle, predictable motion.
Try our short grounding routine for stress relief to experience the calming effects of poi.
Shortly after I started spinning I began to notice changes in my mood. I would find myself feeling positive about life. I no longer suffer from depression and my anxiety problems have greatly improved.
– Bryan Kroh
Poi has always been something I can lose myself in, and find myself in. It’s one of the most valuable tools I have to ground my emotions, distract from anxiety, and refocus myself – it’s a mental sanctuary.
– Neebha Budhoo
When I started spinning poi I noticed my thinking change to a more positive tone, and I felt my depression, stress and anxiety disappear. Poi helped build self confidence, not to mention all the exercise I’m getting on a regular basis.
– Erika Anderson
Bottom-Up Approach
Poi helps support emotional regulation through a “bottom-up” approach: first understanding and recognizing physical sensations through the poi movement patterns, then utilizing that understanding to integrate and regulate emotions. This approach is particularly helpful when you’re in a highly anxious or dysregulated state, as your pre-frontal cortex (which plays a crucial role in regulating emotions) often goes offline. By tapping into what you feel in your body through poi movement, you can begin to calm your nervous system and reassure your body that it’s safe, thus creating space for your prefrontal cortex to come back into action.
Orbital Flow
Poi follows natural, circular patterns that encourage flow state—a deep focus that enhances creativity, happiness, and resilience. Entering flow helps protect against burnout, depression, and emotional fatigue.
Rhythmic
Poi’s is intrinsically rhythmic, and we know that rhythmic, repetitive movement can soothe the nervous system, support emotional regulation, and create a sense of calm.
Meditative
Poi acts as meditation in motion and is ideal for those who struggle with sitting still. Research shows meditative movement can lower anxiety, stress, and blood pressure, while improving mood and alleviating depression.
Sensory Integration
Poi naturally engages tactile, visual, auditory, and vestibular input. Being able to interpret and respond to sensory information is crucial for emotional regulation and understanding and interacting with the world around us.
Interoception
Interoception is the skill of sensing and interacting with signals from your body, and is often compromised in trauma survivors. Poi can strengthen this connection by rebuilding the understanding and recognition of physical sensations and body awareness.
Connection
Whether you’re spinning with a group, a friend, or joining the SpinPoi community online, poi supports social connection, shared joy, and a sense of belonging. These are protective factors against isolation, loneliness, and poor mental health.
Ready to start your poi journey?
Our Beginner Pack is the perfect place to start your personal poi practice. Feeling inspired to share the benefits of poi with others? Our Certified Instructor Training empowers you to support mental health and well-being in your community.