What is Poi?
Poi is a movement practice that involves spinning a soft weight on a cord in rhythmic, circular patterns. It’s clinically proven to improve physical and mental health for older adults. In addition, poi gives every movement an external guide you can see and feel, which may be particularly beneficial for those with Parkinson’s. Check out the video below to see poi and Parkinson’s in action, or scroll down to hear directly from our practitioners, learn about our early research results, and discover resources to implement poi with your Parkinson’s clients.
From our Poi and Parkinson’s Practitioners
“Especially in Parkinson’s clients, it is sometimes unbelievable to observe how their stiffness dissolves during poi play, how their focus is directed towards the poi and how accompanying symptoms – such as trembling in the hands or restlessness in the legs – steadily decrease or simply fade away. I’ve also noticed how the mood of the clients improves through the movement to the music, which in turn leads to the stabilization of the general condition. From simple swinging to practicing some basic poi movements standing to dancing together, the clients enjoyed the lessons and are very happy to have a new hobby they can practice at home with their family.”
Anja Lohoff, Certified SpinPoi Instructor and Geriatric Carer at Inn Klinikum Altötting und Mühldorf
“The uniqueness of poi was the biggest reason my clients enjoyed it, as it’s so different to other activities we do in class (boxing and dance based). There was lots of laughing. I noticed while doing a relatively easy poi move and then adding a step or balance task, both tasks became easier. I also noticed a minor increase in concentration exhaustion after poi. In addition, anyone not familiar with poi will find it tricky, and for this reason it’s leveling for Parkinson’s folk. My volunteers, non-Parkinson’s participants, and kids all found it an equal challenge. The feeling that we were ‘all in it together’ was nice. I felt a couple of chaps were getting frustrated with the poi, so I stopped it for a week, and IT WAS THEM who were asking ‘Where are the pom poms!?’ and clearly were missing the challenge.”
Hilary Williams, Certified SpinPoi Instructor and Founder of Move Good Now
“My clients found poi sessions to be mentally and physically taxing. Some noted the feeling of a heavy thick brain fog. After resting, clients reported an unusual heightened awareness of their movement, including reciprocal arm movement through the gait pattern, heel to toe strike, and step width. This phenomenon lasted for up to 2 days post session. After several poi sessions clients were able to quickly move into doing more complex poi movements – plasticity changes were evident. Poi has layers upon layers of skill to learn and master. We have barely scraped the surface at our Center and have been amazed at the outcomes. I am very excited to see what further research will show for the Parkinson’s community.”
Sarrisa Curry, Certified SpinPoi Instructor and Founder of The Parkinson’s Exercise & Wellness Center
What the Early Research Shows
An exploratory study on poi and Parkinsons was carried out across three facilities: The Parkinson’s Exercise & Wellness Center (USA), Inn Klinikum Altötting und Mühldorf (Germany), and Move Good Now (New Zealand). Participants completed a self-reported questionnaire immediately after each poi session. In total, 39 people took part, and 10 of them joined more than one session. The results from the questionairre are below.
Do you think poi could be helpful for improving your quality of life?
How easy or hard did you find playing poi?
Would you like to do poi again?
Did any of these things limit you from taking part?
Five patients at Inn Klinikum Altötting und Mühldorf took part in three poi sessions during their stay. After each session, they rated whether each symptom got worse, stayed the same or got better while practicing poi. Their responses showed an upward trend for mood, vision, fatigue, stiffness, on/off fluctuations and shaking or trembling.
Symptoms ratings during poi, across three sessions
1 = much worse, 3 = about the same (dashed line), 5 = much better. Pale lines show the other 5 symptoms.
Why Poi and Parkinson’s Works
✔︎ It gives constant feedback from an external object. Self-initiated movement relies on basal ganglia circuits, which Parkinson’s disrupts. External cues may help by using other pathways that remain intact, including circuits through the cerebellum. When you spin poi you can see and feel where the weight is, so each movement has an external guide.
✔︎ It can support mood. As a form of both play and exercise, poi has a double whammy of mood boosters that may help those with Parkinson’s regulate their emotions and continue living their best life. Improvement in mood is particularly important for those with PD, as depression and anxiety have a larger negative impact on quality of life than movement symptoms.
✔︎ It works the body and brain together. Emerging research suggests exercise that combines physical and cognitive challenge may benefit both motor and non-motor symptoms.
✔︎ It’s adaptable and affordable. Poi can be heavy or light, done sitting or standing, and kept simple or made more complex. It also doesn’t require complex equipment or technology, and it fits easily into existing exercise and wellbeing programs.
✔︎ It is enjoyable. If something is fun, people want to keep doing it, which is very important when it comes to therapeutic interventions.
Let’s Collaborate!
We are actively looking to collaborate with individuals and organizations in the Parkinson’s community. Please send an email to [email protected] and tell us about your current practice and how you’re hoping to bring poi in, and we’ll get back to you within 48-hours.
Get Started with Poi for your Parkinson’s Clients
Make your poi
Check out this video on easy ways to make poi from things around the house, or contact [email protected] to enquire about ordering clinical grade poi for yourself or your clients.
Try your first poi moves
Try these 25 beginner poi moves, or use them as inspiration to create your own! Dive deeper into your poi practice with our full Beginners Series.
Become an instructor
Join our team of Certified SpinPoi Instructors improving wellbeing across the globe. No previous experience with poi is needed.
Meet Dr. Kate Riegle van West
SpinPoi was founded by Dr. Kate Riegle van West, who has spent two decades exploring the therapeutic potential of poi. Her PhD at the University of Auckland included the first clinical trial on poi and health, and she has since conducted further research across Parkinson’s, senior care, and mental health.
Her work has earned the Royal Society of New Zealand Future Leader Award, the Best Doctoral Thesis Award. Today, and has been featured across national media including BBC World News, ABC News, TVNZ 1 News, and Maori Television.
If you’d like to work with Dr. Kate you can get in touch directly at [email protected]. She would be happy to hear from you.