People all over the world are experiencing the power of poi, from physical to mental to emotional benefits and everything in between! Check out the amazing stories below for some intimate truths about the positive influence of poi, or click the button to share your own story.
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Poi helped me a lot with social anxiety. It helped me to feel more comfortable in my skin while people are looking at me, mainly because of practicing poi in public places and showing off my poi skills to friends. Now I don't get as clumsy as I used to when I feel I'm being watched. It also helped me gain confidence in speaking and explaining things, as people ask me to teach them some poi tricks.
Poi is definitely helping me with my Multiple Sclerosis, as it keep my brain and body active. I have muscle weakness in both arms so a daily poi workout is helping loads. I also use it as a form of pain management as I know I can feel pain, but it becomes less of a priority when you're focusing on executing a certain poi move.
A few years ago, in my early 50's, I had a horrid case of pneumonia that lasted for months; I'd also injured my knee, which took weeks to heal. I was getting very depressed. I believe that poi was an important healing force for me. It wasn't too physically demanding, yet it let me get range of motion and coordination at my own pace. It was always exciting to master a new weave. It got me off the couch without hurting me, it cheered me up, it gave me a chance to laugh at myself a lot, and it was great for my confidence and mood. And SO fun.
Poi is my life companion for over 15 years now and it still brings me joy every day. I believe it is a unique form of meditation, a challenge for the brain, a dance partner for the body and a magic tool for group work - all in one! It also gives me total freedom in combining different art forms including visual arts and dance. Another very important reason is that it makes me feel good and relaxed.
About 5 years ago I got in a 70mph rollover accident. The roads were slick and I was late to work. Amazingly I walked away with a broken fingernail and a lesson learned. However about a month later, I realized that the mobility in my left shoulder (where the seatbelt held me down) was severely hindered. Luckily for me though, I had picked up poi the year before and knew the yoga / Tai Chi like motions could only help aid in the healing process.
When I started to play poi, it created a new space within mommy space that I could claim while still having mainly my attention for the kids. But this space with poi gave me joy and enabled me to reconnect to myself and my body in a way that was not restricted by time nor space. And in the practise of poi I learned about my sensuality, about learning to learn, attachments, limitations of the mind and the list can go on. I strongly feel that learning the skill of poi flow changes people and therefor has a power to change the world.