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 has transformed my life, in a very good way. Poi forces you to learn spatial awareness, awareness of the world around you. You learn timing, ambidexterity, focus, gain flexibility, react faster, and can begin to multitask your motions. In my opinion, it bonds your mind with your body, while simultaneously making both better.
Feeling the poi create its path as a new extension of your body, it opens up your mind to be more aware. More aware of your own body and the muscles needed to complete a move. Also more aware of my immediate surroundings. I had found a way to escape this confusing world and enter one that made complete sense to me. I felt in control, and this feeling gave me confidence. As a shy kid, I couldn't speak in public or give a speech, but put some poi in my hands and my fears dissipated.
I will be 67 in two months and have always been interested in Tai Chi, yoga, and meditation. Unlike tai chi, poi offers resistance to flow moves by the weight of the poi. Now my bursitis in one shoulder is gone. My muscle memory, peripheral vision, coordination, physical exercise, stamina, and some chest and arm muscles have increased.
With all my formal training and education in neuroscience and the mental health field, what has interestingly become one of the most powerful tools in my toolbox for personal healing and transformation is something I would have never expected – the Flow Arts, specifically the art and practice of dancing with poi, the hoop, and with fire, dancing being the key word.
Poi has the magical power of helping you to synchronize both sides of the body, the two hemispheres, alining inside and outside, up and down. It's a very powerful instrument to teach you about life, and has shown me that it is not a static thing but a continued process of synchronization and duality. While I was pregnant my belly wanted to dance all kind of rhythms, moving and shaking. I felt that poi gave me this power with an excellent exercise that I recommend 100% to practice on this special period of a woman’s life.
My first time spinning fire happens on the shore of the Mississippi river, the moon was full and reflecting off the still waters, I'll never forget those few minutes. The flames casting shadows against the flood walls amaze me, the sound becomes the greatest song I've ever heard, and for the first time I fall into a place of peace. The world fades away and I'm left playing with the elements.