Poi is a form of dance, where balls on the ends of ropes are swung through rhythmical patterns. It is rooted in the History of the Maori people of Aotearoa (aka New Zealand). It began as a physical exercise, used by the women to develop grace and flexibility, and by the men to develop strength and coordination. Today it is mostly practiced by the women, who combine the poi movements with songs and physical actions in traditional performances such as the Kapa Haka (watch video)....

There is much debate about the dates and circumstances of the arrival of the Maori people on the island they call Aotearoa (aka New Zealand). Legend says the Maori arrived from the mythical homeland of Hawaiiki, and was discovered by the mythical figure Toi. Many scholars believe that the Maori began to show up from the eastern Pacific about 1,000 years ago, give or take several hundred years...

All petroleum fuels are toxic to plant and animal life. This includes Kerosene, lamp oil, naphtha, Coleman Camp Fuel, etc. If it's flammable enough to be worth dipping your wicks into, it's toxic. One tablespoon of fuel can contaminate a small frog pond! Here are some tips for minimizing fuel spillage:

1) Use a large, sturdy dipping can, such as a restaurant sized coffee can. Always put the lid back on when you're finished dipping. For convenience, use the can as a carrying case for your poi. Don't use small, unsteady containers, such as plastic bottles with the tops cut off. They will eventually get knocked over. It's also a good idea to buy a large, sturdy bin for transporting and storing fuel and tools.

2) Place the dipping can on a pan or tarp (not shown: we knew we'd forgotten something).

The story of Playpoi begins with the adventures of wayward visionary Nick Woolsey, who was introduced  to dance, theatre, and martial arts at an early age. His experience with these arts helped him through some difficult times, and he became interested in the relationship between personal growth and body arts. He sought out teachers whenever his life of traveling allowed, believing that the right practice could be a vehicle for delving into the mysteries of energy and consciousness.

Have you ever wanted to improve your coordination, balance, and over-all physical ability? If you have, poi might be just the tool for you. Essentially, poi are weights on the ends of strings or chains. By attaching one to each hand

( First published in Momentum Magazine, Summer 2001)

Eight years ago, I was called to explore physical movement. It could have been the Bruce Lee movies, or the stories about Shaolin Temple monks, or the Buddhist books about peaceful warriors, or maybe it was intuition...

We think fire spinning is a beautiful art, but we want to be clear: this is a poi site, not a fire spinning site. It's like juggling. You can juggle fire, yes. It can be a great performance, yes. But it's not the only reason people juggle...