Poi for Beginners: Which Poi to Buy and What to Learn First
Poi spinning is a flow art from Māori tradition that has spread to festivals and parks around the world. It is meditative, good exercise, and you can practise almost anywhere.
Which poi to start with
- Sock poi: soft, cheap and packable. They forgive hits to the head and are perfect for the first weeks.
- Practice ball poi: a weighted head on a cord with finger loops. More control and a better feel for timing.
- LED poi: for night spinning once your basics are solid. Same moves, much more visual impact.
- Fire poi: only after months of practice, with a trained safety spotter.
Cord length
When you hold the handle at shoulder height with your arm by your side, the head should hang about at your fingertips. Adjustable cords let you tune this.
The first five moves
- Forward and backward wall-plane circles
- Same-time and split-time
- Same-direction and opposite-direction
- Weave (the three-beat weave first)
- Butterfly
Practise in front of a mirror or wall to keep your poi in a flat plane.
