Playing with Poi is more than just a beautiful art. When I first started I didn't realize there were so many benefits to Poi.

With time as I got more advanced and my training routine became more intense, I noticed it worked my body more and more. Before I knew it my muscles were toned and I was feeling healthier. It was round about this time I decided to look into the benefits.

I found that Poi was used, many years ago, by the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand to increase their flexibility and strength in their hands and arms as well as improving coordination. Well it turns out there were many more advantages that modern science revealed and we are still discovering more!

Physical Benefits

• Stretching, Joint Flexibility & Muscle Toning,
• Full aerobic upper-body/full-body workout.
• Playing poi strengthens your arms, wrists and fingers.
• Poi will balance your left and right sides of your body by developing the weaker side and stronger side equally..
• Develops a sense of rhythm and timing.
• Strengthens cardio vascular health, therefore Decreasing the risk of heart disease.
• Improves Body Posture.

Mental Benefits

• Improve your fine and gross motor co-ordination.
• It improves your hand eye co-ordination.
• Speeds up reflexes and improves reaction time.
• Playing poi heightens one's awareness of immediate surroundings.
• Develops concentration and focus.
• Cultivates patience and persistence
• Teaches you the importance of precision and accuracy.
• Develops self confidence & self esteem.
• Relieves stress & fosters inner peace 

Documented Case - The Benefits of Poi

Playing poi every day helped a child suffering with genetic childhood arthritis in her spine and joints. Within a period of 6 months she is almost medication free and is an active member of the poi and fire performance and exhibition team.

As you can see Poi is more than just fun and it has major health benefits. So if you needed a reason to spin daily, you now have a great reason. Your personal well being!\
 

Children and Poi

"It is not the age but the mental abilities of the child that matters"
- from "The Rhythm and Life of Poi" by Ngamoni Haut

There are those `born with poi in their hands` and there are others who need work at it. Children should be nurtured and encouraged to expand their knowledge because they will be the future creators of compositions.

Poi dance is traditionally an art of survival. It is also a clear presentation of unconditional behaviors in the present level of a child's development. Poi spinning can help any child with learning difficulties such as dyslexia, as it feeds back to the child their own experiential understanding of their difficulties - increasing confidence as their abilities rapidly grow in an entertaining, non-competitive manner while exercising them holistically both mentally (left/right brain) and physically.

For a child, poi spinning becomes an adventure of broad dimensions. He or she will think of 101 things they can do with the poi balls and their own senses will dictate their movements and motives.