Poi Swinging

Attach a small weight to the end of a piece of string. Hold the non-weighted end in your hand, and begin swinging the weight around. Soon you will be dancing.

Try it with both hands. The variations are limitless, and mesmerizing.

About six or seven years ago a juggling prop manufacturer asked me to write an instruction book for poi swinging. Apparently, the art form was becoming more popular. The outline of various poi swinging moves you see on this page (below) was a draft of what the book would cover.

The prop manufacturer decided not to get into the book publishing business, so I never finished the project. Recently I decided to pick up poi swinging again, and am motivated to make this section of the web site more complete. Not sure yet if I will get around to actually publishing a poi swinging book, or not.

If you have any patterns you would like to share, or see covered here, please let me know.

thanks, Todd

Zuni Poi

Back when I started working on the book I began trying out various styles of poi. The folks at Mystik Toyz made a nice set for beginners, Zuni Poi. My only concern was that the tails were permanently attached. I found that while the tails sounded great and added a nice, visual element to poi swinging, they were a distraction for people trying to learn new patterns.

I mentioned that if they ever made a similar poi swinging set with detachable tails, I would be happy to share the sets with others. I will not fool myself into thinking my lone bit of feedback was enough to convince Mystik Toyz; I am sure other people gave them the same feedback.

The Zuni Poi ( featured below) all have detachable tails. You can easily remove the tails when learning new patterns, and re-attach them to add that visual element and fantastic, fluttering sound. Patience has its rewards.

Set of green Zuni Poi with blue detachable tails, $21.95.

You can also see the cover of the instruction booklet that comes with each set.

Set of orange Zuni Poi with yellow detachable tails, $21.95.

Even though no instruction book is in this photo, the orange and yellow Zuni Poi sets also include an instruction booklet.

Zuni Poi are made of ripstop nylon, in vibrant, fluourescent colors. They are excellent for swinging under a blacklight. Each set comes with two poi, a carrying bag, and an instruction book to get you started. (I hope you also come back to this web site to learn new patterns.)

Close-up image of detachable, Velcro tail.

Currently in stock: yellow with orange tail)

Ship to:		Shipping charge
U.S.A.	Color Yellow with orange tail Total: $24.45	Airmail two to three business days $2.50
Canada	Color Yellow with orange tail Total: $25.71	Airmail four to seven business days $3.76
Europe	Color Yellow with orange tail Total: $30.75	Airmail four to seven business days $8.80
The Rest of the World Oceania, Asia, Africa, South America	Color Yellow with orange tail Total: $30.60	Airmail six to ten business days $8.65

Royal Poi

The weighted ends of the Royal Poi are slightly heavier than the Zuni Poi. Sets of Royal Poi also have detachable tails. The carrying bag that comes with each set is white cotton. An instruction booklet also comes with every set.

Set of Royal Poi with blue detachable tails, $39.95.

Set of Royal Poi with red detachable tails, $39.95.

Please specify color. (blue or red)

Ship to:		Shipping charge
U.S.A.	Color RedBlue Total: $42.45	Airmail two to three business days $2.50
Canada	Color RedBlue Total: $43.71	Airmail four to seven business days $3.76
Europe	Color RedBlue Total: $48.75	Airmail four to seven business days $8.80
The Rest of the World Oceania, Asia, Africa, South America	Color RedBlue Total: $48.60	Airmail six to ten business days $8.65

Butterflies

Windmills

Reels

Cross-Follow

Fountains

Wrist Circles

Forward Circles

Synchronous

Asynchronous

Reverse Circles

Synchronous

Asynchronous

Elbow Circles

Forward Circles

Synchronous

Asynchronous

Reverse Circles

Synchronous

Asynchronous

Shoulder Circles

 

Front Circles

Wrist Circles

 

Lower Wrist Clockwise Synchronous Circles

Lower Wrist Counter-Clockwise Synchronous Circles

Inside

Synch

Asynch

Outside

Synch

Asynch

Upper

Inside

Synch

Asynch

Outside

Synch

Asynch

Elbow Circles

Inside

Synch

Asynch

Outside

Synch

Asynch

Shoulder Circles

Inside

Synch

Asynch

Outside

Synch

Asynch

Butterflies

Inside

One-handed

Left hand alternates behind head

Both hands carry poi behind head

Outside

Synchronous

Asynchronous

Between the Arms

Forward

Inside Wrist Circles

Left side, ride side together

Inside, outside together

Reverse

Inside, outside together

 

Circling in Opposite Directions

Side Circles

• Left forward, right reverse, synchronous, wrist
• Right Forward, left reverse, asynchrounous, wrist
• Left Forward, right reverse synchronous, elbow
• Right forward, left reverse synchronous, shoulder

Front Circles

• Clockwise, synchronous, wrist
• Counterclockwise, asynchronous, wrist
• Counterclockwise, synchronous, elbow
• Clockwise, synchronous, shoulder

Windmills

• Lower, clockwise, asynchronous
• Lower, counterclockwise, asynchronous
• Lower and Upper, clockwise, asynchronous

Reels

• Inside Reels
  • Reel
  • Long (or Double) Reel
  • Short (or Low) Reel
  • Upper Reel
• Outside Reels
  • Reel
  • Long (or Double) Reel
  • Short (or Low) Reel
  • Upper Reel
• Parallel Right Reels
  • Reel
  • Long (or Double) Reel
  • Short (or Low) Reel
  • Upper Reel
• Parallel Left Reels
  • Reel
  • Long (or Double) Reel
  • Short (or Low) Reel
  • Upper Reel
  •  
•  

Cross-Follow

Fountain

• Lower Fountain
• Upper Fountain
• Full Fountain
• Full Fountain (close-up of hands)