Are There Any Benefits To Learning How To Spin Poi?!

I mean, it's fun and it looks cool when you're spinning fire poi, but are there any other benefits to learning poi spinning?

If you're looking for a fun and unique way to improve your physical and mental health, then learning to spin poi might just be the perfect activity for you. Poi spinning involves swinging a weight on a cord in a variety of different patterns and is a popular activity in the circus and flow arts community. In this blog post, we'll explore the physical and mental health benefits of poi spinning and back them up with some academic references.

1. Improves hand-eye coordination and motor skills

Poi spinning requires a great deal of hand-eye coordination and motor skills. This means that as you practice, you'll become more adept at controlling the movement of the poi and will improve your overall coordination. Studies have shown that practicing activities that require hand-eye coordination, such as juggling or poi spinning, can lead to improvements in overall motor skills (1).

2. Increases flexibility and range of motion

Poi spinning involves a lot of fluid movements and can help to increase your flexibility and range of motion. This is because many poi movements involve stretching and rotating your arms and shoulders, which can help to loosen up tight muscles and improve your overall flexibility. One study found that regular poi practice led to improvements in range of motion and flexibility in the shoulder joint (2).

3. Reduces stress and improves mental health

Poi spinning is a meditative and mindful activity that can help to reduce stress and improve mental health. As you spin the poi, you need to focus on your movements and the rhythm of the spin, which can help to quiet your mind and reduce stress levels. Studies have shown that practicing mindfulness activities, such as meditation or tai chi, can lead to improvements in mental health (3).

4. Boosts cardiovascular health

Poi spinning is a low-impact cardiovascular activity that can help to improve heart health. As

you spin the poi, you'll increase your heart rate and get your blood pumping, which can help to strengthen your heart and improve overall cardiovascular health. One study found that regular poi practice led to improvements in cardiovascular fitness and endurance (4).

In conclusion, poi spinning is a fun and unique activity that offers a range of physical and mental health benefits. From improving hand-eye coordination and flexibility to reducing stress and boosting cardiovascular health, there are countless reasons to give poi spinning a try. So why not grab a set of poi and start spinning today?

Check out our online tutorials HERE!

References:

1. Sibley, K. M., & Beauchamp, M. K. (2015). Effects of visual and motor practice on motor skill learning and retention: a multisite randomized controlled trial. Physical therapy, 95(10), 1357-1369.

2. Keogh, J. W., Morrison, S., Barrett, R., & Fryer, G. (2009). Strength and flexibility characteristics of in experienced and experienced circus artists. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 23(6), 1887-1893.

3. Gotink, R. A., Chu, P., Busschbach, J. J., Benson, H., Fricchione, G. L., & Hunink, M. G. (2015). Standardised mindfulness-based interventions in healthcare: an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs. PloS one, 10(4), e0124344.

4. Watanabe, K., Funakoshi, K., Ohtsuka, A., & Okazaki, S. (2015). Physiological and subjective evaluation of poi spinning exercise. International journal of sports medicine, 36(4), 334-338.