![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Why learn poi?
Apr. 21st, 2011 11:41 amPoi = ball on string. Also known as Whirling Balls of Fiery Doom. Also known as My Other Dance Hobby. It's a lot of fun, has resulted in some interesting bruises, and is one of the better ways to spend a Sunday afternoon. It means extra trips into Madison, but I think it's worth it. But why?
Sarcastic answer: Because I need more hobbies. There are enough things that I like to do and *want* to do that there's no reason I should be bored any time in the next 72 years.
Honest answer #1: It's something that I thought I could be good at. I was a band geek throughout school. During marching band, I was on flagline/color guard. I did this for 7 or 8 years and loved it. Because of this experience, I understand the physics of something rotating around me. Poi are different due to the flexible chain instead of solid stick, but the basic principles are the same.
Honest answer #1.5: I have no fear of getting hurt. Again, thanks to years of flagline, I accept the fact that I'm going to hit myself with whatever is spinning. As long as there's no blood, no bones sticking through the skin, and I'm conscious, I'm not really hurt and the pain will go away. This will be different with fire poi, obviously, but for now the tennis balls aren't terrifying.
Honest answer #2: My wrists are in desperate need of help. I've been doing tech support for 5.5 years and used a computer many hours a day even before that. I have wrist-thumb braces to keep me from hurting myself further at work, but I need to build muscle and flexibility in the correct places. Poi makes my wrists and forearms stronger in useful ways and seems to be helping.
Honest answer #3: DUDE! SPINNING FIRE! I mean, really, this one sort of speaks for itself.
Honest answer #4: I really like the instructor. She's organized, logical, and really good at teaching. She has a deep understanding and respect for what fire can do, but doesn't fear it. She's seen people do stupid things and get really badly burned, so she's big on teaching appropriate safety. She's also adorable and has a daughter a couple months younger than Emi.
Sarcastic answer: Because I need more hobbies. There are enough things that I like to do and *want* to do that there's no reason I should be bored any time in the next 72 years.
Honest answer #1: It's something that I thought I could be good at. I was a band geek throughout school. During marching band, I was on flagline/color guard. I did this for 7 or 8 years and loved it. Because of this experience, I understand the physics of something rotating around me. Poi are different due to the flexible chain instead of solid stick, but the basic principles are the same.
Honest answer #1.5: I have no fear of getting hurt. Again, thanks to years of flagline, I accept the fact that I'm going to hit myself with whatever is spinning. As long as there's no blood, no bones sticking through the skin, and I'm conscious, I'm not really hurt and the pain will go away. This will be different with fire poi, obviously, but for now the tennis balls aren't terrifying.
Honest answer #2: My wrists are in desperate need of help. I've been doing tech support for 5.5 years and used a computer many hours a day even before that. I have wrist-thumb braces to keep me from hurting myself further at work, but I need to build muscle and flexibility in the correct places. Poi makes my wrists and forearms stronger in useful ways and seems to be helping.
Honest answer #3: DUDE! SPINNING FIRE! I mean, really, this one sort of speaks for itself.
Honest answer #4: I really like the instructor. She's organized, logical, and really good at teaching. She has a deep understanding and respect for what fire can do, but doesn't fear it. She's seen people do stupid things and get really badly burned, so she's big on teaching appropriate safety. She's also adorable and has a daughter a couple months younger than Emi.
