Great Balls of Fire

The traditional Maori performance art of poi, now popular with flame on beaches and at festivals throughout the world, is taking off as a form of exercise in Hollywood with classes available at two collectives in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Times recommends a number of activities as alternatives to jogging. “If trapeze is too tame — and frankly, with what we’ve had to put up with in this economy, it might be — then you might want to spin balls of fire around your head. Or large, flaming sticks,” the Times’ Guide suggests. Flow Temple and Fire Groove — can get you started in poi, a traditional New Zealand art form that encompasses … well, spinning balls around your head. These two balls — tethered to ropes or chains — can be made of everything from crumpled tissue (practice poi) to UV-sensitive materials (glow poi) to fuel-dipped wicks (fire poi).”


Tags: exercise  Los Angeles Times  Poi  

Aves Appreciation Rubs off on Sydney Writer

Aves Appreciation Rubs off on Sydney Writer

It seems like “every single” New Zealander has some kind of “bird madness”, and Sydney writer Rebecca Shaw has now determined that she too is “infected”, “and loving it”. Shaw reports…