Flowarts Teacher
Nick Woolsey
51
Lessons
5
Free Lessons
4
hours
Week / Phase 9
Lesson • Poi • Spinning
More left-right goodness: One poi spinning, the other poi extenduluming
Poi left-right coordination drill combining one hand spinning while the other makes large extended pendulum circles. Explores switching sides, forward and backward pendulum direction, and keeping different rhythms between the spinning poi and the slower pendulum.
Lesson • Poi • Info
Keeping body comfortable while hands are behind back
Guidance on staying comfortable in poi work with the hands held behind the head or behind the back, where shoulder rotation can feel awkward. The focus is on relaxed posture, breathing, and small adjustments in elbow and shoulder position to reduce strain.
Lesson • Poi • Fountain
Reviewing the fountain counter-clockwise
A review of the fountain pattern in poi performed counter-clockwise, focusing on reversing the direction from the clockwise version. It covers the main timing and hand-path orientation needed to connect the fountain smoothly in the anti-clockwise rotation.
Lesson • Poi • Butterfly • Opposite Direction
Freedom with butterfly and opposites
A poi lesson on gaining freedom with butterfly patterns and opposite-direction timing. It reviews threading the needle inward and outward, alternating which poi passes on top, and pausing or freezing with either side leading while maintaining clean, overlapping circles.
Lesson • Poi • Butterfly • Opposite Direction
Freedom with butterfly and opposites continued
Continuation on poi butterfly patterns with opposite-direction timing, focusing on staying relaxed while switching which hand leads or crosses on top. It highlights practicing both sides symmetrically so the butterfly can change direction and hand order smoothly.
Lesson • Poi • Butterfly • Weave
Transitioning between butterfly and weaves
Poi lesson on transitioning between butterfly and weaves, using stalls and direction reversals to move from a weave into butterfly and back. It highlights timing the stall as one hand passes under or over the other, with options for different hand variations.
Lesson • Poi • Opposite Direction
Freedom with opposites more continued
Continuation of poi opposite-direction work, focusing on turning while keeping clean tracks. The lesson explores switching between opposites and butterfly, and how inwards versus outwards orientation changes which poi crosses up or down through the middle.
Lesson • Poi • Split Time • Wall Plane • Butterfly • Turn • Plane
Split-time butterfly: turning all the way from wall plane to wall plane
Poi split-time butterfly on the wall plane, focused on turning all the way. The pattern alternates inward and outward split-time while rotating left and right, keeping the hands neutral as the body drives the turns.
Lesson • Poi • Thread The Needle
Going further with threading the needle
Further variations on the poi Thread the Needle pattern, focusing on clearer, more exaggerated threading. The lesson explores switching which poi is on top and adding arm-wrap style pathways, using timed push-pull motions close to the arm to create a stronger needle-like look.
Lesson • Poi • Chase The Sun • Split Time
Split-time chase the sun
A poi lesson on the split-time version of the “Chase the Sun” pattern. It connects this split-time chase-the-sun flow to related reel and windmill family movements, including shoulder and hip reel pathways used to shift timing.
Lesson • Poi • Dexterity • Stall
Working on left/right dexterity with stalls and transitions
Poi drill for left/right dexterity, combining steady spinning in one hand with stalls and simple transitions in the other. Focuses on keeping one poi consistent while the other swings like a pendulum, adding over/under movements and occasional crosses into stalls.
Lesson • Poi • Switchy
Lockouts and crossy-crossy (which I now call switchy-switchy)
Lockout positions and a crossy-crossy (switchy-switchy) crossing pattern in poi, built from clean same-direction split-time on a wall plane. The lesson focuses on symmetrical arm paths and controlled overlaps as the hands pass and switch.
Week / Phase 10
Lesson • Poi • Info
Developing freedom of movement by "playing along the tracks"
An exercise called “playing along the tracks” for poi, using an imagined hallway to explore steady rhythm and mode while moving through space. It focuses on keeping the poi separated, turning freely, and maintaining clean planes along the “walls” as height and direction change.
Lesson • Poi • Info
Playing along the tracks and switching modes
Poi sequencing focused on playing along set movement tracks while switching between timing and direction modes. The lesson centers on cycling through modes such as same time, split time, and opposites, with simple stalls and neutral positions used to transition between them.
Lesson • Poi • Spinning
Shortening the poi while spinning: wrapping around your hands and fingers
Shortening poi while spinning by wrapping the handles to change grip length during motion. The lesson focuses on wrap-up and unwrap actions in common spinning directions, including wrapping toward the thumb and transitioning into a shorter key-style grip.
Lesson • Poi • Split Time • Buzzsaw • Turn
Turning with split-time buzzsaw
Poi lesson on turning while maintaining a split-time buzzsaw pattern, alternating forward and backward buzzsaws as the body rotates. Focus is on keeping the buzzsaw plane consistent and coordinating lead hand timing through the turn.
Lesson • Poi • Whirl • Reel
Whirling with shoulder and hip reels
Poi whirling combined with shoulder and hip reels, focusing on linking the whirl pattern with body-led reel motions. The lesson explores keeping the movement aligned to a clear plane reference while allowing variations as the reels and turns develop.
Lesson • Poi • Butterfly • Behind The Back
More on Butterfly behind the back
Details on the poi butterfly pattern performed behind the back, focusing on keeping a clean plane and stable alignment in the rear position. The lesson highlights common issues like drift and contact with the legs while maintaining the behind-the-back butterfly pathway.
Lesson • Poi • Reel
Using walls to master windmills, watermills, and reels
Poi drills using a wall as physical feedback to refine plane control in windmills, watermills, and reels. The lesson focuses on shoulder and hip reels, gradually working closer to the wall to keep the patterns clean and aligned.
Lesson • Poi • Windmill • Weave
Windmill, forward and backward weaves from neutral
Poi lesson on moving between windmill and split-time weaves, starting from a neutral matching position. It focuses on turning smoothly into forward and backward weave variations and switching between clockwise and counterclockwise windmill while passing through the same central transition point.
Lesson • Poi • Windmill • Weave
Using the neutral matching point to connect windmill and the weaves
A poi lesson on the neutral matching point that links windmill with forward and backward weaves. It focuses on recognizing the shared moment where these patterns align, so you can connect and switch between them smoothly in either direction.
Lesson • Poi • Weave • Turn
Turning freely with windmills and the weaves through 4 directions in any order
Poi drill for turning freely while keeping split-time, same-direction timing, linking forward and backward weaves with clockwise and counterclockwise windmills. The pattern rotates through four facing directions and mixes left and right turns to move between weave and windmill modes.
Lesson • Poi • Turn • Opposite Direction
Turning freely with opposites through the 4 directions
Poi turning patterns using opposite-direction spins through four directions, switching between inwards and outwards orientation. The lesson highlights keeping planes clear while turning, including basic opposite-direction options and a neutral crossed position that allows changing direction while rotating.
Lesson • Poi • Info
When playing freely with the 4 directions... notice what you're avoiding!
A poi exploration of playing freely with the four directions, using split-time choices between weaves, windmills, and fountains in clockwise and counterclockwise orientations. The focus is on noticing which directions or pattern options you avoid while switching between these core movements.
Lesson • Poi • Fountain
Learn the 4X4 Fountain (no excuses!) :)
A poi lesson focused on the 4x4 Fountain pattern, a four-beat-per-side fountain variation. It highlights the pathway with the poi traveling behind the body at the top of the arc and in front at the bottom, creating a smooth continuous circle.
Week / Phase 11
Lesson • Poi • Stall
Stalling and reversing #5 (behind your head)
Poi stalling and reversing in a plane behind your head, building on right and left stalls. The focus is keeping a clear behind-the-body plane while alternating stalls and direction changes, including one poi at a time before combining both.
Lesson • Poi • Reverse
More on reverse right/left as foundation of transitions
Poi drill focusing on alternating reverse right and reverse left as a foundation for transitions. The pattern cycles through same-time and split-time timing, moving between forward, backward, and opposite-direction spins while one hand reverses and the other maintains its direction.
Lesson • Poi • Same Time
More on playing freely with same-time
Explores freer poi movement in same-time spinning, keeping both poi in the same direction and timing. Focuses on staying consistent through different facing directions, adding simple variations like side sweeps, inside-the-arms paths, high and low levels, and maintaining a clean wall-plane track.
Lesson • Poi • Split Time • Opposite Direction
More on playing freely with split-time opposites
Poi split-time opposites explored in multiple facing directions, keeping the props moving in opposite directions on split timing. The lesson focuses on opening and closing shapes between wall and wheel planes while turning through quarter, half, and full rotations.
Lesson • Poi • Mode • Matrix
Playing along the tracks with each mode: The matrix between the moves!
A poi exercise for exploring the matrix by “playing along the tracks” in each mode. The poi spins along two imagined parallel lines in the wall plane, with simple placement rules, while focusing on continuous movement rather than named tricks.
Lesson • Poi • Fountain • Reel
Mirrored Progression: shoulder reels to 4X4 fountain
A mirrored poi progression linking shoulder reels into a 4x4 fountain pattern. The lesson focuses on symmetry and reflection between sides while alternating direction and timing, keeping the reels and fountain shapes consistent as they transition.
Lesson • Poi • Weave
Transitions between weaves and butterflies step 1
Poi lesson on step 1 transitions between weaves and butterflies, focusing on moving from a forward weave into an inward butterfly and back. It emphasizes left-right coordination and smooth timing while changing patterns on either side.
Lesson • Poi • Weave
Transitions between weaves and butterflies step 2
Poi lesson on step 2 transitions from a forward weave into inwards or outwards butterfly patterns. It focuses on turning and letting one poi reverse into a butterfly while the other continues, then returning smoothly to the weave.
Lesson • Poi • Weave
Transitions between weaves and butterflies step 3
Poi transitions between forwards weave, butterfly, and backwards weave, focusing on step 3 variations. The lesson explores reversing one poi at a time and using stalls to switch directions and move between weave and butterfly patterns.
Week / Phase 12
Lesson • Poi • Info
The importance of left/right speed changing independence
Independent speed changes between left and right hands in poi, keeping one poi steady while the other slows down or speeds up. The idea is practiced in forward and backward spinning on different planes, and can be applied within patterns like butterfly.
Lesson • Poi • Buzzsaw • Turn
More on mastering turning with Buzzsaw
Poi lesson focused on refining the buzzsaw pattern and adding turns while keeping clean planes. It references moving from a four-by-four fountain into buzzsaw and practicing both directions, including keeping the poi close together for smoother, controlled rotation.
Lesson • Poi • Butterfly
More on mastering butterfly
Poi butterfly refinement focusing on clean, overlapping planes and tighter hand spacing for a clear flapping illusion. The lesson also references keeping steady rhythm and maintaining symmetry while bringing the poi paths closer together, including taking the pattern over the head.
Lesson • Poi • Info
How do you learn to dance freely with poi?
Explores ways to dance more freely with poi instead of repeating set patterns. The focus is on moving creatively with music, including experimenting with body movement without poi and then adding simple poi motion while keeping attention on overall expression and flow.
Lesson • Poi • Info
Final thoughts on left-right independence
Final notes on left-right independence in poi, focusing on reversing one hand at a time (right, left) while keeping patterns stable. The idea is applied across different positions and planes, such as wheel plane and front wall plane, to keep direction changes clear and consistent.
Lesson • Poi • Plane
Final thoughts on playing with planes
Discussion of poi plane control as an ongoing practice, focusing on intentionally bending, tilting, and recovering planes while moving through different arm positions and spatial ranges. Emphasis is on noticing when planes drift and bringing them back with purpose.
Lesson • Poi • Opposite Direction
Opposites sequence
A poi sequence built around opposite-direction spinning, combining front and behind swings with alternating shoulder-plane passes. The pattern links repeated front/behind steps into a short opposites phrase that can be looped smoothly.
