The first thing you should do with your poi...

Start by making your poi feel safe and familiar. Nick Woolsey recommends using a very soft poi so you can accept contact and stop flinching when you hit yourself, which helps your relaxation and timing as you begin.

Drill simple play rather than technique. Hold one poi in your left hand and explore any motion you can create, swinging, bouncing it off your body, letting it travel towards you and moving out of the way, and testing different shapes and pathways. This builds comfort with the prop and keeps a playful mindset as you progress.