Poi may be combined with Spanish, yoga or surfing courses only
Poi originated with the Maori of New Zealand as early as 3000 BC. What was at first a training ritual used to build up strength, flexibility, and coordination has become a dazzling form of performance art. The intricate moves and combinations when augmented with fire, are guaranteed to amaze. As such, poi has recently transcended cultural boundaries and become popular all over the world.
Some of the moves may seem difficult but, with patience and practice, are certainly achievable. Our instructors will cater to your ability level with lots of personal attention, always holding safety in the highest regard. Before you know it, you’ll be doing serious variations of complex moves and kicking in your own sense of style. Everyone improves at their own pace, but improvement beyond your imagination is assured.
Some of the skills you can expect to learn from our poi lessons are weaves, butterfly, buzz saw, thread the needle, stalls, behind the back weaves and turns, wraps, fountains, the gremlin, mind meltdowns, straight jacket weave and butterfly, flowers and many other variations.
Keep in mind that poi can be very complicated. It takes a while for your body and your mind to come to agreement on many of the moves that you will try. It can be frustrating at times but it will be incredibly rewarding as well. If you are a complete beginner, in one week, we can teach you the basics. It will be enough to build upon with videos, research and practice when you get home. But if you really want to get good...if you want to find flow, really feel it and be able to incorporate dance and movement with little thought to what the poi heads are doing, you'll need at least two weeks. Come for four weeks and you'll be a pro!
Classes involving yoga, poi and surfing, excluding combinations with Spanish, can be taken beginning on almost any Sunday (see schedule for vacation dates). For program combinations which include Spanish classes please see our "Rates and Dates" page for schedules.
Here's a look at what you can expect from our Poi or our Poi combination programs:
1 Week Poi Program
90 minutes of poi instruction, on beach or covered veranda, M-F
Guided waterfall hike
Introduction to fire safety if lighting up
6 nights accommodation at La Escuela Del Sol
2 Week Poi Program
Features of 1 Week Program plus:
1 more week's accommodation (13 nights total)
Optional zip line canopy tour or guided horseback riding to private waterfalls (weekends only)
3 Week Poi Program
Includes all features of 2 Week Program plus:
1 more week's accommodation (20 nights total)
Optional class on third Friday to allow for extended travel
4 Week Poi Program
Includes all features of 3 Week Program plus:
1 more week's accommodation (27 nights total)
4th week graduation bonfire
1 Week Spanish and Poi Program
2 hours of classroom instruction, M-F
2 hours of applied learning (in class or outside), M-F
Books and instructional materials
Introduction to fire safety if lighting up
90 minutes of poi classes, on beach or covered veranda, M-F
Guided waterfall hike
6 nights accommodation at La Escuela Del Sol
2 Week Spanish and Poi Program
Features of 1 Week Program plus:
1 more week's accommodation (13 nights total)
Optional zip line canopy tour or guided horseback riding to private waterfalls (weekends only)
3 Week Spanish and Poi Program
Includes all features of 2 Week Program plus:
1 more week's accommodation (20 nights total)
Optional class on third Friday to allow for extended travel
4 Week Spanish and Poi Program
Includes all features of 3 Week Program plus:
1 more week's accommodation (27 nights total)
4th week graduation bonfire
1 Week Yoga and Poi Program
**Popular program. Book early to guarantee enrollment**
Introduction to fire safety if lighting up
90 minutes of learning poi, on beach or covered veranda, M-F
90 minutes of Hatha Vinyasa-style Yoga, M-F
Guided waterfall hike
6 nights accommodation at La Escuela Del Sol
2 Week Yoga and Poi Program
Features of 1 Week Program plus:
1 more week's accommodation (13 nights total)
Optional zip line canopy tour or guided horseback riding to private waterfalls (weekends only)
3 Week Yoga and Poi Program
Includes all features of 2 Week Program plus:
1 more week's accommodation (20 nights total)
Optional class on third Friday to allow for extended travel
4 Week Yoga and Poi Program
Includes all features of 3 Week Program plus:
1 more week's accommodation (27 nights total)
4th week graduation bonfire
1 Week Surfing and Poi Program
**Popular program. Book early to guarantee enrollment**
Surfboard
Introduction to surfing on beach for beginners
2 hours of surfing instruction at Playa Grande, M-F
Introduction to fire safety if lighting up
90 minutes of fire poi classes, on beach or covered veranda, M-F
Guided waterfall hike
6 nights accommodation at La Escuela Del Sol
2 Week Surfing and Poi Program
Features of 1 Week Program plus:
1 more week's accommodation (13 nights total)
Optional zip line canopy tour or guided horseback riding to private waterfalls (weekends only)
3 Week Surfing and Poi Program
Includes all features of 2 Week Program plus:
1 more week's accommodation (20 nights total)
Optional class on third Friday to allow for extended travel
For those fire dancing enthusiasts of Costa Rica, great news...we found white gas (aka gasolina blanca, aka Coleman's Camping Fuel), the ultimate fire poi fuel for fire dancing!!! After years of suppliers going dry, we found what we believe is the only supplier of Coleman's Camping Fuel (10,000 CRC) and one of the few stores who supply generic gasolina blanca (8,000 CRC) in Costa Rica. The more who buy from them, the more likely they'll continue to supply the fuel, so please tell everyone who needs fuel to contact:
Muñoz y Nanne
2253-4646
Near San Pedro Mall in San Jose
They are a Costa Rican branch of the True Value Hardware chain
Lamp Oil:
Various stores around Costa Rica sell lamp oil, known as "aceite de lampara" (15,000 CRC), notably Cemaco department stores in and around San Jose. You may be lucky enough to find it in other hardware stores around the country.
Kerosene:
If you're desperate and nowhere near San Jose, ask for Canfin, pronounced "canfeen", at your local gas station or hardware store. It's cheap, burns a little dirty, but it's your third best bet. Most hardware stores carry it.
For more information about our Costa Rica fire poi classes, please Contact Us.
The following articles were written by friends but are of little importance for the prospective participant. Read only if you truly have nothing else to do:
