I am often asked by students who have beanbag and fire poi if they should begin to practice exclusively with their fire poi. It is a great question. I certainly understand the comfort and security experienced in using the same tool for practice and burning fire.

On the other hand, by switching tools and learning how to effectively and skillfully work with heavier and lighter poi, shorter and longer poi, faster and slower poi, rope and chain poi, swiveled and non-swiveled poi and every other possible range of equipment available, an artist actually develops more flexibility in their spinning which ultimately yields more technical skill. This is true for hoop, staff, poi and every other flow tool I've interacted with so far.

At first the student may feel like learning seems more challenging when varying tools because the body has to adapt to each tool. And... working through the adaptation process is the very experience that teaches the ease, grace and flexibility that increases the artists skill.