THE YOGA OF FIRE
By Trixie Montanile
Ingne natura renevatu integra;
All things in nature are renewed by fire.

The art of Fire Dancing dates back over 1000 years to the Maori tribes of New Zealand. There it originated as a form of exercise by the warriors who would spin rocks tied to flax ropes as a way of developing strength and dexterity when preparing for battle. Their women, in turn, utilized the "poi" (the Maori word for "ball on a rope" and rhymes with toy) to keep their wrists supple for weaving. With its hypnotic, rhythmic motion, flaming poi were also employed as an effective technique with which to lull the children to sleep. Eventually they were adapted into a form of ritualistic dance to attract partners at tribal ceremonies.

The concept of learning to fire dance was introduced to me by the sister team of Hannah Mooney and Kamala Mathis at one of their morning yoga classes in Runyon Canyon Park. Originally from Oregon, where they themselves had first been exposed to this art form, they decided, upon their arrival to Los Angeles last year, to add fire dancing to their teaching program. Hence Indra Yoga & Dance, L.A.'s first school for Fire Dancing, was founded. Curious to learn more, I was invited by Kamala to drop by and observe one of the classes. "Fire Dancing will transform your life," she informed me.

Later that evening I found myself at the corner of Kenmore and Hollywood where, tucked behind a taco stand, is a funky little performance space aptly called "Smokin' Mirrors". An intermediate class was already under way when I arrived. Students were intently twirling their poi to the music of Bjork, while Hannah, who was standing on an elevated stage, demonstrated with enviable grace and ease, some new moves and combinations for the class. It all appeared easy enough and before long I decided to jump in and give it a whirl or rather…a twirl, as it were.

After being shown the correct way to loop the nylon grips over my fingers, I commenced swinging. Starting cautiously with a basic move called "Earth", I directed my poi in forward circles at my sides, careful to maintain an even plane of motion. Once this was mastered, I moved into the more complex realm of diagonal planes and cross overs. This exposed me to one of the main hazards to learning this art, namely extensive whacking about my head and other body parts with an errant poi which, made of sand and beans packed into a small nylon bag, could deliver quite a wallop. I found myself becoming pretty confused as the ropes frequently twisted themselves into a tangled mess. Another challenge to the beginner is getting both arms to function with equal dexterity. Since I was right-handed, I had a much easier time mastering the maneuvers with my right hand; my left hand was another story. Dogged perseverance eventually paid off and my poi began behaving like everyone else's, smoothly gliding in the space around me. With jubilation I realized that I was actually doing it! As I relaxed into a sense of oneness with my poi, I noted a pleasant tingling sensation at the top of my head. This, I learned, was caused by my corpus callosum, the nerve tissue connecting the two cerebral hemispheres; a sign that the left and right sides of my brain were in communication. The class finished with a spectacular demonstration of dancing with fire by the students. I was enchanted by the magic and grace of the performances and on my way back home I found myself wishing, more than anything else in the world, to be able to do what I had just seen.

As I kept up with my practice between classes, I began to experience some of the benefits attributed to this form of exercise; I was always calmer, more focused and energetic after my sessions and life's little hassles seemed to fade into oblivion. In a word…I felt great! When the morning of the day that I was scheduled to "light up" came, however, I awoke feeling anxious. Apprehension continued to shadow me on my bicycle ride to class. Once there, my performance jitters were somewhat abated during our regular yoga warm-ups. When the appointed hour arrived, I was given a quick run-down on fire safety and the materials I would be using. My practice poi were exchanged for a set made from steel chains connected to wicks of woven Kevlar®, a self-extinguishing material that has many industrial applications ranging from airbags used in outer space to tennis racquets. Next I was shown how to "dip n' shake". First the wicks are dipped in Coleman Fuel, (chosen because it produces a faster, brighter burn compared to other fuels) and then, with big downward sweeping motions, the excess fuel is shaken off. This is to eliminate the risk of becoming splattered while twirling which could result in the unfortunate occurrence of clothing becoming ignited. Hurriedly I borrowed someone's kerchief for my hair and then, as Kamala stood nearby with a wet towel and fire extinguisher on hand, a lighter was produced and with a whooshing sound...my poi were transformed into balls of fire.

Spinning the poi rapidly at first to allow the flames to die down somewhat, I allowed my body to remember the things it had been practicing. Circling my arms to the beat of the old rock standard, "Magic Carpet Ride", I could feel the heat around me. The weight of the poi felt unfamiliar and as I transitioned into the forward weave known as "Shakti", I momentarily lost control and was smacked hard in the jaw. It all happened very fast and I was able to continue but the permeating odor of burnt hair made me thankful for the kerchief covering my head. A few more times still before finishing, my body connected with the poi but each time I managed to regain command and completed my first effort at Fire Dancing elated and unharmed.

"Why on earth would anyone want to do this?" I have been asked many times. In response I could draw upon the dictionary's definitions for the word fire as "a burning intensity of feeling, passion, liveliness or enthusiasm", to help describe the experience. Or, I could direct your attention to the many health benefits listed on homeofpoi.com, a website where information on everything and anything related to Fire Dancing is available. Then again, as Kamala has observed, "There is something quite indescribable in working so intimately with earth's most powerful element. People's personalities become more defined as their self-esteem and confidences grow in the art".

All of these are very well and true but for me I can only say this…it is outrageous fun!

Indra Yoga & Dance has recently added a new location to the existing Smokin' Mirrors on 4928 Hollywood Blvd., named The FirePlayce, on 1613 N. Cahuenga Ave. You can find out about class schedules and performance events on their website: www.indrayoga.com.