If you took a walk along Brighton beach last summer, you are sure to have passed at least one graceful poi dancer.

Swinging his or her colourful, weighted ropes and creating wonderful, hypnotic patterns, this graceful art originated in New Zealand as a martial exercise, designed to increase strength and dexterity.

It was performed using ropes weighted with balls - poi (pronounced "poy") is the Maori word for ball.

Enthusiast Katie Wright learnt poi while travelling around Australia and New Zealand and soon progressed to performing professionally.

On her return to the UK, she decided to offer her services as a teacher, believing that as well as being beautiful to look at, poi was, indeed, an excellent form of exercise.

It certainly provides a rigorous workout for the upper body, as I found out when I attended her class at the King Alfred Leisure Centre in Hove.

Using colourful strips of rip-nylon, weighted at the ends with bean-filled pouches (just one of the modern alternatives to ropes and balls), I attempted to copy Katie as she stood opposite me and demonstrated the basic moves of poi.

It's harder than it looks.

I found if I mimicked Katie's hand movements without thinking too much about what the poi were doing, then all was well. But as soon as she stopped and left me to it, I realised that, without her there to mimic, I was completely lost.

Which is where practice comes in.

Though Katie's classes are drop-in, she works in ten-week terms and suggests those new to poi attend regularly for at least one term so the basic moves become second nature.

There's a lot to learn.

After the basics, which include parallel time, reels and weaves, there are intermediate moves such as spinning circles and push-thrus.

Then, when you're really good, you can progress to a five-beat weave or a split butterfly.

There's a lot a room for creative choreography and Katie is keen to show off her group's skills at festivals.

Before Christmas, Katie's students put on a show at the centre alongside kung fu teacher Karim, whose class precedes hers. Sponsored by firetoys.com, it demonstrated the close links between poi and the martial arts.

Children enjoy poi, too. After a successful summer teaching youngsters at the Gardner Arts Centre in conjunction with Earwig Theatre, Katie hopes to begin workshops at schools in the near future.

She has found poi particularly beneficial to pupils with a history of learning difficulties, such as dyslexia or ADD, as it gives the chance to develop concentration and confidence.

As well as improving coordination and balance, it can give a sense of freedom and, once mastered, can become a form of physical meditation.

I think it'll be some time before I get to that stage.

Katie teaches poi at the King Alfred Leisure Centre, Kingsway, Hove, on Tuesdays at 8.30pm. Your first lesson is free. She also teaches one-to-one lessons. For more details, call her on 07947 550898.