Emergency Room Reports Spike in Injuries From 'Flaming Poi Night' at Yoga Studio

St. Luke's Medical Center reported treating nine patients for minor burns Saturday evening following what the Serenity Flow Yoga Studio advertised as 'Flaming Poi and Mindfulness: An Evening of Elemental Dance.' The event, which combined traditional poi spinning with guided meditation, was led by instructor Harmony Vortex, who holds certifications in yoga instruction, Reiki healing, and what her website describes as 'intuitive fire arts,' a qualification that emergency responders have noted is not recognized by any fire safety authority. 'Fire is simply energy in its most visible form,' Vortex told participants at the start of the session, distributing lit kevlar-wicked poi to approximately thirty attendees in a room with low ceilings and wall-to-wall carpeting. 'When you surrender to the flame, the flame surrenders to you.' The flame did not surrender. 'Within about ninety seconds, someone's poi wrapped around the ceiling fan,' reported paramedic Elise Chen. 'The fan was on. The poi went around three times and then launched across the room like a medieval weapon. That was when the first four people got singed.' Subsequent injuries resulted from participants attempting what Vortex called 'the butterfly weave,' a two-handed spinning pattern that, performed incorrectly, creates what firefighters technically classify as 'a person-sized fire hazard.' The yoga studio's insurance provider has terminated the policy effective immediately, citing a clause that specifically excludes 'intentional indoor ignition events.' Vortex has announced that next month's session will instead feature LED poi, which she describes as 'a compromise with the unenlightened.'