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Playing with fire is generally acknowledged as a bad thing, but dancing with fire? Well, that’s something else entirely.

Though relatively obscure in the U.S., the ancient art of fire dancing has been practiced by the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand for centuries to increase flexibility, strength and coordination. Angelenos can try it at classes taught by Indra Yoga.

Beginning classes are flame-free for the first several weeks while students learn to dance with poi -- a ball on a cord that is swung around the body. The class concludes with instructions in fire safety and an evening trip to Dockweiler Beach in Playa del Rey, where students swap their noncombustible poi for Kevlar wicks, light them up and dance with fire for real.

“It’s so much fun,” said Hannah Mooney, 25, who teaches the class with her sister, Kamala Mathis, 32. “Everyone can do it. You don’t have to be an amazing dancer or great yogi.”

According to Mooney, who is also a yoga instructor, fire dancing is “a moving meditation. It’s really relaxing and it’s sort of strengthening and balancing at the same time.”

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Fire dancing, Indra Yoga at Heart of Yoga studio, 11948 Washington Blvd., Culver City. Beginners’ class: Mondays and Sundays, Feb. 2 to March 14.; Intermediate class: Thursdays and Sundays, Feb. 5 to March 14. $240 for 12 classes. Info: www.indrayoga.com or (323) 793-2812