“How’s that for a great mantra?” said Stacy France, Southwestern Community College director of extension education - personal enrichment.

If you are starting the New Year with a few extra holiday pounds, or you simply want to have a healthier body, you’ll find help at the College of the Great Smoky Mountains.

“We have everything from yoga to karate, even body shape and dancing,” said France. “Or if you are undergoing withdrawal from no more Dancing With the Stars, come dance we us. We’ll shag, swing, or ballroom dance.”

For those considering a vegetarian diet, SCC has courses on the benefits of a vegetarian diet and how to cook vegetarian style in the winter.

“2008 could be the year to a healthier you,” said France.

Courses on the Jackson Campus include beginning yoga on Thursdays, 1/17-2/21, 5:20-6:50 p.m. $66; beginning ballroom dancing on Mondays, 1/14-2/11, 7:30-9 p.m. $41; shag dancing on Mondays, 1/14-2/11, 6-7:30 $41; beginning swing dance on Thursdays, 1/10-2/28, 7-8 p.m. $90; intermediate swing dance on Thursdays, 1/10-2/28, 8:15-9:15 p.m. $90; vegetarian winter cooking on Wednesday, 2/20, 6-8:30 p.m. $21; why be a vegetarian? on Wednesday, 2/13, 6-7:30 p.m. $17.

Courses in Franklin include shotokan karate and self defense at the NC Karate Club Dojo on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1/10-2/28, 5:30-7 p.m. $91.

Body shape will be taught at Cartoogechaye, MWF, 1/7-2/11, 10-11 a.m.; Swain Center, TTh, 1/8-2/28, 11:30-12:30 p.m.; Jackson Campus, TTh, 1/8-2/28, 9:45-10:45 a.m.; Cashiers Center, TTh, 1/8-2/28, 2-3 p.m., $130.

For a full description of the courses, log on the the SCC website www.southwesterncc.edu.

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