Yoga and Middle Eastern dance are a big part of Pamela Norris’ life.
She knows exercise in movement can help shape the lives – and bodies – of others as well.
A longtime resident of northern California, Norris will soon teach those respective disciplines through Southwestern Community College’s personal enrichment department.
Her initial Middle Eastern dance class begins on Aug. 16, and she’ll teach her first Hatha Yoga class the next day – but it won’t be her first time introducing students to her passion.
“I love watching people get what they came to get,” said Norris, who estimates she’s been teaching both yoga and dance for more than 30 years. “I get very excited when they learn a particular movement that they struggled with at first. It’s very fulfilling.
“When I first taught Middle Eastern dance many, many years ago in California, there was this single woman who was very, very lean,” Norris added. “She came to my class for years and years, and she built muscles in her legs, arms and core. It brought muscle tone to areas that hadn’t previously had muscle tone. That’s what this kind of ‘exercise in movement’ can do for anyone who takes it seriously over a period of time.”
Middle Eastern Dance meets from 6:30-8 p.m. on Wednesdays, and Yoga is from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. on Thursdays.
In addition to Yoga and Middle Eastern Dance, Norris will also be teaching “E-Z Stretching and Chair Exercise” starting Aug. 15 (meets from 10-11:15 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and “Intro to Playback Theater” starting on Aug. 16 (meets from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesdays).
Cost for these classes ranges from $63 to $168.
All classes will be held on Southwestern’s Jackson Campus.
To sign up or get more information, contact Jeff Marley at 828.366.2005 or j_marley@SouthwesternCC.edu.
