The trail weaves quietly through the trees as the winds blow through and the sun beams down. Through every step, the chest gets tighter, and the legs get more tired. Take a deep breath of the fresh air, and the weight of the world starts to fade with every breath. Slow down and realize the kind of peace it brings, this sense of calm and clarity. This provides a reminder of teacher Heather Haanen, just like the trail she guides students towards balance and mindfulness in the classroom every day.
Each class follows a meaningful routine. It begins with a warm-up, then a journal about a quote as a group. After our yoga routine, the class ends with mindfulness exercises, guided by her calming words and soft music.
These quotes that are done in class have a huge impact on students like Mia Mantas, a fellow student of Ms. Haanen. As a sophomore, she took Yoga three times and really loves the class and joy of Ms. Haanen.
Mantas talks about her favorite part of yoga class being the quotes that we do each day. “I’ve taken this class three times,” Mantas said, “but each time at a new point in my life, and they just hit so differently, and it really alters how I see the situations that I’m in already.”
Haanen’s career started 24 years ago when she knew she wanted to work with kids.
“It was a no-brainer for me. I knew I wanted to just be happy being with kids,” Haanen said.
She taught elementary school for 12-13 years and middle school for 10 years. Her favorite grade to teach is fifth and sixth graders, especially when the sixth graders were still in elementary school
“But I loved it. Love their edge,” Haanen said. ” Love that they can think and process like an adult, yet they’re not jaded by so much of the world that we are up in these spaces. And I loved teaching all the subjects. So I love my day when I have like, seven preps and I get to teach every single subject to the same 30 kids for nine months. It is my absolute favorite.”
Her two sons, freshman Ethan Camping and junior Caleb Camping, are also students here at Fossil.
“I was apprehensive a little bit… that they would be embarrassed, or they wouldn’t, you know, that it would impact them. Actually, thus far, it’s been just the opposite. They come visit all the time. They’re always down here, stopping by, and it has just turned out to be one of the biggest blessings,” Haanen said.
Haanen came to Fossil three years ago to be a basketball coach and found herself also teaching math. Then she found herself in the yoga room.
“I only have a very small handful of years left of teaching, and I think it’s a great place to end, kind of taking my entire career and wrapping it together and getting to work with the older kids,” said Haanen.
“I have found that’s why I’m just so happy,” Haanen said. “Really, anywhere I teach, all the way from fourth graders to high school seniors, the joy and the life and the dreams and the beauty in their eyes every single day, and the stories. It’s kept me so young. And it’s just, I don’t really ever want to stop. I don’t know what will happen when I can retire. I just love the kids anyway they come.”