Glenville business becomes safe space for teens to unwind

Data from the CDC shows that more than a third of high school students experienced poor mental health during the pandemic, and nearly half reported a persistent feeling of sadness during the year that followed.

Glenville business owner Jaime Pawlinga said she opened her business, Sages Circle, during the pandemic, and she’s witnessed firsthand the effects isolation has had on her teen customers.

Sages Circle is a wellness boutique. Before the building became available, Pawlinga said she was just an independent vendor.

“I walked in, and I was like, ‘I have one shelf of little stuff from a farmers market, but we’re going to make this work,’” she said.

Now her shelves are fully stocked with a variety of holistic items, jewelry, and books all promoting spiritual wellness, but what surprised Pawlinga the most was the amount of teenagers who’d walk in and would just hang out.

“They’re constantly on the computers at school, and on their phones, and on their tablets, and on the go. We’re providing a space for them to literally come and just pull up a yoga mat, pull up a blanket, lay down and just unplug from the world for a few minutes to just regroup,” Pawlinga said.

She said she quickly realized that people wanted more than what was just on the shelf, and the teens in her community needed a place where they could just be themselves and unwind.

Sages Circle offers yoga classes. They teach mindfulness techniques, and there are all types of free events throughout the month.