The Hammock LLC

12/11/2025

07/04/2025

Revel in the richness of life, and renew yourself in the light that summer brings.
Our memories of summer are often intense because it is a season blessed with a vividness unsurpassed by any other time of year. Bright colors, fresh scents, vibrant flavors, brilliant sunlight, and the caress of heat delight our senses. There is a sumptuousness about summertime, as both flora and fauna come into their own, regaling us with natural beauty. Our day-to-day circumstances may not change as spring turns into summer, yet we nonetheless feel refreshed. Our burdens seem lighter, and we feel compelled to play, travel, relax, and relish in all of life's joys during the extended sunlit hours.

Rituals specific to the summer season empower us to attune ourselves to the changes that take place in nature and within ourselves as the weather grows warmer. Summer is at its core a season of light, and by opening ourselves and our spaces to this light, we honor all the joy associated with the coming months. Unbolting windows and doors, arranging bright-golden blooms in a vase, and turning our faces toward the sun become a celebration when done with intent. Summer is also a wonderful time to practice focused listening, as the air is filled with beautiful sounds particular to the season. To begin, find a quiet, solitary spot. For 10 minutes, pay attention to the workings of your mind, and allow it to wander at will. Then turn your attention to the sounds resonating around you, and note what you hear — the buzzing of bees, children's laughter, and birds singing in the trees.

Delight in the joys of summertime by immersing yourself in its pleasures. Wake up with the sunrise, take a day trip to the beach, indulge in an ice cream cone, or simply sit quietly in nature's embrace. The season will pass quickly, but while it remains, you can revel in the richness of life and renew yourself in the wonder of the light.

06/13/2025

New website for The Hammock LLC!

   Hello, my name is Sarah Ryder. I am thrilled you found me! I am passionate about helping others to find a balance in their lives and helping along with their journey into better health and wellness. My profession is in Health and Wellness coaching, as I am a registered Yoga instructor and regis...

06/13/2025

Do you need information about yoga classes and other services?
Check out the code! Thanks to Hannah!

06/07/2025

Hello everyone! Just to let you know that the website is down for maintenance. If you need any information, please reach out to me at 616-893-5661 or [email protected].

Thanks,
Sarah

06/03/2025

There is freedom that comes with awareness because with it comes the opportunity to make a choice.
Life is a journey with many steps on our personal path, taking us down a winding road of constant evolution. And each day, we are provided with a myriad of opportunities that can allow us to transform into our next best selves. One moment we are presented with an opportunity to react differently when someone in our life rubs us the wrong way; on another day we may find ourselves wanting to walk away from a particular circumstance but are not sure if we can. Eventually, we may find ourselves stuck in a rut that we can never seem to get out of. We may even make the same choices over and over again because we don’t know how to choose otherwise. Rather than moving us forward, our personal paths may take us in a seemingly never-ending circle where our actions and choices lead us nowhere. It is during these moments that awareness can be the starting point to change.

Awareness is when we are able to realize what we are doing. We observe ourselves, noticing our reactions, actions, and choices — as if we were a detached viewer. Awareness is the first step to change because we can’t make a change unless we are aware that one needs to be made. We can then begin understanding why we are doing what we are doing. Afterward, it becomes difficult not to change because we are no longer asleep to the truth behind our behaviors. We also begin to realize that, just as much as we are the root source behind the causes for our behaviors, we also are the originator for any changes that we want to happen.

There is a freedom that comes with awareness. Rather than thinking that we are stuck in a repetitive cycle where there is no escape, we begin to see that we very much play a hand in creating our lives. Our behaviors and choices are always ours to make. Our past and our present no longer have to dictate our future when we choose to be aware. We are then free to move beyond our old limits, make new choices, and take new actions. With awareness, our paths can’t help but wind us forward in our lives while paving the way for new experiences and new ways of being. It is through awareness that we can continue to consciously evolve.

05/24/2025

Q: Are lighter exercises like yoga or Tai chi also effective for brain health?

A: Yes. Mind-body exercises such as yoga and Tai chi lower cortisol and anxiety, improve mental clarity, and enhance executive function. One study showed that yoga not only reduced cortisol but also improved decision-making and memory test performance, demonstrating how gentle movement supports emotional and cognitive resilience.

04/23/2025

When we present ourselves to the world without a mask, we offer the same opportunity for others to do the same.
Most of us are familiar with the idea of “keeping it real” and have an intuitive sense about what that means. People who keep it real don’t hide behind a persona to protect themselves from their fear of how they might be perceived. They don’t present a false self or wear a mask in order to appear more perfect, more powerful, or more independent. People who keep it real present themselves as they truly are, the good parts and the parts most of us would rather hide. They share their full selves with the people who are lucky enough to know them.

Being real in this way is not an easy thing to do. We live in a culture that often shows us images of physical and material perfection. As a result, we all want to look younger, thinner, wealthier, and more successful. We are rewarded externally when we succeed at this masquerade, but people who are real remind us that, internally, we suffer. Whenever we feel that we need to be bigger, better, or more exciting, we send a message to ourselves that we are not enough. Meanwhile, people who are not trying to be something more than they are walk into a room and bring a feeling of ease, humor, and warmth with them. They acknowledge their wrinkles and laugh at their personal eccentricities without putting themselves down.

People like this inspire us to let go of our own defenses and relax for a moment in the truth of who we really are. In their presence, we feel safe enough to take off our personas and experience the freedom of not hiding behind a barrier. Those of us who were lucky enough to have a parent who was able to keep it real may find it easier to be that way ourselves. The rest of us may have to work a little harder to let go of our pretenses and share the beauty and humor of our real selves. Our reward for taking such a risk — we will attract and inspire others, giving them the permission to be real too.