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Imagine a day without your cellphone. Not possible, you say? How about your MP3 player? If it’s not already plugged into your ears, we’d bet that it probably will be at some point today.

Gadgets and technology surround us – there’s no denying that. But for the sake of our health and in honor of Earth Month, we thought it may be a good idea to reexamine our technology addiction and see how getting off the grid can be good for both our, and Mother Nature’s health.

Let’s start with computers. Work and play, computers seem to be a part of everything we do. But using one for too long can lead to serious health issues like Carpal Tunnel, headaches, eye fatigue and back pain. Take a look at your posture while you’re reading this. Go ahead, we’ll wait . . . Done?

Chances are you were slouched over and your head was resting on your hand – Not good for your back, neck or complexion. And not exactly good for the environment either. It may sound strange, but internet use releases around 300 million tons of CO2 per year. That’s a pretty hefty number. So by logging off and shutting down your computer (all the way down, not just powering down your monitor) you can truly make an impact on your own health and the sustainability of our environment.

Now on to cellphones and MP3 players – seems like a long day when you forget one at home, right? Well, maybe that’s a good thing. The use of cellphones and music devices isolates us from the world. Taking the time to talk face-to-face with a friend might end up making us happier than that last “LOL” message did. An active social life is vital to a healthy existence.

In-ear headphones and Bluetooth devices can lead to permanent hearing loss and even the painful tearing of your eardrum. And, although not fully recognized by the FDA, research shows that the increased radiation from cellphones and other such items correlates directly to an increased risk of brain cancer and other health issues.

The batteries of these devices are notoriously difficult to dispose of and the plastics they contain often end up in landfills. Considering the average life span of a cellphone is only 9 months, it may be time we reexamine how often we power down and write a letter in place of a text.

Technology makes our world better. It has improved our standard of living and is capable of things we could only imagine a few years ago. But this Earth Month, let’s remember to unwind, unplug and take a mini vacation for our planet and ourselves.

As you may already know, it’s our birthday month and, although we’re dying to tell you how you can check out Facebook and Twitter to win lots of prizes, we also want to recognize another great aspect of April – Earth Month.

Each April during Earth Month, the World Health Organization (or WHO) recognizes World Health Day by identifying key heath issues facing the nations of our planet.

Tomorrow, April 7^th, World Health Day will be opening with the topic of antimicrobial resistance. It sounds sophisticated but it’s pretty simple. Antimicrobial resistance is the ability of microorganism (the kinds that cause sickness – think viruses and germs) to survive despite the use of antibiotics and other drugs.

Think of it like athletic training – the more practice a microorganism gets at defeating Penicillin, the better it will get at it. In other words, the over use and misuse of certain drugs can actually help these microorganisms evolve and pass on stronger resistance to their offspring rendering the traditional infection-fighting drugs useless.

Now, before you panic – there are some simple steps you can take to help slow or even prevent the development of these super-bugs.

-Try not to use Instant Hands Sanitizers unless you have to. Overuse of alcohol-based sanitizers dries out your hands anyway!

-Don’t take medicine unless instructed to by a medical professional. This is true on college campuses where z-packs (an antibiotic blitz on your body) are handed out like candy. If you need it, absolutely take it as instructed. But no need for overkill when dealing with a cold.

-Stay healthy in the first place. Eat well, live well and play well. Your health will be better overall and you won’t get sick as often or be sick as long when you do.

Those are just some simple ways that you can get involved. Keep an eye out for more updates from WHO and remember to live well. It’s earth month so now you have an excuse to get out from behind the desk and get outside!

It’s our birthday month! That’s right – not just one day, but a whole month. And to celebrate, we’re going to be giving out prizes and free gifts along with some helpful information and fun facts about who we are and the community that surrounds us.

So, what better place to get started than the very beginning? We’ve put together this list of 5 interesting facts about the Classical Pilates method and its creator. We bet even some of you seasoned vets didn’t know all of these!

1. Joseph Pilates, a German national, developed his techniques rehabilitating bed-ridden patients during World War I while in an English internment camp. His students reported fewer injuries and illness than any of the other camps.

2. It’s a myth that PILATES is an acronym for “Proximal Integrating Latent Agile Toning Exercise”. The name comes from the styles creator, Joseph Pilates who changed his name from the original Pilatus.

3. Joe Pilates brought his new exercise to America in 1926, introducing the routine to ballerina, dance and athletic schools.

4. Contrary to common belief, Pilates will not make you taller but it does improve posture which allows you to display your full height and stature.

5. Pilates was originally termed, “The Art of Contrology”

There you have it – 5 fun facts. You learn something new every day. Be sure to keep an eye out for our next set of facts and some giveaways to come soon.

Oh, and do us a favor – Give us a Happy Birthday wish by liking our Facebook page on or before 4/7/11 and following us on Twitter. OK? Thanks!

Motivation is a funny thing. We can find it in the most obscure places. Sometimes we can’t find it at all. But when we get right down to it – all the motivation we need is already inside us. We just need to let it out.

Enter the Apogee Challenge – a dig deep competition of the willing. On the first of each month, participants can register at either our Bedford Hills or White Plains location to take part – All you have to do is sign in and exercise 28 days out of the month.

Easy right? Well for a little extra motivation, (not that you need it) participants who complete the challenge can even win a $200 Whole Foods Gift Certificate just for sticking it out.

Aside from the obvious physical benefits, consistent exercise can also reduce stress, increase creativity and brain function, allow for better relaxation and build self-confidence. So, if you’re looking to step up to the challenge, here are some easy ways to stay motivated:

Have a Goal – No matter how big or small, having a goal will help keep you focused. This can be done both in a daily goal and a monthly objective.

Surround Yourself with Motivated Peers – you know the saying, “Birds of a feather . . .” well, the same holds true for motivation. By surrounding yourself with positive energy and a little healthy competition, you’ll be creating a better environment to reach your goals.

Reward Yourself – Don’t be afraid to indulge after reaching one of your objectives. After all, that’s one of the perks!

Continue to Challenge Yourself – As you move on, you’ll find certain things you love and some that you’ve even mastered. Great! Now move on and face the next challenge. Keep your body, mind and energy fresh.

Now it’s time to step up to the Apogee Challenge. And, if you think it’s not for you, we want to challenge you to create a mini competition of your own. Set a goal and go for it! Only ours has a $200 Whole Foods Gift Certificate. Either way, you’re on your way.

It’s been a long and harsh winter. Believe it or not, at one point this season, more than 70% of the country was receiving snowfall at the same time!

Between the short days and cold winds, it seems like there’s not much to do but trudge on inside and quickly close the door behind you – leaving many feeling the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder. SAD is a mild-to-severe depression often associated with winter and rainy periods of the year.

Well, enough of that! The cold climate doesn’t have to keep you feeling as lame as that cracker gift basket you got from Uncle Fred. Instead, try a few of these quick ideas to keep your mind and body sharp until spring-time officially hits:

Socialize

Winter and rainy days can be tough. But spending time with family and friends can make even the coldest night fly by. Try hosting a game or movie night once a week. Can’t get out the door? Don’t worry – set up a chat session using a web camera. This may be the perfect opportunity to check up on some distant friends or a loved one off at school.

Learn a new skill

Pick up a new language or finish that novel that’s been sitting on your desk. You can even spend your time indoors making those household improvements you’ve been putting off for so long. Getting something productive done will help release endorphins and make you feel the time indoors was time well spent.

Get moving

No matter what you do, the most important thing is to keep moving. According to a Duke University study, exercise is comparable to antidepressant medication in treating patients with major depressive disorders. So hit the gym, play with the kids or just take the time to stretch every morning – the important thing is to keep your body in motion.

Fortunately, spring is just around the corner. So use these tips to help ride out the last few days of rainy, winter weather and we promise, they will fly by.