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With Father’s day just around the corner, there’s no better time to celebrate Men’s Health Week. It’s especially important during the summer months that the fellas out there keep on top of their wellness – whether it’s the sun, fireworks or the grill, there’s plenty to keep you busy and living a happy summer dream. That’s why we’ve put together this short list of summer tips for all those male fitness buffs out there.

Be Safe When Playing With Fire

Sure, fireworks are fun. Who doesn’t enjoy a literal bang for their buck? But, as it turns out, males are injured by fireworks more than twice as often as females during the peak sparkler season, so it’s important to remember a few important rules.

• Always have a water source ready and close to any home-firework displays. A hose is best, but a bucket of water can help extinguish a rogue bottle rocket if need be.
• If you’re not sure what it does – don’t set it off! Better to be safe than risk an injury to you or a bystander
• Remember that children should always be supervised and at a safe distance for both their hearing and other physical safety.
• Use fireworks only where permitted and within an open, clear area.

The grill is a must for any summer-time fun. But a lot can go wrong when dealing with open flame.

• If you’re using a gas grill, make sure all the valves, tanks and burners are working correctly before sparking that first igniting light.
• Undercooked meat like chicken or burgers can do a real number on your stomach. Try investing a meat thermometer and always know at what temperature bacteria is sure to be gone.
• Try grinding your own beef for hamburgers – doing so will allow you to control what goes in and how much fat is involved. Red meat isn’t always good, but if you know what you’re making, it can make a tasty burger.

Make sure to treat minor burns correctly. There are a lot of myths out there like using butter to sooth a burn. The oil in the butter will make the pain subside but will actually make the wound worse.

• Cool the burn with some cold water but don’t use ice.
• Keep the burn open and able to breath – putting a bandage on it will only make it last longer.
• Take a pain reliever and keep the burn away from any further heat.

Eat to Energize

It’s easy to fall into the beer broiled sausage trend of summer eating, but having a little discretion on the BBQ can give you lots of energy and keep your healthy lifestyle in balance.

• Grill your fresh summer veggies. Things like peppers, onions and zucchini are phenomenal when grilled the right way – try it yourself and see!
• Coat the grill in healthy oil like canola or olive oil. This will give things like corn a great flavor without the need for butter and will help prevent anything from sticking to the grates.
• Instead of cooling down with a few beers, try making a nice fruit smoothie. Frozen bananas, strawberries and blueberries can help make a great cocktail with a healthy twist.

Enjoy the Summer Weather

The most important part of a healthy lifestyle is to enjoy yourself.

• Experience new activated you never thought of before like hiking or kayaking
• Spend time outside enjoying the weather – a nice nap on a hammock can do wonders for stress
• If you don’t know how to swim, take lessons. Not only is it a fun pass-time but it’s a hell of a workout too!

So on Father’s day, let’s take time to remember the guys in our life and make sure they live a happy, healthy life. And guys, let us know how you like to enjoy your summer months with a comment below or on our Facebook and twitter page!

There’s been a lot of excitement around the APOGEE Challenge – and with just so many more days left in April, we’re pumped to find out who our first winner will be. Then, it’s on to May’s challenge.

Now, we know there are some people who were on the fence about signing up to try their hand at 28 days of exercise – it’s not exactly an easy task. But we also know a little motivation can go a long way for next month. With the right mindset, you can accomplish anything.

That’s why we want to hear from you. We want to know how you stay motivated to keep moving in this busy world. And, because it’s still our birthday month, one participant will receive a $50 credit to use at the Apogee White Plains Spa. We think you deserve it after all you do – now let us know how you do it!

It doesn’t have to be about exercise, although if you’re a challenge participant we’d love to know how you keep going! Maybe you finally finished that book that’s been sitting on the coffee table. Or maybe you just found the time to sign up for night classes – whatever it is, we want to know what drives you.

For some it can be as simple as a line of poetry or a favorite movie scene. For others, it’s family and friends that keep them motivated. So do us a favor, spread the motivation and post pictures, type out your favorite poem or link to a video on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

The key to life is happiness and the things that make us happy are what keep us moving. So why not share what drives you and win a $50 spa credit in the process? We can’t wait to see what you got. We’ll get things moving with this:

Always keep moving!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
-Marianne Williamson

We’ve spoken about motivation in the past as well as the benefits of consistency when it comes to exercise and health. That’s why we’re happy to announce the success of our APOGEE Challenge.

If you’re not familiar with our challenge, it’s a competition where one member will win a Whole Foods gift card. Participants must complete 28 days of exercise within one month in order to be eligible. Not an easy task by any means – But that hasn’t stopped these motivated members from kickn’ butt and rocking steady! In no particular order, here are our challenge participants all of whom are still in the running to win:

But, if we had to guess, we’d say they were motivated by something more than just a gift card (although it doesn’t hurt!).  So keep up the motivation, guys! Every challenge becomes a stepping stone once we overcome it.

And, for those of you who need proof that consistency pays off, here’s a wonderful letter we received from a member, Allison who want’s everyone to know just how much Pilates has improved her already stellar tennis game.

“As a recreational and competitive tennis player, I am always looking for ways to improve my game. I started taking group tower classes at Apogee Pilates studio in White Plains. I started with a once weekly class. I quickly saw improvement in my core strength on the court and in daily activities. My posture improved and I realized that I needed more. I now do a minimum of two private sessions per week. The outcome is tremendous. I am capable of so much more on the tennis court with increased speed, endurance and accuracy. I also believe that Pilates has helped strengthen me and has saved me from injury. I highly recommend a commitment to pure Pilates for competition in any sport and for longevity.”

Allison McCarthy

White Plains, NY

So, just to be clear, we want there to be tons of names to choose from for this month’s winner and we want even more names next month. Great job, everybody!

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.

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!