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With spring in bloom and Memorial Day just around the corner, many are getting excited for the summer weather. And it’s a good thing too. It’s a little known fact that many Americans don’t get enough sun throughout the year – something that normally doesn’t get a lot of attention.

We hear a lot about staying safe while in the sun, and that truly is important. But one thing we don’t often hear is how important the sun can be for both our mental and physical well being.

Did you know that many Americans suffer from a vitamin D Deficiency – a symptom, among many others, often caused by lack adequate sunshine?

Sunshine is loaded with Ultraviolet rays which stimulate the production of Vitamin D – an essential element to our health. Not only does vitamin D allow us to absorb Calcium but it’s even been proven to control immune function and reduce inflammation which is a major factor in the prevention of heart disease. Appropriate amounts of sunshine and vitamin D have even been linked in studies to the prevention of breast and prostate cancer.

And you know that saying, “feeling a little blue”? Well, as it turns out, it may be more literal than we think. Research shows that lack of sunlight directly affects the parts of our brain responsible for depression. Getting out and in the light can literally help keep us happy!

Now, there are great ways to get vitamin D through foods and other supplements like fish liver oil, but there aren’t too many of us who find a way to eat fish every day. That’s where getting our time outside comes in to play.

Receiving roughly 30 minutes of sun-time twice a week can have a huge impact on your vitamin D levels and your overall mental health. It’s important that note that the sun does not have the same effect through glass as it does when we sit outside. Direct sunlight in the appropriate amount will truly help keep us healthy.

We still urge you to be careful whenever in the sun as every body is different. Some may burn more easily and might require less time in the sun and all should take the necessary precautions to stay safe. And, although sunlight is good for you, moderation is the key. Protect yourself from burning and be safe. Perform regular checks of your skin if you do spend long periods of time in the sun and always apply protective lotion at least 30 minutes before heading out.

And with that, we hope you go out and enjoy your time in the light. We think you deserve it!

With spring in full bloom, there are a lot of myths starting to go around about ways to treat seasonal allergies. Here’s one: Did you know that eating local honey can combat seasonal allergies?

Well, as delicious as it sounds, it’s false. Although local honey is made from the pollen bees collect from flowers in your area, the cause of allergies is actually due to pollen from trees, grass and weeds and not necessarily flowers.

Keeping up with your allergies can be frustrating and often requires medication. But we’re here with a few tips that will help curb your allergies and keep you enjoying the spring weather.

Find out exactly what you are allergic to – By contacting your doctor and testing to find out what is bothering you the most, you can more directly target your allergies and receive the right medication for the job. This might include shots and other alternative methods.

Understand your medication – If you are prescribed any medication or are looking to over-the-counter options, make sure you fully understand what you are taking and what they are meant to treat. It’s easy to confuse antihistamines and decongestants but the two perform very different roles. Make sure you know which is right for you.

Wash your hair and clothes regularly – This will be sure to get rid of any pollen or allergens you may have collected while in a certain area that can agitate you later.

Groom pets regularly – This is twofold. First, grooming your pets will help remove any dander that may cause allergies. Second, pets can carry in pollen just as easily as the wind. Keeping them clean will prevent any unwanted pollen from making its way into your home.

Keep an eye on the weather – Many factors play into allergies. High winds and low humidity allow more pollen to carry through the air. If this is the case, try to avoid being outside for long periods of time between 5AM and 10AM, the peak pollen hours of the day.

Try natural cures – The herb butterbur has been found in some studies to work as well as antihistamines do without the drowsy side effects. Explore and see what works for you.

Use a neti pot if things get bad – If you’re suffering from an attack, rinse out your sinus with some saline and wash your face, hands and hair. This will help quell the allergies or get rid of them completely.

We hope these tips will keep you happy and allergy free this spring. Because, let’s face it – there’s no need to stay inside if we don’t have to! If you’ve got a secret that keeps you allergy free, we want to hear it. Join the conversation by commenting below or on Facebook and Twitter.

Characterized by the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage, Osteoarthritis or OA is a painful ailment for many Americans today. This breakdown can cause bones to rub against one another, resulting in extreme stiffness, pain and even loss of movement at the joints.

But there is good news – more research is showing that exercise can both prevent and even reverse the symptoms of arthritis. Now, this may not be settling news for those out there currently suffering from OA. At times, any movement at all, let alone exercise, can seem like a hefty task.  However, movements associated with the strengthening of muscles around the joints like those found in Yoga and Pilates, can have a positive impact while remaining delicate on joints themselves.

Although it may seem like exercise would aggravate these areas, it is actually inactivity and lack of movement that causes pain. Here’s why movement is vital to joint health:

• Movement strengthens the muscles around your joints taking undo strain off your body
• Exercise will help control weight – a major factor in joint health
• Increased strength and energy to keep moving throughout the day
• Exercise will help improve sleeping habits for an overall better health
• Moving your joints can help stimulate and restore your joints for better flexibility
• Exercise often leads to a better range of motion resulting in fewer injuries and aggravations

The important thing to remember is that any movement, no matter how small, can help remove joint pain – A quick walk, a morning stretch or even taking the time to practice some Tai Chi and breathing can have a major effect.

Exercise is crucial for people with arthritis. But it’s also important to recognize your limitations and discuss some options with your doctor or wellness professional. Build with each step and continue to move on past arthritis.

“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!

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!