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People’s Association online courses below 15 SGD

While the majority of us are out and about during phase two, it’s still important to abide by the rules. Rather than keeping to hearsay, it’s wiser to refer to authentic news sources. Here’s all you need to know as we’re a week into phase two.

And of course, that’s not the aim of today’s article. For those who are still staying home as much as you can, thank you. We appreciate you being careful towards Singapore’s reopening of the economy. Hence, we’ve searched on a couple of online courses by the People’s Association (PA) you can attend in July. Better still, you can get 2% off the course fees if you register online from now till 31 March 2021! Here are some courses below 15 SGD. All prices shown are after discount.

#1: PILOXING

Date: 11 July 2020

Time: 9am to 10am

Public fee: 4.90 SGD

Get your heart pumping with an hour session of piloxing via Zoom. As the name suggests, it is a type of exercise involving a mixture of pilates and boxing. Let the team from Nawal Haddad Fitness lead you in this cardio-heavy workout that’s bound to work up a sweat! For more details, please refer to the course page.

#2: HEALTH QIGONG

Date: Several dates throughout July to August 2020

Time: Varies across sessions

Public fee: 9.80 SGD

Health Qigong is a type of mind body exercise (MBE). It uses repeatable physical movements and is not a physically strenuous activity. Thus, Health Qigong makes a suitable exercise for the elderly to take part in. Think of it as the Chinese version of yoga, just less intense.

Image Credits: vimeo.com/belgianhealthqigong

If your parents or grandparents aren’t tech-savvy, how about signing them up for one or a few sessions? We saw a couple of dates available throughout July and August 2020. Click through these links for easy sign-ups:

Or simply search for ‘Health Qigong (Online)’ via onePA’s website for other available dates.

#3: ZUMBA

Date: Several dates throughout July to August 2020

Time: Varies across sessions

Public fee: free to 14.70 SGD

I’ve personally tried Zumba before. Not going to lie, it wasn’t easy for my very first session. The hand-leg coordination was my roadblock. If you’re a perfectionist like I am, then it will be really stressful wanting to master the dance moves. But that’s not the point! I’ve learnt how to feel the music, let go, and have fun during Zumba sessions. You can too!

There’s one free session coming right up on 1 July 2020. Registration closes on 28 June 2020 so fastest fingers first. Here are the next available dates:

You can also search for other available dates in August using this keyword: ‘Zumba® Gold (Online)’.

There are also other free online courses on selected dates. If you’re keen to check them out, click through these links:

Products that may help you sleep better at night

Let’s face it. Apart from the warm weather that’s seemingly getting hotter, trying to sleep well during a pandemic is not an easy task. You may be facing a period of uncertainty due to a job loss or trying to strike a work-life balance at home. Longer screen exposures may also be the thief robbing you of some quality shut-eye.

Or maybe you’ve been suffering from insomnia for quite some time now and finding ways to not rely on that sleeping pill. We think you’re at the right place for we will share with you some products that may help you sleep better at night. It may not be foolproof for all, but give it a try and find out if it works for you.

#1: EYE MASK

Exposure to light at night affects your sleep cycle. This has something to do with melatonin, a hormone that directs your sleep-wake cycle. To aid your brain in producing more melatonin, which helps induce sleep, an eye mask might do the trick.

Other than purchasing, you can make your own blindfold using a bandana or cut out fabrics from old clothing. However, be careful not to put pressure on your eyes when wearing one so it doesn’t interfere with your rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. REM sleep contributes to your learning ability, memory retainment, and mood regulation.

#2: ESSENTIAL OILS

Apart from blocking light, it’s also important to give some attention to your sense of smell. This is why some people prefer aromatherapy to directly consuming medicines. Some of the sleep-inducing essential oils you can try using are lavender, vanilla, rose, jasmine, and sandalwood.

Before you start using these oils, do a patch test to see if you’re allergic to it. Simply apply some diluted essential oil on your skin before heading to bed. If there is no skin irritation over 24 hours, then it’s probably safe to use on your body. However, always start with a small quantity to see how your body reacts to it. You can add it to your diffuser, self-made room spray, or directly on your body.

#3: CALM APP

For once, we’re asking you not to put your phone away… not until you’ve downloaded the Calm app. The Calm app is an award-winning app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation. It was Apple’s app of the year in 2017 and Google Play’s editor’s choice in 2018.

Backed by science and ongoing research, you can access a range of resources through the app. There are meditation guides, sleep stories, white noise playlists, and more. There’s no harm in giving the free trial a go and then decide later if you want to pay the subscription fee to continue using the service. If it works, take it as a sleep investment you’re spending on yourself.

#4: WEIGHTED BLANKET

Given Singapore’s summer season all year round, we probably don’t give much thought to the type of blankets we use. But I was spring cleaning recently and noticed holes on my knitted blanket. Time to get a new one, I thought. How about you? Is your 10-year blanket still doing okay or do you need a new snuggly companion?

If you’re thinking of purchasing a new piece, consider a weighted blanket. As the name suggests, it is supposed to be heavy and much effort is required while you’re making your bed. But the benefits outweigh the weight. It apparently helps reduce anxiety levels like you’re undergoing a ‘deep pressure therapy‘.

It has been tested via several studies and has yielded positive results amongst people with chronic insomnia and anxiousness. Recall seeing babies sleeping with a bean bag on their bodies or have personally experienced that before? That’s the concept.

#5: EARPLUGS

If you’re the sort that gets affected by even the lowest level of noises, earplugs would be your saviour. It doesn’t cost a fortune and is reusable to a certain extent. Get rid of even the slightest noises and improve your sleep quality today.

Get the best bang for your buck on beauty face masks

With face masks being mandatory to wear outdoors, some of us are seeing the negative effects on our skin. Whether it’s skin redness or breakouts, we feel you. Workers in essential services are definitely not having a good time, having to put on face masks for long periods of time.

To give your skin a little treat at night, probably you’ve started stocking up on beauty face masks. Or you were sorting out your fridge and found some loots from the last Korea trip you went. Whatever the reason is, allow us to share with you how to get the most value out of the beauty face masks you’re about to start using.

#1: FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDED TIME

If you refer to the instructions at the back of your beauty face mask, you will probably see the time recommended to put on the mask for. Keep to that.

The experts who manufactured the masks know it best so it’s wise to follow. Some ingredients can cause irritation when allowed to dry on the skin for longer than advised. The last thing you want to do is to spend money harming your delicate skin in the long run.

#2: AVOID USING SEVERAL MASKS AT ONE GO

Apart from beauty sheet masks, there are also masks that come in the form of a gel, cream, or clay. Keeping the recommended time in mind, you should try to multi-mask only when the products have similar usage time. However, if it’s too much a hassle to group them, then avoid it altogether.

Maybe you’ve read that people with sensitive skin combinations should use different types of masks at one time. It may make sense to use a clay mask targeting the T-zone area and a hydrating mask on the rest of the face. However, here comes the problem.

Considering the time it takes to dry, a clay mask would definitely be faster compared to its counterpart. Leaving the drying clay mask on for too long might cause wrinkles. This defeats the purpose of using it in the first place. You don’t want to be throwing your money into the bin.

#3 KEEP UP WITH THE ROUTINE

Too little or too much of something doesn’t always work. Be consistent in your beauty face mask routine if you want to reap the benefits and get the most value out of what you’ve spent.

The frequency? Again, follow the instructions written on the product. Some series require you to only have it on for once a week, while others may advise you to do it at least two to three times a week. It really boils down to individual brands and your skin’s reactivity to the ingredients.

Most importantly, what works for me may not work for you. To get the best bang for your buck on beauty face masks, stick to the rules.

How To Secure Your Device When Shopping Online

In a recent survey, 1 in 4 Singaporeans have adopted mobile payment. In 2016 alone, over 30,000 retail points in Singapore enabled cashless payment. The most popular online wallets include DBS Paylah!, Apple Pay, and Android Pay.

You can only imagine how much growth the cashless payment received due to the Circuit Breaker period! People have been leaning towards this payment scheme due to the lack of face-to-face interaction that comes with it.

A mobile wallet stores payment information on your mobile device and lets you transact painlessly. It is fast and convenient. The downside? You are vulnerable to cyber hacking. On that note, here are several tips that you can use to secure your device while you shop.

#1: ENABLE THE TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION

Two-factor authentication gives you an added layer of protection. Enabling this will let you control your purchases. You will be notified whenever your card or your online wallet is in use. You will get a message or an email asking for your verification code. This is something you have to put to pursue the online transaction. This will alert you in case fraudulent transactions are about to take place.

#2: BE VIGILANT AGAINST BOGUS SITES

Notice every little detail such as the web address. Cyber criminals use similar characters in the web address to virtually trick you into putting your bank details and other personal information. For instance, you may shop in amaz0n.com instead of amazon.com. Consider using tools such as Google Safe Browsing to check the current safety status of a website.

#3: PAY WITH CREDIT CARD

Credit cards are not tied to your savings account. Furthermore, it often offers fraud prevention and protection services compared to debit cards. If you use a debit card on purchases, the money will automatically be taken out from your savings account. Treat debit cards like cash. In contrast, credit cards enable you to have enough time to dispute fraudulent charges. Seek the help of the bank to investigate the incident. It is a good habit to regularly check your billing statement and your weekly transactions online.

#4: DO NOT SAVE YOUR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION

Some online retailers, like Lazada, offer the option of storing your credit card or debit card information after you have made a transaction. While it is convenient for you to do this, you must never put your personal information at risk. Major companies have suffered data breaches where consumers’ information have been stolen. Do not let this happen to you! Moreover, never provide your credit card or debit card details over an email or a phone call.

Protect yourself! Be vigilant and strategic whenever you purchase online.

Sources: 1 & 2

Should You Wear Face Shields In Singapore?

According to the Ministry of Health’s guidelines, plastic face shield offers adequate basic protection and can be worn if you need to go out of your home during this period.

For the general public who need to go out of their homes during this period, any mask including reusable masks, DIY masks or plastic face shields, offer adequate basic protection.

Face shields have a number of advantages over masks. It can be more comfortable to wear than a face mask and it is easier to clean and disinfects after each use.

Video by Lindsley et al, 2014/NIOSH

According to a report from JAMA Network, face shields were shown to reduce immediate viral exposure by 96% when worn by a simulated health care worker within 18 inches of a cough. Face shields also protect your eyes and other parts of the face not covered by the face masks.

While face shields offer more advantages, they are are not 100% foolproof. Experts have recommend wearing with face masks to be effective. In addition, practicing good personal hygiene and social distancing should form the first line of defence against the coronavirus.

If you are considering to get a face shield in Singapore, here are some places where you can get them:

#1: PILOXING

#2: HEALTH QIGONG

#3: ZUMBA

Should You Wear Face Shields In Singapore?

Soft-foam Face Shield

Baseball Cap Face Shield

Spectacle Face Shield

Kids Face Shield

Face Shield Hat

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