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Everyone Should Own A Foam Roller - Here's Why!

Have you ever struggled with recovery when it comes to working out?

If you're into fitness, you've got to get a foam roller! Many people don't realise the plethora of benefits that come with using a foam roller, helping you to not only get the most out of your workouts, but also recover much faster, allowing you get back into your training sessions!

What even is a foam roller?

Essentially, they're a long, round textured object that helps to target and recover certain muscle groups. Foam rollers work primarily as a tool for self trigger point and myofascial release - essentially just massaging your muscles with a textured service. If you workout, you should definitely be investing in one.

You don't have to use one everyday, but it's recommended that you use one at least a couple of days a week to relieve tight muscles and get the most out of your training sessions.

What are the benefits?

When you’ve worked out how to Foam Roll like a pro, you’ll be reaping the health benefits. You’ll be able to essentially look after yourself when it comes to recovery, improving your athleticism and helping to prevent injuries in the future.

How do you add it to your routine?

Foam Rollers can be used before or after a routine. A gentle roll at the beginning of your workout warms up the tissues in your muscles so you're able to workout your muscles properly. When you’re finished working out, use the Foam Roller to isolate specific areas to “roll” out. Not sold on the benefits of a Foam Roller? Why don’t you try one out for yourself! At Only Essentials, we’ve got Foam Rollers made from high-density EVA foam with a textured dotted surface, which is soft to touch for added comfort.

Pick up one today at onlyessential.com.au

Reference Link: https://onlyessentials.com/blogs/news/everyone-should-own-a-foam-roller-heres-why

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Stay Safe and Sanitized with a UV Wand - A Must-Have Accessory

The current climate has seen companies looking for alternative ways to disinfect and sterilise surfaces. For example, manufacturing giants Boeing Co, have been developing and trialing hand held UV wands to sanitise cockpits and cabins onboard flights. Many brands are claiming that hand-held UV-C light wands sanitise everyday items as a means to potentially help mitigate the spread of germs.

Which begs the question, are they worth investing in? If you're having doubts, here’s what you need to know.

What is a UV Wand? A UV Wand is a hand held device aimed to help protect your family from germs and viruses, ensuring safety throughout the home. The disinfection wand emits UVC short-wave ultraviolet rays to eliminate germs in a purely physical way, which is not only efficient but also without drug resistance. Sanitising wands allow you to wave ultraviolet light over anything you might want to disinfect and it’ll be sanitised in between 5-40 seconds.

What is Ultraviolet light? Ultraviolet light, or UV, comes from the sun through the electromagnetic spectrum. It comes in 3 forms: UV-A (ranges from 315 to 400 nanometers), UV-B (from 280 to 315 nanometers) and UV-C (from 100 to 280 nanometers).

What does it do and how does it do it? The latter, UVC (which is used for most disinfecting wands), has the ability of destroying the bonds that hold together the DNA and RNA of viruses and bacteria (pathogens). UVC light is lethal to pathogens because of its high frequency that scrambles and damages their nuclear material. Many practices, inclusive of hospitals, use UVC to decontaminate surgical tools and hospital rooms.

A UV wand incorporates UVC bulbs that eliminates the need for using alcohol or other antibacterial disinfectants. Due to UVC rays having the shortest wavelength, and therefore highest energy, they are more capable of killing pathogens on most surfaces.

What surfaces do they work on? They work best on smooth surfaces with UVC penetrating purely superficially. Unfortunately though, the UVC light can’t get into small spaces meaning items like buttons on phones or keys on keyboards, which are lined with tiny crevices, can't be cleaned properly.

Is UVC light safe for use on humans? UV light should never be used on the skin or any other part of the body. Also, please be aware that you should never look directly at it when using the device for cleaning objects or surfaces as it can damage your eyes.

While UV Wands have not been proven to kill the coronavirus, they have been put through rigorous third-party lab testing to support claims that it kills pathogens and research is still currently being conducted to further prove the positive effects of these devices.

Only Essentials offers 100% Australian owned, protection equipment made for everyday use.

Reference Link: https://onlyessentials.com/blogs/news/uv-wands-kill-germs-here-s-why-you-should-own-one

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Choose The Right Yoga Mat For You

Are you ready for a new yoga mat? Or just looking for an upgrade? Here's 3 things you should be considering before purchasing a new one:

THICKNESS The thickness of your mat is important to get the most out of your practice. For example, thin yoga mats are good for practicing certain positions as they give you more stability. However, a thicker mat will give you more support for your back and other positions that require you to be more reliant on your bones for supporting positions like headstands.

MATERIAL The material of a mat will determine the texture and sustainability component of a mat. The large majority of yoga mats are made up of either vinyl or rubber. Mats made of vinyl are cheaper and easier to clean, whilst rubber mats are usually made up of jute, making them a more sustainable option with added benefits such as being antibacterial and more durable than most.

TEXTURE   People sweat a lot during yoga, especially hot yoga so the type texture you have on your mat  is very important for traction. Get a mat with grip if you tend to sweat a lot.

ONLY ESSENTIAL OPTIONS:

BIODEGRADABLE TPE YOGA MAT

Support your practice with a Biodegradable TPE Yoga Mat made from recyclable materials. This eco-friendly yoga mat is 6mm thick, providing extra cushion and support to make your workout more comfortable. Biodegradable TPE Yoga Mat is also longer than the standard yoga mat to cater to humans of all shapes and sizes.

The Biodegradable TPE Yoga Mat is free from all nasties - made of Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE), a newly developed and patented material that is hypoallergenic, is also 100% PVC free and contains no latex, rubber or toxins.

THICKNESS - 183cm X 66cm X 0.6cm

MATERIAL - TPE

TEXTURE - TEXTURED

BIODEGRADABLE JUTE YOGA MAT

Find your zen with a Biodegradable Jute TPE Yoga Mat. Excellent accessory for all forms of yoga.  Biodegradable Jute TPE Yoga Mat also is known as a linen mat or hemp mat that is a two-in-one yoga mat. This eco-friendly, high-quality, premium natural yoga mat has a unique look and is created by meshing jute fibres with patented Polymer Environmental Resin.

Jute is a natural vegetable plant that takes only 45 months to grow to maturity, making it a sustainable resource. Jute cleans the air by consuming carbon dioxide, and the leaves are a natural soil conditioner. It’s clearly a smart and naturally beautiful choice for a cleaner and safer environment.

Made from a combination of natural jute fibre and eco-friendly TPE. The fibre of a jute plant keeps you in place due to PER - a nontoxic material. Biodegradable Jute TPE Yoga Mat is also both recyclable and biodegradable.

THICKNESS - 183cm X 61cm X 0.5cm

MATERIAL - JUTE

TEXTURE - TEXTURED

BIODEGRADABLE CORK YOGA MAT

Align your chakra with a Biodegradable Cork Yoga Mat made from recyclable materials. This eco-friendly yoga mat is 5MM thick, providing extra cushion and support to make your workout more comfortable. Biodegradable Cork Yoga Mat is also longer than the standard yoga mat to cater to humans of all shapes and sizes. The Biodegradable Cork Yoga Mat is free from all nasties - made from 100% natural, sustainably-sourced premium cork from Portugal bark of oak trees and high-density tree rubber. No trees were cut when making these mats.

THICKNESS -15CM X 15CM X 68CM

MATERIAL - CORK

TEXTURE - TEXTURED

And don’t forget to pick up one of our  Balanced Yoga Towels

A must-have for yoga-goers - the Balanced Yoga Towel is multipurpose, soft in texture, super-absorbent and durable, used to extend the life of your yoga mat or double as an exercise towel. This non-slip, sports, fitness and exercise Yoga Mat Cover Towel Blanket is hygienic and comfortable, helping you to avoid bothering sweat and unfortunate slipping.

Reference Link: https://onlyessentials.com/blogs/news/choose-the-right-yoga-mat-for-you

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Are you ready for a new yoga mat? Or just looking for an upgrade? Here's 3 things you should be considering before purchasing a new one: People sweat a lot during yoga, especially hot yoga so the type texture you have on your mat  is very important for traction.

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How to dispose of your antiviral face masks properly?

The Department of Health and Human Services have announced that essential workers will need over 3.5 billion  disposable face masks over the course 2020. Considering the lifespan of a disposable face mask is recommended to be just once, we need to learn how to properly dispose of face masks, considering that it will inevitably have a huge impact on landfill.

Whilst there are alternatives to disposable masks, there are many reasons why disposable masks are needed for both public and professionals. First of all, many professions require disposable medical face masks due to the ease and accessibility of them. They also offer some of the best protection against COVID-19, with something like a N95 mask filtering out a whopping 95% of all particles.

The general public may also require them for everyday use but it is recommended that they are left for medical professionals. Bearing all this in mind and considering the velocity in which they are being used, how should we dispose of them properly to reduce impact on the environment?  

Here’s some tips for disposing antiviral face masks properly in 2020:

All disposable masks worn should be treated as medical waste. Before disposal, take the mask off correctly, following these guidelines.

Lastly, follow these 5 simple rules from Recycle Coach to be safe:

Don’t throw your face mask in public areas or in bins without sealing the mask first (a plastic slip will work). Don’t throw your face mask in your open waste bin at home. If you’re an essential worker, make sure you put your mask in a sealable medical waste bin. If you’re at home make sure your mask goes in a sealed bin or closed bag. Ensure that you tie up your garbage tightly to keep the masks safely inside.

However, there is an alternative for throwing out your face masks in the rubbish: TerraCycle make safety equipment and protective gear zero waste boxes, which allow you to recycle all your disposals and make them into something new. More info here. Disposing of your face mask properly is vital for your personal eco footprint and reduction of the spread. If done properly, we can help reduce the environmental impact disposable masks have.

If you're looking for an alternative, check out our Hemp and Cloth Mask range, with FREE same day shipping.

Reference Link: https://onlyessentials.com/blogs/news/how-to-dispose-of-your-antiviral-face-masks-properly

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If you are looking for ways to build a great peach and some legs that go for days, you've got to incorporate the “butt basics” into your workout routine. These are some of our favourite exercises to help build the foundations for heavier sessions in the future! Use your body weight or use a stretch band to add an extra element!

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Why vitadrop the daily is the perfect daily supplement?

With the busy nature of our lives, it is easy to not always be on top of our diet and hydration. We train, we drink alcohol sometimes and we don't always get 2 servings of fruit and veg each day. For this reason, we need simple daily supplementation!

Vitadrop was designed to be a vitamin supplement that supports you on every level, and taste's delicious with its Lemon Lime flavour!

We believe strongly that supplements should be simply formulated, without any additives or stimulants so that you can optimise your health, without any side effects.

So what's in The Daily Supplement and what exactly does it do? The Daily Vitadrop supplement is made with 15 different Vitamins, Minerals and Electrolytes and is made with natural flavours.

The benefits of taking this once a day are:

Enhanced energy levels. Physical endurance/stamina and added muscle strength. General wellbeing. Maintains a healthy mood and emotional balance. Helps reduce the symptoms of a hangover. Conveniently mix the highly soluble powder with your favourite drink or water & enjoy! We recommend taking The Daily supplement in the morning or just after a workout.

Give back to yourself and live life on full charge - without compromise!

The Team at OE.

Reference Link: https://onlyessentials.com/blogs/news/why-vitadrop-the-daily-is-the-perfect-daily-supplement

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Yoga Poses For Beginners

If you’re new to yoga, there are certain powers that are essential so you can feel comfortable going into class or doing by yourself without a teacher.

Usually when you start in a yoga class, you spend the majority of your time in there looking at what everyone else is doing trying to compare yourself to others to see if you're doing it right! This is why we suggest doing it at home at first to familiarise yourself with the practice.

These are a few beginner poses that will help get you to a place where you are comfortable enough to do it all by yourself.

1) TRY A DOWNWARD-FACING DOG Most well known of all yoga poses, the Downward Facing Dog is a great stretch for your whole body. Step 1) Start on all fours with your hands directly under your shoulders and knees under your hips. Step 2) Spread your hands wide across your mat - Don't put too much pressure on your wrists. Step 3) Lift your hips and press up and back, drawing your hips toward the sky.  Straighten your legs and press your heels gently toward the floor. If you can't straighten your legs all the way, don't worry, it takes time. Step 4) Relax your head between your arms, facing the back of the room with a flat back. Step 5) Hold for upto 10 breaths and repeat.

2) TRY A MOUNTAIN POSE It may look like you're just standing there but Mountain Pose is actually an active pose that helps improve posture, your balance, and calm focus for the day ahead. Step 1) Stand with your toes as close as they can together. Step 2) Place your weight evenly through both feet. Step 3) Whilst engaging your core, tuck your hips under so your tailbone is pointing down. Step 4) Then, just relax your shoulders and roll them back and down. Step 5) Deep inhale and reach your arms overhead. Step 6) Take long, slow, deep breaths. Step 7) Hold for upto 10 breaths.

3) TRY A CRESCENT LUNGE Great for your lower body, the crescent lunge stretches your groin, hip flexes and your legs of course! Step 1) To start, take a big step forward with whatever foot you choose to start with in a staggered stance. Step 2) Bend your front knee at a 90 degree angle and keep your back leg straight. Square your hips toward the front and keep your opposite heel lifted. Step 3) Hands above head, extend your arms toward the sky and stretch up as you also press into the mat to feel a stretch Step 4) Hold for upto 10 breaths and repeat on the other side.

Enhance your practice from our selected range of yoga equipment

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Making Mask Wearing Normal

Jump On This New Trend - Let’s Normalise Face Mask Wearing.

It’s 2020, a global pandemic is upon us, almost 20 million have contracted the virus worldwide resulting in 729K deaths and only 12M recovered. Australia's economy alone is rapidly declining, with the hospitality sector seeing 70% of businesses forced to reduce the hours of their staff and 43% to either sack workers or place them on unpaid leave.

It’s real, it’s dangerous and it’s here to stay for upwards of 2 years.  It’s time we start normalising certain precautions, like wearing a mask, so we can help to reduce the spread, and possibly get out of this a whole lot quicker.

We are all creatures of habit. We follow trends, we order the same burger off the menu, sit in the same seat in our lectures and wake up at the same time every day. We like what we like and we don’t like change. COVID-19 has forced us to break our routines and slowly taught us how to adapt to a new world. Our lives have changed, and although nobodys happy about it, we must learn to evolve.

Victoria’s Dan Andrews has received a lot of push back when it came to restrictions, with many residents refusing to abide by lock down rules. This has led to a stricter, longer lockdown with mandated mask wearing, reiterating to Victorians that they need to learn to adapt or they will continue to be trapped indoors. If Victorians had just learnt to normalise hygienic practices, they may have not been placed into such a difficult situation.

By adopting this “trend,” Australians will in turn, lead the way for others, who will hopefully follow in our footsteps. We must adapt and normalise certain aspects of COVID-19, as we did with 9/11 and increased airport security or SwineFlu and the changes that came with that. It’s time we band together and learn to adapt to this new world, visit https://onlyessentials.com.au to help normalise mask wearing.

Reference Link: https://onlyessentials.com/blogs/news/making-mask-wearing-normal

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5 Benefits Of Using A Portable UVC Ultraviolet Disinfection Wand

What's portable, easy to use and kills 99.9% of germs? Introducing the Portable UVC Ultraviolet Disinfection Wand.

The Portable UVC Ultraviolet Disinfection Wand is a handheld device that disinfects and sterilises everyday items in just 18 seconds!!! The Portable UVC Ultraviolet Disinfection Wand has so many benefits that not many people know about.

Here’s just a few of the benefits that come with using a UVC Wand:

1) 99.9% Disinfection Rate Quick and effective disinfection, the UVC Wand kills 99.9% of germs, perfect for on the go or at home. 2) Eliminates Germs in Just 18 Seconds Sterilise your masks, household surfaces, phones, and more in just 18 seconds. The Portable UVC Ultraviolet Disinfection Wand is perfect for those who don’t have a lot of spare time to ensure that every surface is clean and hygienic. 3) Reusable With a Long Battery Life The Portable UVC Ultraviolet Disinfection Wand is reusable and a great alternative to antibacterial wipes which can increase landfill, impacting the environment in the long run. The battery life can be used for up to 30 days on a single charge. 4) Portable and Compact Portable and compact, perfect for travel and everyday activities. Disinfect anytime, anywhere with the Portable UVC Ultraviolet Disinfection Wand. 5) High-Quality Material. The UVC Wand is not only made from high-quality material, but it’s also a beautiful design and available in colours pink and white. The Wand also comes with a leather belt for storage purposes.

Whether you're looking for more efficient hygienic practices or you're just seeking something to make your life more convenient, the Portable UVC Ultraviolet Disinfection Wand is for you. High quality, compact, and the ability to sterilize household items in just 18 seconds, the Portable UVC Ultraviolet Disinfection Wand is the perfect additive to your everyday cleaning essentials.

Visit https://onlyessentials.com.au/ to grab yours today!

Reference Link: https://onlyessentials.com/blogs/news/5-benefits-of-using-a-portable-uvc-ultraviolet-disinfection-wand

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Wearing a face mask outside is to become the new norm, with face coverings now mandatory. Apart from a few varying reasons, you should be wearing a face mask at all times when you leave your home for essentials. Whether it be a disposable mask, medical mask, cloth mask, Hemp mask, or reusable face mask, you must ensure that you are wearing a face cover of some kind, properly, at all times.

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Why Choosing A Reusable Covering Is The Better Option?

The environmental impact that disposable face masks have had thus far is like nothing we’ve seen before. Sustainable practices were no longer in practice when the global pandemic became real - with Keep Cups banned from cafes and single-use gloves mandatory at the grocery store. One green practice that we can still implement is using a reusable mask rather than a disposable one.

With a predicted two years of COVID-19 still on the books, this means that thousands of masks will be manufactured, worn and disposed of - probably not correctly either.It got us thinking, how does this all impact the environment? Like from the rules and regulations, the manufacturing process, right to the end of its life?

We briefly looked into the lifecycle of a mask from a global perspective:

Rules Wearing a mask in Eastern Asia has become quite common since SARS back in 2002-2003. Same applies to residents of Japan, who use masks to protect themselves, as well as others from infection. However in western culture, not so much. It is now mandatory in 50 countries to wear a mask in public spaces, with repercussions of fines or jail time. This has been great for reducing transmission, however not great for the environment considering disposable masks are a cheaper alternative.

Production Supply has been a major issue - with China being the main source. China had no longer allowed subcontractors to export, as they wanted to look after their own first. This left major shortages in Italy, Spain, and Egypt, leading to a mass spread of the virus and an increase in mask production. However, environmental practices are slowly being implemented so that we have access to a more sustainable option for face masks.

Use and throw Contributing to the already some 8 million tonnes of plastics, COVID-19 waste could contribute an extra predicted 66,000 tonnes of contaminated waste and 57,000 tonnes of plastic packaging. Most countries lack guidelines on how to actually dispose of facemasks properly.

In many countries, masks simply end up in the street, beach, or the countryside. Most face masks are made up of polypropylene, a dense material that degrades over countless decades. To limit the ecological damage scientists are seeking ways to decontaminate surgical masks to allow repeated use.

If you're looking for an alternative, check out our Hemp and Cloth Mask range, with FREE same day shipping. We also offer Portable UVC Ultraviolet Disinfection Wands to help mitigate the spread.

Reference Link: https://onlyessentials.com/blogs/news/life-cycle-of-a-face-mask-why-choosing-a-reusable-covering-is-the-better-option

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Isolation, combined with the closure of many gyms, has made it much more difficult to exercise. We’re all working from home, resulting in us missing out on that vital exercise we took for granted everyday - running for the tram or walking up stairs at work have now become 8 hours of sitting down, with the only exercise most people are getting is walking to the fridge and back.

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In It For The Long Run: Victorians Looking At Years Of Face Masks And Restrictions

In order to help eliminate the Coronavirus, Victorians are looking at a permanent lifestyle change for years to come. Face coverings and ongoing restrictions are to become a permanent part of our lives for the foreseeable future - with Dan Andrews now suggesting that “elimination is no longer an option at this point.”

“The endpoint is to lower numbers and get numbers as low as possible so that we can have confidence that we can manage the inevitable outbreaks that will occur, and the inevitable transmission that we will see,’’ Mr. Andrews has said

“But again, if you opened up now … there is no flattening of the curve, there’s no moderate outcome, it takes off like a bushfire, and you’ve got no chance of putting it out.”

Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has backed these statements, confirming that the precautions Victoria has taken are acting as suppression methods, rather than elimination, lasting for years rather than weeks.

“There may be a path that has very, very low case numbers with a kind of baseline level restrictions, universal mark wearing, changed human behaviours very broadly applied across the population that can keep numbers low,” Mr. Sutton said.

“But I think it always comes with the danger that it can re-emerge and take off again.”

He also signalled that wearing face masks will continue to remain as a permanent restriction for the time being, depicting that “Cloth masks worn broadly in the community can have a significant effect’’. Until a vaccine is found for the killer virus, restrictions and face masks will be a permanent feature for daily life. There is no “end game” for Victorians, just suppression methods, helping to reduce the spread.

It’s time we band together and learn to adapt to this new world, visit onlyessentials dot com dot au to help normalise mask wearing. Originally published as Victoria faces years of restrictions.

Reference Link: https://onlyessentials.com/blogs/news/in-it-for-the-long-run-victorians-looking-at-years-of-face-masks-and-restrictions

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5 Tips To Help Out About Maskne

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends that cloth masks should be worn rather than medical disposable masks - the type of material used for masks really affects how your skin reacts and breaths. The best masks are either made of hemp or coffee yarn - all of which are breathable, soft and gentle on the skin. Other methods to alleviate acne caused by masks include:

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CDC Mask Guidelines Today

It might be right in front of your nose, but the CDC mask guidelines today are asking people to take another look at their masks. Results from a recent study revealed that certain masks are not as protective as we may think.

With the highly-infectious Omnicron variant causing cases to soar, doctors and healthcare systems are asking the public to opt for more protective masks. We know that many people have chosen to use cloth masks for comfort and environmental reasons. Though somewhat safe, infectious disease specialists explain that single-layer cloth masks are only effective at blocking larger virus particles.

Studies reveal that it takes as little as 27 minutes for Covid-19 to transmit between two people wearing cloth masks. This number only increases to 1 hour for two people wearing surgical masks. However, the KN95 mask, designed to have a close facial fit and efficient filtration system, offers a staggering 25 hours of protection for both parties.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are guiding people to wear multi-layered, tightly woven cloth masks that have a wire nose bridge and sit snugly on the face. The KN95 mask offers the best protection but wearing both a surgical and cloth mask is the second-best option for children and people with facial hair.

If you’re looking for more ways to keep yourself and others safe, take a look at our line of quality protective products.

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Nutrition Tips To Improve Health For Everyone

We often get so caught up in this idea that nutrition is complicated and we need to take supplements/powders/potions to optimise our health. More often than not optimising our diet is sometimes as simple as adding more variety, focusing on plant-based foods, and reducing processed foods, sugars, and added salts.