Best Acupuncturist in the Triangle: Austin Dixon
INDY: There are so many reasons to try acupuncture: from post-surgical recovery to stress relief to aiding in digestion to, as many women will attest, fertility enhancement. Austin Dixon, a licensed acupuncturist based in Durham, has served clients around the Triangle since relocating here from New York City, where she received her formal training at the renowned Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. She’s worked at City Acupuncture of New York, a high-volume, low-cost clinic, and did an internship in the HIV clinic at St. Vincent’s Hospital. Dixon also spent time observing in hospitals in China through a program offered by the Beijing University of TCM, and is a certified Kundalini yoga teacher. Her well-rounded, holistic approach to functional, non-traditional medicine shows in her practice.
Finalists: Carmela Mager, Li-Lan Hsiang Weiss, Tory Hendrix
Best Aesthetician in the Triangle: Jennifer Delamar-Goss, Fabulously Flawless
5640 Six Forks Road, #203, Raleigh, fabulouslyflawlessnc.com/team
Finalists: Colette Tomasi, Colette Skincare; Mariah Ewald, Posh the Salon; Lindsey Westendorf, Smoothe LLC
Best Barber Shop in the Triangle: Revelry Barber & Shave Shop
101 North Main Street, Fuquay-Varina, facebook.com/revelrybarbernc
Finalists: Dennis Best Men’s Salon, Rock’s Bar and Hair Shop, Van-tique Barbershop
Best Chiropractor in the Triangle: Dr. Blake Livingood
1901 Northwest Cary Parkway, #111, Morrisville, trianglehealthcenter.com
Finalists: Dr. Drew Kluger, Dr. Greg Barnes, Dr. Michael Poplak
Best Couples Therapist in the Triangle: Adrienne Alden
INDY: When we think of couples therapy, the first place our minds go is that terrible movie Couples Retreat, where married couples travel to an island resort and learn strange methods to prevent divorce. In real life, couples therapy is a lot less scary than the movie makes it out to be. (To be fair, feeding sharks with Vince Vaughn is about the most horrifying experience imaginable; feeding Vince Vaughn to sharks, on the other hand …). If you and your partner find yourselves fighting about the same thing day after day, you may want to seek help from Adrienne Alden, an experienced therapist who specializes in illuminating problematic relationship patterns and teaching clients a new way of engaging with each other. Fighting is inevitable, but there’s a right way to do it, and Alden can show you how.
Finalists: Jen Wynn, Laurie Watson, Michael Sleigh
Best Day Spa in the Triangle: The Umstead Hotel and Spa
100 Woodland Pond Drive, Cary, theumstead.com
INDY: Nestled on twelve acres of lush landscaping on a secluded lake, The Umstead Hotel and Spa is a retreat haven for locals and visitors alike. Whether it’s a one-day respite or several glorious days spent off-the-grid and surrounded by nature—and plenty of pampering—there’s no shortage of relaxing treatments like a facial or deep tissue massage, as well as rejuvenating activities like lounging poolside, relishing in the spa’s jacuzzi and sauna, or enjoying a yoga class, to help you hit the reset button and detox your mind, body, and soul. The spa is just a half-mile from William B. Umstead State Park, so enlist a friend for a weekend getaway to explore the exceptional nearby terrain on foot, or take advantage of the twenty-four-hour fitness center before you sip on an afternoon cocktail by the pool beneath a cabana.
Finalists: Alossi Renewal Spa, Azura Skin Care Center, Spa Retreat Cary
Best Dentist in Durham County: Dr. Jenny Citineni, Triangle Kids Pediatric Dentistry
3115 Academy Road, Durham, trianglekidsdentist.com
Finalists: Dr. Amy Gadol, Dr. Harold Speight, Dr. Michael Riccobene, Riccobene Associates Family Dentistry
Best Dentist in Orange / Chatham County: Dr. Shaina Holman, DDS, PhD
1836 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Chapel Hill, holmanfamilydentalcare.com
Finalists: Dr. David Lee Hill, Dr. Dennis Ellis, Dr. Jeffrey West, Dr. Joel Wagoner
Best Dentist in Wake County: Dr. Justin Russo, Russo Dentistry
3811 Ed Drive, #120, Raleigh, russoddsraleigh.com
Finalists: Dr. Archie Cook Jr., Signature Smiles; Dr. Heath Brantley, Wendell Family Dentistry; Dr. Jessica Forestier, Britt Dental; Dr. Michael Riccobene, Riccobene Associates Family Dentistry
Best Dermatologist in the Triangle: Dr. Mark Fradin, Chapel Hill Dermatology
891 Willow Drive, #1, Chapel Hill, chapelhilldermatology.com
Finalists: Dr. Amy Stein, Regional Dermatology; Dr. Elizabeth Hamilton, Regional Dermatology; Dr. Sue Ellen Cox, Aesthetic Solutions
Best Gym in Durham County: Levin Jewish Community Center
1937 West Cornwallis Road, Durham, levinjcc.org
Finalists: The 360 Approach, Camp Gladiator, Ride Cycle Studio
Best Gym in Orange /Chatham County: Camp Gladiator
Finalists: The Coalition, Planet Fitness, UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont
Best Gym in Wake County: Camp Gladiator
Finalists: Arise Athletics, North Raleigh Fit Body Boot Camp, Original Strength Institute
Best Hair Salon in Durham County: Vent Salon
1125 West North Carolina Highway 54, #206, ventsalon.com
Finalists: The Cottage Salon, Kem’s Looking Glass Salon, Posh the Salon
Best Hair Salon in Orange / Chatham County: to the woods
601 West Rosemary Street, #103, Chapel Hill, tothewoodssalon.com
Finalists: Ceremony Salon, Lavish Beauty Lounge, Syd’s Hair Shop Inc.
Best Hair Salon in Wake County: Tone Hair Salon
808 Salem Woods Drive, #105, Raleigh, tonehairsalon.com
Finalists: Bacio Salon, Blo, Pinup Studio
Best Holistic Medicine in the Triangle: Dr. Stephen Gangemi
10295 U.S. Highway 15-501 North, Chapel Hill, drgangemi.com
Finalists: Armonia Health LLC, InsideOut Body Therapies, Integrative Medical Clinic of North Carolina
Best Martial Arts Studio in the Triangle: Krav Maga
6905 Fayetteville Road, #102, Durham, trianglekravmaga.com
INDY: People train in martial arts for many reasons. Some are attracted to the grueling and gratifying nature of combat sports; for others, a more holistic and historical approach satisfies. But for those seeking a no-frills, self-defense-driven course of study, Krav Maga has become a popular way to gain an intense workout while developing techniques directed toward real-world confrontations. Triangle Krav Maga focuses on “practical applications over acrobatic kicks” and seeks to “equip responsible citizens with the necessary skills to neutralize threats quickly,” according to its Facebook page. With classes running seven days a week, TKM offers options for all walks of life, covering conditioning and self-defense as well as age-tailored classes for kids and sessions specific to law enforcement officers.
Finalists: Chapel Hill Quest Martial Arts, Quest Martial Arts Raleigh, Triangle’s Best Karate
Best Massage Therapist in the Triangle: Kelly Cox, LMBT, Randori Bodywork
1821 Fordham Boulevard, Chapel Hill
Finalists: BodyWork by Ginger, LMBT; Brittany Herzberg, LMBT; Matthew Fecteau, LMBT
Best Optometry Practice in the Triangle: Academy Eye Associates
Finalists: Carrboro Family Vision, Triangle Visions Optometry, Woldorff Family Optometry
Best Pediatric Practice in the Triangle: Regional Pediatrics
4022 Freedom Lake Drive, Durham, dukehealth.org
Finalists: Chapel Hill Pediatrics; Jeffers, Mann, and Artman Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine; Triangle Health Center
Best Personal Trainer in the Triangle: Chan Little
Finalists: Dani Almeyda, Hardee Merritt, JoJo Polk
Best Pilates Studio in Durham County: InsideOut Body Therapies
5720 Fayetteville Road, #101, Durham, insideoutbodytherapies.com
Finalists: Base Pilates & Movement, Bull City Pilates and Massage, Fitness @ The Cube
Best Pilates Studio in Orange / Chatham County: Spira Pilates Studio
601 West Main Street, Carrboro, spirapilates.com
Finalists: barre3 Chapel Hill, Carolina Core Pilates, Pilates at Studio 8
Best Pilates Studio in Wake County: Barre-Up
4224 Beryl Road, Suite A, Raleigh, barreupraleigh.com
Finalists: 110 Hot Yoga, Blue Sky Pilates, PBX Pilates Barre Extreme
Best Primary Care Practitioner in the Triangle: Dr. Oscar Cornelio-Flores
Finalists: Dr. Blake Livingood, Dr. Henry Van Pala, Ivy Todd, PA
Best Therapist in the Triangle: Amber Diamond, MA, LPCA
mathewscounseling.net/our-therapists/amber-diamond
Finalists: Dr. Adam Mathews, PhD, LMFT, LPC; Adrianne Robinson, LCSW, LCAS, PLLC; Allison Grubbs, LCSW, LCAS, CCS, CDWF, RYT; Amy Baker, MSW, LCSW
Best Women’s Health Practice in Durham County: Durham Women’s Clinic
209 East Carver Street, Durham, durhamwomensclinic.com
Finalists: Duke Women’s Health Associates at Patterson Place; Durham Obstetrics and Gynecology at North Duke Street; Family Care, PA; Women’s Health Alliance PA (Centre OB/GYN)
Best Women’s Health Practice in Orange / Chatham County: Chapel Hill OBGYN / Women’s Health Alliance
120 Conner Drive, #101, Chapel Hill, chapelhillobgyn.com
Finalists: Mosaic Comprehensive Care, North Carolina Women’s Hospital, Women’s Birth & Wellness Center
Best Women’s Health Practice in Wake County: Mid-Carolina Obstetrics & Gynecology
4414 Lake Boone Trail, #300, Raleigh, midcarolinaobgyn.com
Finalists: Arbor OB/GYN, Kamm McKenzie OB/GYN, Triangle Physicians for Women
Best Women’s Health Practitioner in Durham County: Michelle Kessler, PA-C
209 East Carver Street, Durham, durhamwomensclinic.com
Finalists: Dr. Amy Broach, Dr. Nicolette Schreiber; Wendy Fields, FNP
Best Women’s Health Practitioner in Orange / Chatham County: Dr. Joshua L. Hardison
Finalists: Amy Dixon, CNM, MSN; Maureen Darcey, CNM; Wendy Fields, FNP
Best Women’s Health Practitioner in Wake County: Dr. Ashley Rush
Finalists: Dr. Jack Inge, Dr. L Carter Gray, Dr. Philip Deibel
Best Yoga Studio in Durham County: Global Breath Studio
119 West Main Street, #300, Durham, globalbreath.org
Finalists: Community Power Yoga, Durham Yoga Company, ThreeHouse Studios
Best Yoga Studio in Orange / Chatham County: Carrboro Yoga Company
200 North Greensboro Street, Carrboro, carolinayogacompany.com
Finalists: barre3 Chapel Hill, Franklin Street Yoga Center, Loving Kindness Yoga School
Best Yoga Studio in Wake County: YoBa Studio
5003 Falls of Neuse Road, Suite G, Raleigh, yobastudio.com
INDY: It’s no secret that the yogis of Raleigh love a good sweat. With an abundance of hot yoga offerings available in Oak City, from Open Door Yoga to Midtown Yoga, Element Hot Yoga to everyone’s favorite corporate mainstay, CorePower Yoga. And then there’s YoBo Studio, voted best in Wake County by #SweatADay diehards. With upbeat playlists in a warm, therapeutic setting, YoBa boasts an array of signature offerings including YoBaShine BARRE and even yoga and barre hybrid classes in which exercises performed at a ballet barre make you quake and shake in places you didn’t even know you had, toning your glutes, core, arms, and legs for a total-body workout. The room is heated to eighty-five degrees with far-infrared panels that penetrate the skin two to three inches into the body to warm you from the inside-out; infrared light improves blood flow and circulation while also maintaining healthy blood pressure. Not sure you can handle the heat? Be sure to nama-stay for the cool-down with meditation and savasana, or try YoBaShine Flow and Deep Stretch for a more passive, relaxing practice.
Finalists: Colors of Yoga Raleigh, Element Hot Yoga, Midtown Yoga Raleigh
Support independent journalism. Join the INDY Press Club to help us keep fearless watchdog reporting and essential arts and culture coverage viable in the Triangle.
