To borrow a phrase from my girl Miley Cyrus, 2025 came in like a wrecking ball. My family and I rang in the new year with a fresh pack of medical and professional woes that had well overstayed their welcome. I did find some solace in the fact that most of my friends and colleagues were also starting 2025 off in the throes of their own trials and tribulations–when the chips are down, there is some comfort in knowing that you're not facing adversity alone.

During one of the days (weeks?) in which I found myself in a particularly funky funk, I was asked to be the editor of this year's Best of Utah Body and Mind issue. At the time, the television in my mind was stuck on a screen of grayscale static, so I thought a bit of editorial work would be just the ticket to shift my focus from doomscrolling on social media to something a bit more proactive. Once I got started, I realized that this assignment couldn't have come at a better time.

Though I was keeping things together with the help of my lovely family, I soon realized that the barrage of stressors that came out of the woodwork in January really did a number on me. There I was, staring at a list of literally hundreds of health and wellness professionals thinking to myself, "Man, if only there was something I could do to help get me out of this rut."

Though it took longer than it needed to, the realization that I had an entire compendium of Utah's finest healers, trainers, coaches and medical professionals at my fingertips once again hit me like a wrecking ball–but, you know, like a positive one.

With the presentation of the 2025 Best of Utah Body and Mind issue, here's hoping that all the readers out there who are in search of solid ground find a safe harbor. Whether you're in need of therapists to talk through your stress or insecurities, or looking for some alternative medicine to match up with your lifestyle, you've got an excellent resource in your hands.

On behalf of Salt Lake City Weekly, I'd just like to say thanks to all the people who voted for Best of Utah this year and for this great list of do-gooders that we have as a result. As always, remember to take care of each other–and yourselves–out there. If you don't know how to do that, you now have access to hundreds of people who do.

–Alex Springer
Editor, Best of Utah Body and Mind

Skin Spa Utah
By Alex Springer

When it comes to personal health, our internal organs seem to get a bit more of our attention. Considering the fact that our skin happens to be the largest organ we have, it's surprising how easy it is to neglect all that surface area. Taking a more active role in skin care not only has numerous physical benefits, but there are plenty of psychological benefits as well. There's nothing like a dewy complexion to give the old self confidence a boost. Though over-the-counter skin care products are becoming more prominent, skin maintenance is one of those things that is best left to a professional like Kimee Palotta, owner of Skin Spa Utah.

Palotta has been an aesthetician in Utah for the past 24 years, and she has helped Skin Spa Utah evolve throughout that time. "I've always valued the holistic approach and I see the industry going more that way," Palotta says. This is why Skin Spa Utah offers a wide variety of services like acne, hydrafacial and microcurrent treatments, among others. Skin Spa Utah has become known for its wide variety of services, but it's Palotta that makes the experience special for her clients. "I measure success with every client that walks through my door," Palotta notes. "I don't really do any advertising, so everything I have is due to long-term clients that keep coming back and telling friends and family about me."

While the basics of skin care seem like they are one-size-fits-all, Palotta cautions people to remember that everyone's skin is unique. "Your skin is as individual as you are," she stressed. "Just like good health is part of your life, good skin health is a lifelong process." Having a local establishment that bases its treatments and services on the unique needs of the individual is a huge benefit for those who are looking to improve their skin.

As Skin Spa Utah approaches its clients on an individual basis, Palotta and her team have set the expectation to work with clients on their own skin care journey. Even if terms like microcurrents and BioRePeel are new to your vocabulary, the Skin Spa team happily helps its clients select the treatments that will be most effective for them. "Every person who comes in does so because something is up with their skin," Palotta says. "They've tried everything, and to have them come in so I can partner with them on an in-clinic and homecare plan is incredible."

In many ways, Palotta and her team assume the roles of personal trainers when it comes to skin care. Anyone who has been burned on the latest influencer-approved product will come to see the value of that relationship very quickly. "It's part of our culture to compare ourselves to others, and that just puts so much pressure on people," Palotta observed. "I think people put more pressure on looking good than they do on feeling good, and they don't realize it's a whole package."

From a wide range of treatment options to a personal touch that has kept clients spreading the word, Skin Spa Utah has done a lot to earn its Best of Utah accolades. Led by Palotta and her knowledge of Utah's unique climate and culture, Skin Spa Utah remains one of the best places to both learn more about skin health and seek out treatment for any number of skin conditions.

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BEAUTY AND WELLNESS

Best Acne Treatment
Skin Spa Utah
skinspautah.com
2. Salt Lake Dermatology and Aesthetics
3. Swinyer Woseth Dermatology

Best Aesthetician
Kimee Palotta - Skin Spa Utah
skinspautah.com
2. Milly Aponte - Always Smooth Waxing Studio
3. Callie Buttars - Pineapple Express Aesthetics

Best Day Spa
The Kura Door
thekuradoor.com
2. Basalt Day Spa
3. The Cliff Spa

Best Eyebrow Specialist
Kimee Palotta - Skin Spa Utah
skinspautah.com
2. Callie Buttars - Pineapple Express Aesthetics
3. Storie Myers - Studio Storie Microblading

Best Eyelash Extensions
Pineapple Express Aesthetics
pineappleexpressutah.square.site
2. Lashes x Sandra
3. Jessica Lancaster - Designer Lash Collective

Best Facial
Kimee Palotta - Skin Spa Utah
skinspautah.com
2. Always Smooth Waxing Studio
3. Callie Buttars - Pineapple Express Aesthetics

Best Hair Restoration
Lucero Hair and Wellness
lucerohairandwellness.com
2. Utah Facial Plastics Hair Restoration
3. NIMA Institute and Spa

Best Hair Salon
Lunatic Fringe
lunaticfringesalon.com
2. Lucero Hair and Wellness
3. Sugarhouse Parlour

Best Hydrafacial
Skin Spa Utah
skinspautah.com
2. Rise Rejuvenation Center
3. Arlani Medspa

Best Injections and Fillers
Rise Rejuvenation Center
riserejuvenationcenter.com
2. Arlani Medspa
3. Modern SLC Injections & Aesthetics

Best Laser Hair Removal
Beauty Lab + Laser
beautylablaser.com
2. NIMA Institute and Spa
3. Elase Med Spa, American Fork

Best Manicures/Pedicures
Nailed!
nailedboutique.com
2. Sydney Hansen - Honey Cosmetics
3. Lori Lane Sartain - Crow Nail Studio

Best Medical Spa
Arlani Medspa
arlani.com
2. Cameron Wellness and Spa
3. Rise Rejuvenation Center

Best Permanent Cosmetics Education
Studio Storie Microblading
studiostoriemicroblading.com
2. Ero Edge
3. Lilikoi Artistry

Best Permanent Makeup Beauty Shop
Venus House
venushouseslc.com
2. Ero Edge
3. Lilikoi Artistry

Best Tattoo Removal
Removery Tattoo Removal & Fading
removery.com
2. Lilikoi Artistry
3. NIMA Institute and Spa

Best Waxing Salon
Always Smooth Waxing Studio
alwayssmooth.co
2. Pineapple Express Aesthetics
3. Ero Edge

Flow Acupuncture
By Alex Springer

According to a Statista consumer insights survey done in 2023, 21% of Americans prefer alternative medicine to conventional medicine. It's a number that has steadily increased as options for alternative and complementary medicine become available, and Utah has seen some local growth in this area. A conversation with Josh Williams and Dr. Rachel Silverstone of Flow Acupuncture helped shed some light on why more people are investigating alternative medicine.

Williams is a clinical herbalist and Best of Utah alum with multiple wins under his belt. His presence on this year's list continues to show how much he has done for the community. He has been studying plant medicine for 25 years, and has had his own space at Flow for the last year and a half. "I got into herbalism in my late teens because I was disheartened by the medical machine even as a young person," he recalls. "It was originally personal, but it turned into a desire to help others."

Herbalism is what Williams calls "broad spectrum medicine, as long as it's in the hands of a qualified and experienced herbalist." Williams himself focuses on stress, anxiety and sleep issues. "Folks who find their way to working with me are usually at their wits' end," he says. "I get to show people why this medicine has so much longevity and empirical evidence."

As herbalism often goes hand in hand with acupuncture, Williams' practice at Flow has helped it become one of Utah's preferred practices–well, that and the presence of licenced acupuncturists like Dr. Silverstone. After studying Chinese/Daoist medicine in the Wudang Mountains of China, she earned a doctorate in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Five Branches University in Santa Cruz, California. Dr. Silverstone also practices acupuncture at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, where she helps patients deal with some of the side effects of cancer treatments.

Since both Silverstone and Williams maintain a clinical relationship to their practice, both professionals agree that alternative medicine and conventional medicine often operate hand in hand. "Why walk on one leg when you can walk on two?" Silverstone declared. "Western medicine has a lot of strengths like getting imaging for a treatment that isn't responding to acupuncture or spotting other red flags." It's a helpful perspective to have as oftentimes there is a rift between alternative and conventional medicine. The reality is that both schools of thought revolve around healing, and both approaches can complement each other on the path to wellbeing.

After speaking with Williams and Silverstone, it quickly becomes clear that they both share the same love and enthusiasm for helping people feel better. For Williams, herbalism is a way to make his clients aware of medicinal practices that have been effective for centuries. "I like the clinical side of what I do a lot," he says. "Herbalism helps address the whole person rather than the isolated symptom." Silverstone's metric of success is how well her patients get in tune with their own bodies. "I get to facilitate a person's interaction with their own chi, and when I come back into the room, everything feels so peaceful," she reports. "That's how I know I've been successful."

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Finding the Right Alternative Medicine For You

With an entire section of alternative and contemporary medicine at your disposal in this issue, it can be a bit daunting to get started. If you're looking to supplement your medical journey with something a bit more esoteric or just curious about what options are available to you, here are some tips to keep in mind.

Listen to your body. As most alternative medicine employs a holistic approach, it's important to pin down exactly what problem you're having. Is it psychological? Physical? Emotional? Once you've narrowed down where your ailment is living, you can better verbalize what it is. From there, a bit of research on any of the fine providers we've got assembled here should point you in the right direction.

Open your mind. There's nothing wrong with a bit of healthy skepticism, but you should remain open to the process if you're considering an alternative route to medicine. Even with Western medicine, writing off certain practices based on personal or ideological beliefs won't get you anywhere. The same is true for alternative practices. As author Caroline Myss says, "The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind."

Embrace the journey. When it comes to medicine, people tend to get far too hung up on the idea of a cure without paying much attention to the journey. If you can remember that the journey itself is a part of fixing or managing a medical issue, it will help you figure out how to get started. Being honest with every stage of the journey is the best way to reach your wellness destination. (AS)

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COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE

Best Acupuncture Clinic
Flow Acupuncture
flowacupuncture.org
2. Valenti Acupuncture
3. Salt Lake Acupuncture Clinic

Best Acupuncturist/Doctor of Chinese Medicine
Stephanie Scott - Salt Lake Acupuncture Clinic
slcacu.com
2. Rebecca Conde
3. Mallory Berge

Best Ayurveda Practitioner
Josh Williams - Flow Acupuncture
flowacupuncture.org
2. Emma Glass
3. Meghan Hays

Best Birth Photographer
Nicole Hamic
nicolehamic.com
2. Julie Francom
3. Salt City Birth and Newborn Photography

Best Breathwork Facilitator
Katie Schiffgen - Mosaic Yoga
mosaicyoga.squarespace.com
2. Letia Perry - Om Wellness Utah
3. Kat Dickinson - Terra Firma Healing Arts

Best Childbirth Education
Birthsmarter
birthsmarter.com
2. Birth Learning
3. SHAUNTEA Health and Wellness Coalition

Best Chiropractor
Dr. Anthony Simone - Doctor Tony Chiro Clinic
doctortonychiroclinic.com
2. Dr. Brett Grant
3. Dr. Suzanne Cronin

Best Cold Therapy
Glow
glowslc.com
2. Evolve Wellness Collective
3. Rytual Recovery

Best Crystal Shop
Synchronicities Light Energy Gift Emporium
synchronicities1111.com
2. Dave's Health & Nutrition
3. Crystal Healer SLC

Best Doula
Beth Hardy - Heart Tones Birth Services
hearttonesbirth.com
2. Destiny Olsen - SHAUNTEA Health and Wellness Coalition
3. Jamie Kowalk - Heart Tones Birth Services

Best Float Tank
Evolve Wellness Collective
evolvewellness.love
2. Pure Sweat + Float Studio
3. Float Spa 19

Best Halotherapy (Salt Tank)
Evolve Wellness Collective
evolvewellness.love
2. Synchronicities Light Energy Gift Emporium
3. Pain Free Acupuncture

Best Herbalist
Josh Williams - Flow Acupuncture
flowacupuncture.org
2. Rebecca Conde - Earth Center Acupuncture
3. Dave Card - Dave's Health and Nutrition

Best Hypnotherapist
Joesephine Lawrence - Hypnoclarity
hypnoclarityslc.com
2. Chad Anderson - Crystal Healer SLC
3. Drew Melebeck - Influence Therapy & Coaching

Best Integrative Medicine Practice
Cameron Wellness and Spa
cameronwellnessandspa.com
2. Utah Natural Medicine
3. Rising Health Specialty Clinic

Best Kinesiology Practitioner
Dr. Bre Dumke Helfrich - Movement Design Lab
movementdesignlab.com
2. Jim Quist - SLOPE Recovery
3. Michael King - Transformative Energies

Best Life Coach
Corinne Christopherson - Cottonwood Professional Coaching
cottonwoodcoaching.com
2. Kat Dickinson - Terra Firma Healing Arts
3. Anne Dorsey - Milk + Honey Wellness

Best Massage School
Healing Mountain Massage School (Salt Lake Campus)
healingmountain.edu
2. Myotherapy Massage College
3. The Iron Palm Massage Therapy

Best Massage Therapist
Brandee Olsen - Reset Esthetics
vagaro.com/resetestheticsmassage
2. Jeremy Wengreen - Healing Mountain Massage School
3. Christina Jaros - Wicked Wellness

Best Medical Cannabis
Dragonfly Wellness
dragonflywellness.com
2. WholesomeCo Cannabis
3. Beehive Farmacy

Best Natural Health Store
Dave's Health & Nutrition
daveshealth.com
2. Good Earth Markets
3. Natural Grocers

Best Natural IV Drip Therapy
FIKA Infusion + Wellness
fikainfusion.com
2. Cameron Wellness and Spa
3. Rising Health Specialty Clinic

Best Naturopath
Dr. Rachel Burnett - Utah Natural Medicine
utahnaturalmedicine.com
2. Dr. Leslie Peterson - Full Circle Care
3. Dr. Todd Cameron - Cameron Wellness and Spa

Best Nutrition Health Coach
Anne Dorsey - Milk + Honey Wellness
milkandhoneywellness.com
2. Lindsay LaPaugh - LVL Holistics
3. Bailey Nielson - Solstice Holistic Healing and Wellness

Best Psychic
Karen Tao - Breathe Love
breathelove111.com
2. Lauren Stephan - Terra Firma Healing Arts
3. Cheryl Forester - Forester Tarot

Best Reiki Practitioner
Karen Tao - Breathe Love
breathelove111.com
2. Chad Anderson - Crystal Healer SLC
3. Autumn Salinas Kunz - Rabbit Hole Wellness

Best Sound Bath
Breathe Love
breathelove111.com
2. Terra Firma Healing Arts
3. Neon Sky Vibrations

Best Supplement Shop
Dave's Health & Nutrition
daveshealth.com
2. Rising Health Specialty Clinic
3. Natural Law Apothecary

Best Weight-Loss Clinic
Utah Natural Medicine
utahnaturalmedicine.com
2. Rise Rejuvenation Center
3. Unite Fitness Retreat

Best Wellness Center
Terra Care SLC
terracareslc.com
2. Evolve Wellness Collective
3. Flow Acupuncture