Best Health & Recreation
Best Acupuncture Clinic
FIVE BRANCHES UNIVERSITY
1. Five Branches has been providing traditional Chinese medicine and integrative healthcare to the Santa Cruz community since 1984.
2. There are two campuses, nine programs, 14 classrooms, 38 treatment rooms, 200 teachers, 450 students, and 1500 alumni.
3. Five Branches offers a four-year Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine (MTCM) program and a three-year Master of Acupuncture (MAc) program.
4. On a daily basis, Five Branches usually sees about 160 patients a day.
5. Areas of expertise at Five Branches include cardiology; ear, nose and throat; neurology; pain management and more. | AMANDA EDWARDS
Best Yoga Studio
DIVINITREE YOGA AND ARTS STUDIO
1. There are two Divinitree studios in Santa Cruz; one on the Westside, and one in Midtown.
2. Divinitree offers classes in Hatha Flow, Kundalini Fusion, Power Vinyasa and much more.
3. Divintree also offers intensive teacher training classes for teaching certification.
4. Divinitree supports many non-profits such as Community Garden and Trees for the Future.
5. The studio offers retreats like the Morocco Yoga and Surf Retreat, June 6-13. | AMANDA EDWARDS
Best Running Store
FLEET FEET SPORTS
1. Opened in 2010, Aptos’ Fleet Feet Sports is locally owned and operated by Russ and Tina Coillot; Tina is a graduate of Soquel High.
2. The owners call their philosophy behind the store a “fitlosophy”—from choosing shoes to making a training regimen work in a busy lifestyle, “fit is everything.”
3. The store sponsors training runs, like their twice-weekly “Spring Half-Marathon Training” which continues from March 28 to May 17.
4. Fleet Feet received has received funding the last two years from the Wharf to Wharf Community Foundation for its “Project Fit” after-school running program at local elementary and middle schools.
5. The store’s “Adopt-an-Athlete” program encourages participants to help fund shoes, training programs and race fees for veterans, economically disadvantaged youth and other community members in need. | STEVE PALOPOLI
Best Vitamin Supplements
STAFF OF LIFE
1. Staff of Life’s vitamin department has one of the largest selections in northern California.
2. Many products are petroleum and animal testing-free.
3. The stated mission of the store’s vitamin department is to “educate in a social, comforting, and cheerful environment and create awareness for alternative medicines and local companies.”
4. The department’s manager, Sierra Hagberg, has 25 years experience working with vitamins.
5. Sleep supports, essential fatty acids and probiotics are currently among the most popular products in the department. | AMANDA EDWARDS
Acupuncture Clinic
FIVE BRANCHES UNIVERSITY
200 7th Ave., #115, Santa Cruz, 476-8211, fivebranches.edu
RUNNERS-UP Flux Acupuncture, Communi-Qi
Bike Shop
ANOTHER BIKE SHOP
2361 Mission St., Santa Cruz, 427-2232, anotherbikeshop.com
RUNNERS-UP Bicycle Trip, Spokesman
Chiropractor
CHARLES GOODWIN
111 Dakota Ave., #2, Santa Cruz, 429-1188
RUNNERS-UP McCollum Family Chiropractic, Katie Griffin
Dentist
A. GAVIN MCCLURE
525 Center St., Santa Cruz, 426-1343, newstreetdentalsantacruz.com
RUNNERS-UP Kevin Ippisch, Harry R. Rasmussen
Doctor
RACHEL ABRAMS, MD
740 Front St., Suite 130, Santa Cruz, 465-9088, santacruzintegrativemedicine.com
RUNNERS-UP Maria Greaves, MD, Amy Solomon, MD
Esthetician
PEGGY HUMPHRIES at BUTTERFLY ESTHETICS
1045 Water St., Santa Cruz, 459-7546, butterflyesthetics.com
RUNNERS-UP Sue Bell at Simply Skin Esthetics, Jennalee Dahlen at Santa Cruz Skin Solutions
Golf Course
DELAVEAGA
401 Upper Road, Santa Cruz, 423-7212, delaveagagolf.com
RUNNERS-UP Pasatiempo, Seascape
Gym
TOADAL FITNESS
113 Lincoln St., Santa Cruz, 423-3764
1200 17th Ave., #108, Santa Cruz, 464-3764
816 Bay Ave., Capitola, 475-1500
6200 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 475-5979
3004 Mission St. Extension, Santa Cruz, 466-3764
RUNNERS-UP In Shape, Santa Cruz Core Fitness
Lasik
FURLONG VISION
Bayshore Plaza, 2107 N 1st St., #101, San Jose, (408) 453-5600, furlongvision.com
RUNNER-UP Rex Shei
Natural Foods Store
NEW LEAF COMMUNITY MARKETS
1101 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz, 426-1306
1134 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 425-1793
1210 41st Ave., Capitola, 479-7987
RUNNERS-UP Staff of Life, Food Bin
Martial Arts
SANFORD’S MARTIAL ARTS
4626 Soquel Drive, Soquel, 475-9676, sanfordkarate.com
RUNNERS-UP Elite, Tao San Fitness
Medical Marijuana Club
KINDPEOPLES COLLECTIVE
3600 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, 471-8562, kindpeoples.org
RUNNERS-UP Santa Cruz Mountain Naturals, Granny Purps
Massage Therapist
JAY NEGRON
317 Potrero St, Santa Cruz, 425-9500, therapeuticbodyworkandmassage.com
RUNNERS-UP Tomek Walas, Shannon Brown
Naturopath
JULI MAZI, ND
2840 Park Ave., Ste. A, Soquel, Santa Cruz, 731-5882, thrivenatmed.com/naturopathic-doctor-juli-mazi
RUNNERS-UP Aimee Gould Shunney, ND, Tonya Fleck, ND
Nutritionist
JOCELYN DUBIN at NOURISH
130 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz, 429-9355, nourishsantacruz.com
RUNNERS-UP Healthy Way, Jaimi Ellison
Orthodontist
JOHN A. HEDRICK
550 Water Street, Santa Cruz, 427-2822, hedrickorthodontics.com
RUNNERS-UP Mark Joiner, North Coast Orthodontist
Outdoor Store
OUTDOOR WORLD
1440 41st Ave., Capitola, 479-1501
136 River St., Santa Cruz, 423-9555
theoutdoorword.com
RUNNERS-UP Patagonia, Down Works
Personal Trainer
DANIEL JAHANGARD
RUNNERS-UP Rocky Snyder, Dio Santiago
Vitamin/Supplements
STAFF OF LIFE
1266 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-8632, staffoflifemarket.com
RUNNERS-UP Way of Life, New Leaf
Pilates
AGILE MONKEY
121 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz, 458-4125, agilemonkey.net
RUNNERS-UP Pleasure Point Pilates, Body in Motion
Running Store
FLEET FEET
26 Rancho Del Mar, Aptos, 662-0886, fleetfeetaptos.com
RUNNER-UP Santa Cruz Running Company
Skate Park
SCOTTS VALLEY SKYPARK
361 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley
RUNNERS-UP Derby, Mike Fox
Skate Shop
BILL’S WHEELS
1240 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, 469-0904, billswheels.com
RUNNERS-UP Skate Works, Boardroom
Spa (pampering)
CHAMINADE SPA & RESORT
1 Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz, 475-5600, chaminade.com
RUNNERS-UP Well Within, Caress
Spa (soaking)
WELL WITHIN SPA
417 Cedar St., Santa Cruz, 458-9355, wellwithinspa.com
RUNNERS-UP Tea House Spa, Kiva
Sporting Goods
PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS
4770 Soquel Drive, Soquel, 475-1988, playitagainsports-soquel.com
RUNNERS-UP Outdoor World, Santa Cruz Running Co.
Snowboarding/Skiing
HELM
1408 41st Ave., Capitola, 462-6800, helmofsunvalley.com
RUNNERS-UP Outdoor World, Play It Again
Stand-up paddleboard
COVEWATER
726 Water St., Santa Cruz, 600-7230, covewatersup.com
RUNNERS-UP SUP Shack, Kayak Connection
Surf School
RICHARD SCHMIDT SURF SCHOOL
236 San Jose Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-0928, richardschmidt.com
RUNNERS-UP Club Ed, Surf School Santa Cruz
Surf Shop
O’NEILL
110 Cooper St., #100D, Santa Cruz, 469-4377, oneill.com
RUNNERS-UP Pacific Wave, Freeline
Surf Spot
PLEASURE POINT
RUNNERS-UP Steamer Lane, Hook
Swim School
SEAHORSE SWIM SCHOOL
1505 Seascape Blvd., Aptos, 476-7946, seahorseswimschool.com
RUNNERS-UP Adventure Sports, Simpkins Family Swim Center
Therapist
DANIEL “DANA” BLUMROSEN
303 Potrero St., Santa Cruz, 454-8270, opendoorpsychotherapy.com
RUNNERS-UP Elizabeth Esalen, Cyndie Lane
Yoga Instructor
VICTOR DUBIN at NOURISH
130 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz, 429-9355, nourishsantacruz.com
RUNNERS-UP Hannah Muse, Alice Kennedy
Yoga Studio
DIVINITREE YOGA
1043 Water St., Santa Cruz, 421-0518,divinitree.com
2805 Mission St. Santa Cruz, 458-8212
RUNNERS-UP Luma Yoga, Pacific Cultural Center
