Albany, NY Drs and Health Practioners

A student of Chinese medicine for more than 25 years, Hayley Mermelstein supplements her acupuncture and shiatsu massage with energy healing from the Tong Ren tradition of her mentor Tom Tam. Her studies began in 1987 under the guidance of Janet Murphy at the University of Massachusetts, where she designed her own major in shiatsu, and she opened a practice immediately upon graduation. Today, Mermelstein also leads meditation classes following the principles of her teacher Ellen Tadd. In 2003, Hayley completed her formal acupuncture training, graduating from the New England School of Acupuncture and White Pine Healing Arts and earning a mortarboard that doubles as an emergency massage bed.

Dr. Steven Yarinsky spruces up facial façades with an array of high-tech surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures. After a five-year general-surgery residency, Dr. Yarinsky devoted two years to intensive study in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Every three years, he returns for 150 hours of additional schooling to brush up on the latest treatments. Whether he's working on the face, breasts, tummy, or antlers, the doctor strives to keep final results natural in an effort to bolster patients' confidence in their own beauty. Dr. Yarinsky performs all Botox and filler treatments. Alongside the doctor, a team of highly trained nurses, techs, and licensed massage therapists perform med-spa treatments such as laser procedures, BioMedic peels, and microdermabrasion.

"After a long and arduous tooth-filled day," Dr. Shiloh Lieberman writes, "I unwind at home by soaking in my custom-made, bicuspid shaped bathtub, then jumping in my molar-shaped bed and drifting off to sleep counting incisors jumping over dental floss." Such a unique and all-consuming love of dentistry is understandably necessary for a dentist who painstakingly combines 30 years of experience with top-of-the-line technology to treat visitors at his comprehensive practice. An active member in professional and philanthropic organizations, a researcher, and a university mentor who keeps school buildings' teeth bright, Dr. Lieberman tackles cosmetic and restorative dentistry from many angles in a comfortable office replete with complimentary beverages and snacks, and a DVD player and massage chair in each room. He's still passionate, however, about sports and art, and he's committed to community service, which he performs with charitable dental organization Crown Council.

Only five Sculptor machines reside in the United States and one of them can be found in Amra Domazet's health studio, Sculptor Body Contouring. Amra, a certified laser technician, travelled to Arizona to be trained on this unique device that noninvasively slims physiques and tightens skin, allowing her clients to beautify their bodies without going under the knife.

Also in Arma's high-tech tool kit are lasers for fighting spider veins, body hair, and unwanted tats, as well IPL facial units and a miniature Hubble telescope.

At Alternative Health Services Massage Therapy, massage therapists understand their clients' desires to escape life's daily doldrums and provide a relaxing space of total tranquility. The spa's menu features almost 10 different types of massage, including both therapeutic and energy-based treatments. Add-ons such as aromatherapy and reiki enhance massages in private treatment rooms, where licensed and experienced therapists trade in scripted massages for custom techniques, varied pressures, and a trashcan to throw away excess muscle knots.

At CLINIC Alternative Medicines, a team of massage therapists, acupuncturists, and holistic healers congregate in a like purpose: to heal the body without the use of drugs or surgery. Their approach to this mission involves a range of hands-on treatments such as massage and reiki sessions along with holistic modalities designed to tap into the body’s energy to locate and heal the source of illnesses. Before treating patrons with reflexology, nutritional therapy, or mind body counseling, the team demonstrates their commitment to wellness by consulting with each client to better understand their condition and goals.