They grew up together and later pursued the same line of work. Yet it wasn’t until local chiropractor Orion Mahoney planted the seed of an idea that they thought about joining forces.

Heather Segault and Kimmy Clancy are opening a massage business together in Eastsound. The women say it is a “collaboration of family and friends.”

Island Massage Studio is located in Suite 103 in the Village Plaza on North Beach Road. It has two private rooms for therapeutic, deep tissue, and hot stone massage as well as an area for waxing and facials, which Segault’s mother-in-law Marsha will offer. Segault’s step mother Kate Wood will provide balancing energy work from Japan called Jin Shin.

The studio will also feature local crafts: Clancy’s pottery will be for sale as well as Cathy Vierthaler’s knitted items, Betty Marcum’s quilts, and Carol Anderson’s body products. The storefront will be open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., but body work is available any time by appointment.

There will be a grand opening party for Island Massage Studio on Saturday, March 19 from 1 to 4 p.m. Segault and Clancy invite the community to stop by for refreshments, discounted gift certificates, chair massage, and a chance to win prizes.

Segault graduated from Arcata School of Massage in 2006. She was always interested in the field but it wasn’t until working as a certified nursing assistant in a long-term care facility that she recognized the power of human contact.

“There was one woman who was very ill and she couldn’t sleep,” Segault said. “After she had therapeutic touch she would sleep the entire night. The effect was instant. That was the first moment I could see myself doing massage.”

Heather is married to Joseph Segault and has two children: Caleb, seven, and Lula, two. She enjoys doing pilates, relaxing at the lake with her kids, and reading avidly.

Clancy loves to garden, dance, spend time with her boyfriend Dustin Fox, and work on ceramics. She is employed part-time as a receptionist at Dr. Stephen Bailey’s dental office and completed her massage training last fall at the Port Townsend School of Massage.

“You get to use what you learn right away,” she said. “It’s a great avenue to expand and grow. It’s very inspiring work.”

Contact Island Massage Studio

Heather Seagault: 376-1434, 317-4473 or youreminence@care2.com

Kimmy Clancy: 376-1434, 317-4202 or kimmyclancy@hotmail.com