BELEAGUERED Bury businessmen and women can now adopt a strict "hands-on" approach to ease the rigors of executive stress.

For Ramsbottom woman Julia Heys has launched her own corporate massage company to treat stressed-out bosses and workers.

Her healing hands are designed to return stricken staff back to their desks feeling more positive and refreshed.

Julia, of Lancaster Avenue, explained: "Demands at work and home can make us feel tense and irritable.

"These are symptoms of stress. Some people respond well to small amounts of stress, but sustained high levels of pressure can be dangerous - bringing on negative symptoms such as low morale or illness.

"Research shows that 80 per cent of all illness is stress related. And stress related absenteeism in Britain loses industry 80 million working days and £6.7 billion each year."

Julia, who has just opened a practice in Deansgate, Manchester, travels to the workplace where she treats everyone from the managing director to the shop floor worker.

And she feels that stress is something that should be addressed by employers.

"Rapid staff turnover is a costly problem for businesses," points out Julia.

"One solution to stress in the workplace is corporate massage. Developed in America, this simple and cost-effective method of stress relief has gained popularity and success with forward-thinking companies worldwide. "A 15-20 minute session seated massage on a specially-designed chair helps employees and employers take time-out from work and return feeling more positive, refreshed and focused."

She went on: "Administered in the workplace, there is no need to remove clothing and no oil is used. All you have to do is sit down and relax."

Julia's corporate massage company is called "Doshadosha", an Indian reference, and has been launched after two years of involvement in massage and bodywork.

She was taught at different colleges and has diplomas in body pressure and acupressure massage as well as Indian head massage.

The Ramsbottom woman used to work in London as an interior designer before becoming pregnant.

She subsequently moved to Manchester and when her daughter was born, decided not to continue with her previous career.

Commenting on her marketing techniques to help bolster her new business, Julia explained: "I'm targeting companies which I think are forward-thinking and are into ideas like corporate massage.

"When I've given demonstrations, they've loved it. It's not just for bosses, but for everyone really. Office workers in particular benefit from the sessions."

The 28-year-old hopes her newly-opened practice in Manchester city centre will also reap rewards.

"It means people can come in at lunchtime or after a heavy shopping session."

Now, thanks to Julia's expertise, she's set to become a welcome temporary addition to many local workforces.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.