'You wouldn't use a monkey wrench to bang in a nail would you?" asks Joanna Ingerson, as she lays her palm gently on my stomach. I probably would to be honest, but then DIY is not my forte.

"It's about finding the right tool for the job," she continues. "I'm lucky that I have a very full tool box."

Joanna, who runs Therapease On Location from the top floor of New Moon in Walmgate, York, is not a mechanic, but she can give your body an MOT when the stresses and strains of modern life prove too much.

To say her tool box of therapeutic skills is full is something of an understatement.

Since gaining a diploma in anatomy, physiology and massage in 2000, she has completed courses in advanced massage and remedial techniques, Indian-style head massage, cranio-sacral therapy, lymphatic massage, Chinese massage, soft tissue manipulation, muscle energy techniques, stress management, aromatherapy and reflexology.

"I believe if you are learning something, you are staying young," says Joanna, who is obviously planning to live forever.

She has packed a lot of learning into the past three years. But she is used to being busy. In her previous incarnation she was a television stage manager on popular long-running programmes such as The Bill and Shine On Harvey Moon.

She had to research the script to make sure the props they were using were appropriate and, during filming, take responsibility for all the props and sets.

"I had to keep my eye on everything, whether we were using a teacup or a car," she explains. "I had to make sure everything was where it was supposed to be and that nothing had mysteriously walked off the set."

At the end of every shoot Joanna would treat herself to a complete top-to -toe range of pampering treatments, from an eyebrow tint to a full body massage.

"I have always loved having treatments," she says. "I find touch very de-stressing."

Joanna began studying massage in 2000 and practised her skills on people she came into contact with at work. Actors were easy because they were very receptive, but not everyone was a relaxing walk in the park.

"An ex-policeman was my toughest ever challenge," she says. "He was very stressed and very big. His muscles were huge."

She left London for York in October, moving in with her parents on South Bank. Her mother suffers from severe arthritis and her father gets tired looking after her, so her massage techniques come in handy at home.

"It doesn't matter how old I am, they are still my mum and dad and I will always be their little girl," says Joanna. "It's strange to be home; strange but lovely."

She set up in business at New Moon after seeing an advert offering therapy rooms. Her top floor eyrie is an attractive, typically eccentric York space, complete with a wonky floor and a ceiling crammed with beams.

"I loved the place as soon as I walked through the door," says Joanna, surveying her room with obvious pride. "There is no way I could get anywhere like this in London. It's beautiful and affordable."

She offers an incredible range of treatments (see graphic above) which she uses to help her clients achieve their goals, whether they simply want to relax and de-stress or if they want to tackle a particular ache and pain. Before starting any treatment, she spends time talking with a client for up to half an hour to find out more about them, their health and their expectations.

"I have to seek out the right tool, or skill, to work with their body," she says. ."If a client has their heart set on a particular treatment, I will do it. But I will also try and steer them towards a treatment that may be more beneficial. I can only advise and suggest.

"If you do a treatment with good intent, only good can come of it.

"When I lay hands on people I can feel their body reacting positively. I can feel it doing them good - and me too.

"The treatments are a two-way street, so I feel wonderfully relaxed and de-stressed after what is supposed to be a hard day's work."

Her most requested treatment is a scalp massage. This is probably something to do with us having two to three thousand nerve endings in our scalp crying out for stimulation. But could it also have something to do with our nervousness about stripping off?

"People are still very uncomfortable about getting undressed because it makes them feel vulnerable," says Joanna. "It is up to me to make them feel safe and secure."

She does this by talking quietly and calmly, never rushing a client and by using a gentle yet assured touch.

"We are afraid of touch," she says. "Adults can't comfort a crying child for fear of being accused of molestation, and you can't help an old person in distress because as soon as you reach out your hand they think you are going to steal their purse.

"Massage is a structured way of being touched. We need to be touched; it's absolutely vital. A well-intentioned hug can do so much to restore well-being."

For more details or to book an appointment, phone Joanna Ingerson on 07802 722525 or visit www.therapease.co.uk

Updated: 12:18 Monday, December 08, 2003