PUTTING your feet up is always a treat. And never more so than when pregnant, especially if your tootsies are being expertly massaged by a specially trained therapist.

Maternity reflexology can be a little slice of pampering heaven -- or so say expectant mothers-to-be.

What makes it even better is that this therapy is endorsed by maternity hospitals including the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin's Holles St as the evidence mounts of its benefits, especially in labour.

It is said to encourage the body's innate ability to restore a healthy balance during this challenging and changing time for your body.

This spiny little contraption has the unique ability to simultaneously control your TV and your chronic kidney, uterus or testicle-related ailments. This is truly a magical medical breakthrough product.

The Cool.con universal remote employs reflexology to stimulate pressure points on the hand that are said to correspond to various areas of the body to promote better overall health. So the next time your partner nags you for watching too much TV, just tell them that you are engaged in a very serious medical procedure.

"I THOUGHT you were a clever girl. If you think paying 50 pounds for someone to fiddle with your feet is going to get you pregnant....

When Andrea Sennett shunned conventional medicine in her bid to have a baby her doctor was doubtful to say the least.

But as she cuddles her beautiful baby girl, the proud mum is certain that Niamh is the magical result of the alternative therapies she turned to to achieve her dream.

I am absolutely certain that the reflexology helped me to get pregnant, she smiles. And being a mum is incredible. Niamh is magic. She is just starting to talk and becoming a real best friend. She is great company and really giggly.

Despite the global economic downturn, Reflexology proves to be recession-proof. As stress levels are spiralling upwards, the need for stress relief has never been greater.

If you are lucky enough to already be a Reflexologist, now is the time to get out there and make yourself well known in your community.

If you want to become a Reflexologist then start training now. Your future services are needed!

Click this link for information on Reflexology Wages, Requirements and career opportunities Reflexology Training Opportunity

Here is a selection of important reports in today's news.

Squelching through mud and wading through water. Kick your shoes off for a sensory stroll along Britain's first reflexology trail.

I am standing on the threshold of Britain's first - and only - barefoot park. It's a sort of playground for feet, an unorthodox nature trail covered with a variety of surfaces; and, amazingly, it's meant to boost our health and vitality. The trail, one kilometre long, is in a partly wooded area in the Italian gardens of the Trentham Estate, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

On a sunny day, it's hugely popular with children and families, says Simon Johnson, the operations manager. It's too bad, then, that on the day I visit the rain is bucketing down and it's deserted, apart from two girls in cagoules sporting muddy limbs and wide grins, with their equally sodden but stoic grandparents. Inspired by their cheeriness, I roll up my trousers, remove my shoes - there are lockers here, as well as foot showers - and gingerly wiggle toes that are unaccustomed to, and a little anxious about, getting touchy-feely with nature.

TAIPEI, Taiwan--Taiwan set a World Record by arranging for 1,008 people to have a foot massage simultaneously. Photo: The participants, including hundreds of Japanese, South Korean and Hong Kong visitors, lay down on reclining chairs at the Taipei Area stadium for 40 minutes of foot massage, or reflexology treatment, given by 1,008 masseurs.

The event was organized by the Taiwan tourism bureau and four Taiwan reflexology associations.

A school has brought in a masseuse to calm stressed pupils preparing for GCSEs and boost their performance in the exams.

The 30-minute sessions are being offered to 15- and 16-year-olds at the mixed comprehensive who are considered at risk of missing out on good grades.

Twenty-five have had regular back massages from professional therapist Karen Etchells since the scheme was introduced three months ago at Priory Community School in Westonsuper-Mare, Somerset, UK.

DOCTORS in Dursley, UK are to offer free complementary therapy sessions to patients in a pilot scheme thought to be a first in Gloucestershire.

Doctors at May Lane surgery are interested in finding out whether herbal remedies, massage, change of diet or reflexology and Reiki may be beneficial to patients for whom orthodox medical treatments have not worked.

Dr Kathy Curtis-Hayward, a partner at May Lane surgery, said: "As a practice, we are constantly looking at ways to encourage people to be more in control of their health, to be aware of how they can better help themselves.

Carpal tunnel syndrome and surgery seem almost inevitable these days for any writing or computer-based profession. But massage therapy may prevent people from going under the knife, as well as relieving headaches, stress and boosting the immune system.

"Ninety percent of the time, carpal tunnel problems come from the neck," said certified massage therapist, Marie Peterson. Whether it's from constant writing, working on the computer or just being a Type A personality, this repetitive motion causes the shoulders to tighten up, she said.

"The tightness goes down the arms and pinches the nerves, cutting them off from circulation," Peterson said. "Using massage, I go in and break up the scar tissue and lengthen and restructure the muscle." And many times this can prevent clients from surgery.

Another therapy that can be used for carpal tunnel syndrome is reflexology.

"What drew me to reflexology is that it's mobile," said certified reflexologist Karyl Clark. "It provides an opportunity to fix a problem anywhere you are."

More and more Brits are turning to complementary medicine as it offers patients greater control over their own course of treatment, according to Institute for Complementary Medicine (ICM).

Director of ICM, Clive Teal, said that complementary medicine takes a totally different approach to that of orthodox medicine in that practitioners tend to have more time to spend with their patients than a GP would and can as such get to the root of a problem.

"Complementary medicine tends to put the client a little bit more in charge of their own self," he added.