Kari is currently on maternity leave 🤍 Appointments are available with Kaelene, with Kari returning on a limited basis this fall → Learn More
Kari’s Maternity Leave
Our family grew a little earlier than expected! Baby Sully made his arrival in August, and after a whirlwind beginning, I’m taking some much-needed time away from hands-on work to recover, settle into life with our newest little person, and soak up this season with my family.
Thank you for all of the love, patience, flexibility, meals, messages, and support you’ve shown our family. It has meant more than I can possibly say. 💛
Bloomington Birth & Bodywork is still here—and growing. While I ease back into the treatment room slowly and intentionally, I’m also excited to be expanding the practice so that more families can access thoughtful, specialized care without everything depending on my individual availability.
What This Means for Appointments
My regular massage schedule is currently paused while she is on maternity leave. A limited number of future appointments will gradually become available as I prepare to return to hands-on work.
While I’m still on maternity leave, Bloomington Birth & Bodywork isn’t closed. I’m excited to be welcoming Kaelene Branam, LMT, to the practice, which means massage and bodywork appointments will begin becoming available even while my own schedule remains limited.
Kaelene will have her own availability and services, including options for clients seeking general massage and therapeutic bodywork. I’ll be returning gradually, with my own schedule focused primarily on pregnancy, birth-preparation, postpartum and infant care, along with a limited number of established massage and bodywork clients.
This is an exciting next step for Bloomington Birth & Bodywork—one that allows me to take the time I need with my family while continuing to make thoughtful, individualized care available to our community. 🤍
Looking Ahead
I don’t have a firm “back to normal” date—and that’s intentional. I’ll be opening appointments gradually based on my recovery, my family’s needs, and what feels sustainable.
I’m planning to begin returning to hands-on work on a very limited, part-time basis this fall, gradually increasing availability based on my recovery, my family’s needs, and what feels sustainable.
My schedule will look a little different when I return—and intentionally so. I’ll be working fewer hands-on hours and focusing my availability primarily on specialized perinatal care and established clients.
I’m excited for this next chapter: returning to the work I love while also building a practice that can care for our community beyond my individual availability.
Thank You 🤍
Thank you for all of the love, patience, flexibility, meals, messages, and support you’ve shown our family through this very unexpected season. It has meant more than I can possibly say.
I’m incredibly grateful to have built a practice surrounded by such a caring community—and I’m looking forward to seeing familiar faces again when the time is right. For now, I’m soaking up this tiny person and giving both of us the time we need.
Want to support us while I’m on leave?
So many people have generously asked how they can help while we settle in at home. There is absolutely no expectation, but if you'd like to support our family during my maternity leave, there are a few ways to do so.
Our Meal Train is still open for anyone who would like to help with meals or other immediate needs. You can also support our family simply by supporting our small businesses — book a massage with Kaelene, purchase a Bloomington Birth & Bodywork gift card, book a tattoo with Sage, or reach out to him about your next home renovation project.
Every meal, booking, referral, gift card, message, and kind word helps more than you know. We are incredibly grateful for the community surrounding our family during this season. 🤍
