Lotus Yoga Owner Fondly Remembered by Friends and Family
“Check your butts!” It was classic Jamie—using humor to bring light to a serious situation. Jamie Runion was truly one of a kind. To those who knew and loved her, she was a radiant light, a fierce and determined soul who loved deeply and worked tirelessly for the things that mattered most in her life. Jamie had an infectious energy that filled every room she entered—she was strong, kind, and empathetic, always the first to offer a helping hand to anyone in need. Her friends fondly remember her for her humor—she had a way of making people laugh until they cried. But more than anything, Jamie was a devoted mother. Her children, Hayden and Olivia, were her world. In her final days, her greatest fear was not for herself, but for them—leaving them behind was the hardest thing for her to face.
Jamie’s journey into yoga began after the birth of her daughter, Olivia, when she experienced postpartum depression. Yoga became her sanctuary, offering both physical and emotional healing. What started as a personal practice soon blossomed into a passion for teaching, and in 2019, she realized her dream of opening Lotus Yoga in Maryville. Jamie poured her heart into that studio, creating a space that radiated warmth, joy, and acceptance.
Rebecca Willmann, a close friend of Jamie’s, described how much Jamie loved sharing her love of yoga with others. “She was an incredible teacher,” Rebecca said. Her classes were filled with fun music, themed sessions, and an energy that only Jamie could bring. Her personality made everything better—her classes weren’t just about yoga; they were an experience full of laughter and connection.
Yoga, Compassion, Connection
But Jamie’s impact went far beyond her yoga studio. She had a deep compassion for others and a remarkable way of connecting with people on a personal level. When Jamie joined WholeBody Physical Therapy and Yoga, she became Rebecca’s right hand, and the two shared countless hours brainstorming ways to make the studio even better. They shared ideas, dreams, and many, many laughs. “I miss her being just a text message away. I miss seeing her smiling face in the studio. I miss being able to hug her on the hard days,” Rebecca shared. “We were friends for 15 years, but we became closest in the last six months of her life, and for that, I’ll always be grateful.”
In her final chapter, Jamie became a passionate advocate for colon cancer awareness. Even while battling her illness, she never lost her sense of humor, often ending her updates with her signature phrase, “Check your butts!” It was classic Jamie—using humor to bring light to a serious situation. In her honor, Rebecca continues Jamie’s mission by offering a free yoga class at WholeBody for anyone who gets a colonoscopy and organizing an annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, with t-shirts proudly featuring Jamie’s Lotus Yoga logo.
Jamie’s husband, Josh Runion, remembers her as a devoted mother and a friend to everyone she met. They met as teenagers, married in 2006, and built a beautiful life together with their two children. “Jamie was always thinking of others,” Josh shared. “Her children were her everything. She loved watching movies with Hayden and spending time at Starbucks with Olivia—those moments were her happiest.”
Beloved Mother, Wife, Local Yoga Teacher
Yoga, which Jamie initially turned to for self-care, became her passion and calling. By 2020, she had made her side project of teaching yoga a full-time career, and even during the pandemic, she found a way to share her love for the practice with others. “Her students adored her,” Josh said. “She had a way of making everyone feel loved and welcome. So many people came up to me at her visitation to share how much she had impacted their lives. That was Jamie—she gave everything she had, and she never asked for anything in return.”
Tiffany Droege, one of Jamie’s best friends, shared how much Jamie’s unwavering support meant to her. “She was my biggest cheerleader, always there to lift me up when I needed it most,” Tiffany remembered. “Jamie would tell me to get myself together, and then she’d show up at my door with freezer meals and a self-care kit. She just knew how to take care of people.”
Adam Vick, one of Jamie’s closest companions, echoed these sentiments. He described Jamie as a person who was “intensely real and genuine,” someone who lived with a confidence that inspired everyone around her. “When Jamie figured out something she wanted, she went and got it. I’m not even sure she was ever afraid of anything. She made things she was worried about seem trivial, even when they weren’t.” He fondly remembers her unique sense of humor, a perfect blend of wit and sarcasm, which kept everyone on their toes. “She had this orneriness that wasn’t mean, but always kept you laughing,” Adam said. “Jamie cared deeply—really cared. It wasn’t fake, and you knew it.”
Adam went on to explain how Jamie impacted his life personally: “Jamie enriched my life in ways I didn’t know were possible. She pulled me out of a rut and became my rock, helping me rediscover parts of myself I had shut away. She made me feel accepted, loved, and gave me a sense of emotional freedom I had never experienced before. Jamie truly saved me.”
Humor and Laughter
What Adam misses most about Jamie is her laughter, her presence, and the simple joy of being in her company. “She would snort when she laughed hard enough, and even though she didn’t like it, it was the cutest thing. I miss her energy. I miss her future—the sky was the limit for her once she found her calling in yoga. Watching her teach was a privilege. I had never taken a yoga class, and yet, within a minute, she made me feel completely at ease.” He shared how deeply Jamie touched not only his life but the lives of his family and friends as well. “She endeared herself to everyone I hold dear. I miss getting to have her as part of our lives.”
One of Adam’s most cherished memories of Jamie took place during one of her chemo treatments. “Even when things were dire, Jamie was still Jamie,” Adam recalled. “She pulled a prank on her nurses with these tiny plastic hands she used to carry around. When the nurse came to unhook her, Jamie held out the fake hands and said, ‘I know chemo has crazy side effects, but this is ridiculous!’ It made the nurses laugh themselves silly, even though I know she was feeling so sick at the time. That’s who she was—always putting others’ happiness before her own.”
Jamie passed away from colon cancer on September 14, 2023, but her memory continues to live on in the hearts of those who loved her. This article is written in honor of the anniversary of her passing—a tribute to the life she lived, the people she touched, and the indelible mark she left on her community.
Support Cancer Awareness, Be a Good Human
Jamie’s spirit lives on in every corner of the community she touched. Her friends, family, and students continue to honor her memory, keeping her passion for yoga and her mission for colon cancer awareness alive. Each March, as they wear the blue t-shirts in her honor, they remember her laughter, her strength, and the love she poured into everything she did. Jamie Runion was more than just a mother, a wife, and a yoga teacher—she was a force of love and joy, and her legacy will continue to shine through the people whose lives she touched so deeply.
She will always be remembered, not just for her achievements, but for the light she brought into the world and the love she gave to those fortunate enough to know her. As Adam said, “She gave me the greatest gift of all—her presence in my life made me want to be a better man, a better human being.”