WELCOME TO JESS YOGA

About Us

At Jess Yoga, we strive for safe and unpretentious ways to bring the love of yoga straight from the mat into your every day life.

Vision & Values

Our goal is to collectively gain a better understanding of the union between mind, body and soul. This synergy brings a blanket of warmth and tranquility to one’s spirit so we can feel the peace we are all deserving of. Through gentle practice for all bodies and walks of life, yoga can transform even the most down trodden into peaceful and loving beings. Connecting and unifying with breath, movement and a quiet mind brings a serenity that must be experienced to truly embrace and understand such unification. While practicing yoga with Jess and her team, we hope to help you find your feet on the path to apply your yogic wisdom in your daily journeys.

We are all connected and should have a sense of belonging.
We all deserve to be at peace in our world. When the mind is calm, the spirit is allowed to experience itself and peace is at the center.
We all have potential to discover our best and true selves with clarity.
The love of one’s self and acceptance being the answer to all our problems.

Our Team

Jess Runge

Meet Jess Runge, owner at Jess Yoga. Originally hailing from the vibrant Chicagoland area, Jess embarked on her yoga journey in the 90s through the world of theater, finding an immediate connection to its calming embrace. As life inevitably grew more complex, Jess discovered solace in yoga's grounding and serenity.

In 2019, a poignant chapter unfolded when her father's dementia diagnosis became a catalyst for her deep dive into self-discovery and healing. The transformative power of yoga had already beckoned her, as she had enrolled in a 200 RYT teacher training. However, the passing of her father in 2022 propelled Jess towards a profound choice to embrace life's ebb and flow, forging a path of self-healing and forgiveness.

Her teacher training at Chesapeake Hot Yoga, under the guidance of Briana Ward, proved to be a sanctuary during this transformative period, reshaping her trajectory for the better. Jess's innate passion for teaching and her desire to uplift others found their perfect outlet on the yoga mat. Her classes are a testament to her commitment to the mind-body-soul connection, and she ardently believes that yoga is for everyone, irrespective of body size, background, or experience level. Jess offers modifications that create a safe and welcoming space for all, guiding her students to the sweet spot of joy that yoga brings.

Specializing in Vinyasa, Yin, and meditation, Jess infuses her classes with boundless encouragement, motivation, and a tranquil demeanor that fosters relaxation and focus. Her mission is to ensure that every participant leaves her class feeling not only more peaceful but also enveloped in the love we all deserve. For Jess, yoga is an ever-evolving journey within, not about mastering postures or achieving ultimate enlightenment, but about becoming a better version of oneself each day and relishing the beauty of life.

Jess calls Virginia Beach home, and as a devoted mother to four remarkable sons, she learns from them daily about the delicate balance of life, the depths of unconditional love, and the purest forms of joy.

Karen Babcock

With over 20 years of experience in yoga, Karen is a senior yoga instructor, teacher mentor, and Business Manager at Jess Yoga. Blending her background in corporate management with decades of dedicated practice and study, she brings grounded leadership, clarity, and depth to both the studio and the broader yoga community.

Karen first found the physical practice of yoga during a major life transition from corporate management to homeschooling her children. What began as a grounding outlet became a lifelong path. Yoga has supported her through auto-immune flare-ups, injuries, surgeries, depression, and struggles with eating disorders — deepening her commitment to sustainable self-care and svadhyaya (self-study), rooted in shraddha (steadfast trust in the practice).

Teaching since 2005 and mentoring teachers since 2009, Karen directs her own RYS 200 (Registered Yoga School) through Yoga Alliance, where she authors curriculum and leads comprehensive Yoga Teacher Trainings and continuing education in Virginia Beach. She also writes curriculum for an additional RYS 200 program. Karen works closely with instructors to refine skill, strengthen clarity in teaching, and build confidence rooted in integrity and experience. She curates and leads international boutique retreats and is a frequent guest teacher at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, India.

Her classes integrate stress management, nervous system regulation, and accessibility for all bodies and life stages.

When she’s not on her mat or traveling the world, Karen enjoys spending time with her two adult children, her chocolate lab and senior cat, hiking, camping, and connecting with family and friends worldwide.