In memory of Alison Stopp
Dear IYT family
It is with deep sadness that we are writing to let you know that another member of the IYT has passed. We were deeply saddened to hear of the death of IYT member and trained teacher, Alison Stopp and are extremely grateful to Bridget Whitehead for writing the below tribute to Alison.
Namaste
Kate, Vicky and David
IYT Trustees
It is with a heavy heart that I write this and let you know that Alison Stopp died suddenly in the early hours of Monday 19th February. She had spent the day with her beloved family and had been full of life and love. My thoughts are with her family at this sad time.
I first met Alison when I took over a yoga class from an IYT teacher, Lisa Taylor, who was moving from Wales to Gloucestershire. Alison attended this class in Narberth with her sister Glynis. It quickly became apparent that they both really enjoyed yoga and they were both curious and quick to learn about everything to do with yoga. They had been practicing for a long time before I had the pleasure to meet and teach them. Shortly after meeting them, I ran an IYT teacher training in Wales, with Rose Thorn. We started with a Foundation course. I remember travelling to Southampton to see my sister, stopping off at the Cardiff service station and bumping into Alison who miraculously gave me a cheque for the course. It was very meant to be!
Fast forward and Alison joined the Foundation course and brought along her daughter, Becky. They both enrolled on the rest of the course to teach yoga. It was obvious that they had a very close and nurturing relationship with each other which I was privileged to witness. Although at times challenging to have a mother and daughter on a transformational experiential yoga training, they worked well together and spread their wings to include the other members of the group.
Alison qualified to teach yoga in 2019. Throughout her training it became clear how important and inspiring nature was to her. Alison had a passion for permaculture which is a whole way of being; the ethics of people care, earth care and fair shares. I think that Alison felt that this linked and connected well with the yoga.
Alison essentially lived her life with regards to this and was her hardest critic. I think yoga helped her to explore and play more, away from having to get it right, which so many of us are educated to do. I think the practice of yoga helped her to be kinder to herself.
After Alison qualified to teach she set up and ran her own classes. We kept in contact and would meet up on yoga days and retreats. I have a fond memory of myself and Jenny Beeken spending time with Alison once at her home. We went for a walk around her permaculture garden; it made me chuckle that there was a his and hers garden which I felt was very much in line with her feminist views. Alison provided us with a delicious home cooked lunch with produce that was home grown. Another time Jenny and I met Alison and her sister Glynis for a walk around Laugharne where we spotted some bees that were swarming. I remember Alison had her tiffin lunch box filled full of home-made goodies that she lovingly shared.
During covid I took my classes on-line and Alison regularly attended along with her sister Glynis. Of late I have not been offering much in the way of workshops or retreats so I haven’t seen Alison for a while. However, we have kept in touch with the occasional card and email. I know she was looking forward to catching up and practicing some yoga together. I am so saddened that this will now never happen but I want to acknowledge Alison’s kindness, her earth spirit, her generosity and love of yoga, I am grateful to have spent time with her. I will miss her.