Olga Bishop

Olga Bishop, born on May 12, 1972 in Zavodoukovsk, Tyumen Russia quietly passed away at the age of 51 on December 3, 2023 in Tampa, Florida with her husband, mother and children by her side. Olga was the spouse of Eric Bishop, born in Indiana USA. Olga and Eric met in Prague, Czech Republic in February 2018 and married on October 4, 2019. A burial at sea service was held on December 20, 2023 in the Gulf of Mexico, where she spent the final years of her life together with her husband and children in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She is survived by her husband, Eric Bishop, her mother Lyudmila Chestnykh, her brother Alexey Chestnykh, and her two children, Ivan Zvontcov and Anastasiia (Gurina) Zvontsova. Her father, Viktor Chestnykh passed away in the year 2022.

From early childhood Olga had a purposeful and strong character, she always knew exactly what she wanted and strived to achieve her goals. She was very independent and well disciplined.

She graduated from the University at the Faculty of Radio Engineering (it was very hard to get there). During her student years, she went on her first exchange trip to France. It was a dream come true for her.

She got married and had 2 children, Ivan Zvontcov and Anastasiia Zvontsova. She gave a lot of energy to the family while raising her kids. Her home in Yekaterinburg was filled with love, compassion and mutual respect. She provided her kids with good opportunities in life, giving them proper education, teaching them what she knew about life, showing by her example how to be a decent human. She gave them wisdom and her love. Olga was a wonderful and devoted mother and a good and loving wife, she always tried to give the best to her children and at the same time, she never abandoned her goals and her career.

After she opened the outside world for her, she never stopped traveling and exploring. She has been to and seen many places in Asia, she lived and studied in India, brought groups of people to Bali, and went hiking in Himalayas. She lived in Istanbul, Turkey and also lived and traveled in Europe to include Bulgaria, Germany and Czech Republic. In November 2020, she moved to live in Saint Petersburg, Florida where she achieved permanent residency in the USA. We can proudly say she was a great traveler and she has experienced life in many places all over the world.

Olga has been practicing Iyengar yoga since 1999 and has been teaching yoga according to the B.K.S. Iyengar method since 2003. In 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011. Olga studied at the RIMYI Yoga Institute in Pune, India, with Guruji B.K.S. Iyengar himself, Geeta Iyengar, and Prashant Iyengar. She studied with Parisia Walden (USA), Manouso Manosa (USA), Dean Lerner (USA), Faek Biria (France), Louis Steinberg (USA), Gabriella Giubilaro (Italy), Rita Keller (Germany), Stephanie Quirk (RIMYI), and other leading Russian teachers. At the time of her passing, Olga was the holder of the RIMYI Senior Int.2 certificate (one of the highest levels in Russia and in the world). The RIMYI certificate is an International certificate that gives the right to teach yoga, which is issued by the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune, India, and is signed by B.K.S. Iyengar personally.

She conducted seminars abroad, which opened an opportunity for many people, including her own mother, to see the world. Olga traveled a lot and always kept notes about her travels to provide the best experience to her family and students. She had been constantly improving in every part of her life, mentally, spiritually and physically. She was a teacher and guru by nature. Olga deeply adored and loved her yoga students and they were a big part of her life. She lived what she taught and her presence touched and changed many lives.

A bright and energetic person, loved by many for her kindness and wisdom. She was very deep and experienced. She loved life and was devoted to it, she tried to bring more joy to people around her and make life better for all. She had a good sense of humor and she was looking for the positive even in the toughest situations. She was tiny but mighty, with a good and powerful spirit. And even to the very end of her life, the quality of her mind remained as a diamond.

Olga's final rites were given by a priest of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well, she received blessings of a Tibetan Buddhist monk a few months before.

The below song was one of Olga's favorites since the time of her youth:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qFaeZ8LLmI

What an AMAZING soul she is!!!

To our dear and most beloved, Olga...love lives on, and you are FOREVER loved!