About Whitney

Sit back and grab a cup of tea. I am so glad you found yourself here! I am Whitney, the founder of Exploring Peace Ministries. I invite you to join me on this journey of exploring the gift of God's peace with breath, body, and spirit. It's important to me that you know who you are journeying with on your spiritual path. So, allow me a moment to share (take a breath and imagine you're sitting on my front porch). 
​
Between my 20's and early 30's, I experienced multiple health crises including melanoma skin cancer, stroke, and brain surgery (talk about being thrilled when I turned 40 - I was ready for a new decade!). I have known God my entire life but during this time of healing and recovery, I began to seek God's peace and deepen my relationship with God while exploring contemplative prayer tools. Learning to slow down has been challenging but since I was not given much choice in the matter, I eventually began to savor (yet admittedly still struggle with) the contemplative journey.

Since a young age, I have loved to write and create! I am the author of Holy Listening with Breath, Body, and the Spirit published by Upper Room Books - a 40-day devotional inviting you to use your whole body to listen for God. I completed professional certification in Spiritual Formation (CSF) at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary as a spiritual director and retreat facilitator. As a a yoga and meditation teacher, I incorporate the gift of breath, body, and spirit into classes and private sessions at Bloom Yoga Studio (where I am co-owner, along with my very first yoga teacher). I also offer virtual gatherings and travel for facilitating and speaking at your on-site events.

I am a Deaconess in the United Methodist Church, an Order focused on love, justice, and service. I believe in accountability, diversity, equality, on-going learning, conversations with those who challenge me, and soul care for myself. In addition to peer supervision, Exploring Peace Ministries ​has an advisory council of passionate and committed individuals offering guidance and discernment for ministry dreams and decisions.  Professionally, I am a member of The Fellowship of United Methodist Spiritual Directors and Retreat Leaders, Spiritual Directors International, an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance (E-RYT 200, RYT 500), Master Trainer with the Christian Yoga Association, and am also trained in the Usui Method of Natural Healing by Rev. Jo Reece, an Ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church. I love exploring the outdoors with my husband, our teenage son and puppy, devour all types of books, savor a great cup of hot herbal tea, enjoy the hunt for a bargain, get filled up by a good cause, and look forward to hearing your God stories. 

Through Exploring Peace, I began work with individuals, groups, and non-profits offering soul care through retreats, workshops, private yoga, meditation, energy work, and spiritual direction sessions - inviting others to use their whole self (breath, body and spirit) to explore the gift of God's peace. Since 2010, I have enjoyed cultivating safe space and creating resources for your soul care as well as bolstering others who do the same. I am the founder of Exploring Peace but I'm not alone on this journey. As Exploring Peace Ministries grows to offer both in person and online resources, you'll meet new faces along the way. You can also connect with us in our new Peace Seekers online community. 

So what about you? What is your story? Are you a Peace Seeker? How are you finding your way here? Click to connect and let's journey together. 

Deaconess Whitney R. Simpson, CSF, E-RYT 200, RYT 500