THE CHI JUNKY STORY

My name is Rachelle Wintzen and I am the founder and sole owner of the Chi Junky Studio. This studio was birthed from my own personal experiences and journey to health. The philosophies and foundation that Chi is built on changed my life and it became my mission to create a space that brought the same healing to as many people as possible. It is my hope you take a moment to read my story to fully understand how Chi Junky came to be and learn the story behind the name.
 

I am a multiracial independent female, small business owner and entrepreneur. I was born and raised in Toronto and I am Chinese-Jamaican, Indian and French, My mother was born and raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica - her mother was Chinese and her father was biracial, Chinese and Indian. My mother and her family immigrated to Canada in 1975. My father was born and raised in Paris, France and moved to Canada in 1979 after meeting my mother.
 

At 20 years old I moved to NYC to pursue dance professionally, but after two years, injuries ended my career and left me suffering from deep depression. I began working in the A-list New York City nightlife scene and was immediately under its spell. I developed a dependency that turned into an addiction to hard drugs and alcohol, I knew if I didn’t leave this lifestyle I wouldn’t live to see past my 30th birthday.

Through many small moments of grace and divine intervention I met my mentor, Gil Jacobs, who changed my life. By immersing myself under his tutelage I transformed my lifestyle through holistic modalities, nutrition and yoga. It was this 180 transformation that allowed me to experience true vitality, my chi (prana - life force energy) and a new found love for life. 

THE MEANING BEHIND THE NAME

‘Ch'i’ pronounced CHEE is the Chinese medicine word for life force energy, vitality. Junky is inspired by the book ‘Junky’ by William S. Burroughs, which tells the story of a young man living in New York City who becomes addicted to narcotics. 
I chose to name my business Chi Junky to change the negative connotation of the word addiction into something positive. To become addicted to something good, in this case your Chi. To live a vibrant healthy lifestyle full of vitality everyday.

I became certified in the disciplines that helped change my life and moved to Ambergris Caye, Belize, Central America for two years helping people through yoga, nutrition and holistic wellness. I moved back to Toronto in 2012 and after two years of working as a freelance yoga instructor and holistic nutritionist I took the plunge and opened the Chi Junky Yoga + Wellness Studio in Leslieville in 2014. 

I started as a one woman show and still fund the business on my own with no outside partners or investors. I began the studio in the size of a treatment room, 100sq ft, running semi-private yoga classes. Over the last 7 years the studio has grown into a 4,000 sq ft. studio through incredible determination, sacrifice, hard work and overcoming every obstacle that ever stood in my way. I have and still continue to give my everything to this business, my incredible staff and community.