Not many fitness studios can maintain a five-star Google review when they’ve been in business for 10 years, but Chi Junky isn’t most studios. When Rachelle Wintzen launched her yoga studio on McGee Street in Leslieville in 2014, she knew she wanted to do things a little differently. After battling her own demons in New York City, Wintzen decided it was time to get on a healthier path. “I came up with this concept of healthy debauchery, or getting addicted to something good. It’s a juxtaposition — the addictions aren’t going anywhere, but I’m trying to fuel them into something and turn a negative into a positive.”
Chi Junky: The experience
Getting addicted to our ‘chi,’ or life force, sounds great, albeit time-consuming. Luckily, Chi Junky has found a way to simplify the “full-service” experience. “I set out to make getting to a movement class as seamless as possible,” explains Wintzen. “In Toronto, we’re constantly busy and the first thing to fall off the priority list is our self-care.”
When you arrive at Chi Junky, yoga mats are already rolled out and alkaline water is on tap — by the glass, naturally, as the studio is paper and plastic-free. Guests enter the ground floor through a heavy wooden door and check in for class, before heading up the stairs to the cozy changing room and lounge area. Movement classes take place inside the Evolve studio: “The brand is black and white, so upstairs is white, light, bright and airy.
Then downstairs, where [the business] originally started, it’s a dark room with a candlelight effect and the same killer music.” Music isn’t just background noise here. It’s ever-present, from the portraits of Bob Marley and Amy Winehouse on the walls to the upbeat playlists in class. Few yoga studios offer guests earplugs, but Chi Junky isn’t afraid to crank up the volume for its more high-energy classes. “The movement is 50 per cent of the offering and the music experience is the other 50 per cent. Hand in hand, it creates this really cathartic experience,” says Wintzen, who comes from a dance background.
Chi Junky: The classes
You’ll find more than just a downward dog at the studio, which Wintzen thinks of as more movement than traditional yoga. Their website lists classes on a scale from “mild to wild,” so you can pick your poison depending on your mood. “One of my favourite things to teach is a Sweat Flow class. It’s similar to a power flow or vinyasa class, but we try to make it more of a full experience. We take you on a journey.”
Chi Revival, which takes place every Sunday morning, is another popular ritual, starting out in a meditation before moving into full body cardio, all to a loud playlist. “It’s not yoga at all… people refer to this class as their therapy. It’s kind of like our Sunday service.” And when you need to slow it all down, classes like Yin + Chill encourage gentle stretching and minimal movement.
Chi Junky: What else
With her background in New York hospitality, Wintzen is well-versed in creating “wow” experiences for her guests. “I strongly believe in partnering with local businesses.” Over the last decade, Chi Junky has teamed up with everyone from Lululemon to electric violinists who are brought in for a surprise performance. Pop-ups are also common, like cold plunges in the summer with Coldture or an on-site coffee bar that treated everyone to an after-class espresso. You might be surprised that you haven’t heard about this wellness unicorn — but that’s also part of its allure. It’s up to you if you share the word, or keep the magic to yourself for a little longer…
