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.

I was fortunate to be raised by generations of hard working entrepreneurs and small business owners who instilled a strong work ethic in me; I am born from entrepreneurial blood. In 1912 my great-grandfather started his own shop followed by my grandfather who owned a bakery in Jamaica and my parents who ran their own business in Toronto for over 30 years. 

Chi Junky was birthed from my own personal experience and struggle with addiction and my journey to changing my life completely. My dream for myself was to be a professional dancer from the age of 4 and to live in New York City, which was inspired by my beloved uncle who at age 36 passed away from AIDS. He was a brilliant New York fashion designer and introduced me to the city that stole my heart as a young girl. 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, that after many years of suffering, 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. It became my life’s mission to help people change their lives and realize that no matter how impossible it may seem it is never too late to change and Chi Junky was born in New York City in 2010. 

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 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 9 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. 

In 2021 Chi Junky was 1 in 3 businesses across Canada to be named a local legend by Mazda Canada. Watch the story here.

- Rachelle Wintzen, Founder