Rachelle Wintzen, Founder of Chi Junky
Chi Junky, Toronto’s premiere boutique yoga studio in Leslieville, is known for its killer classes, amazing playlists and gorgeous décor. On top of that, it has an amazing community that is led by its founder, Rachelle Wintzen. A community that came together during Covid and helped in so many ways supporting the studio with On Demand classes, live streamed classes and amazingly cool swag (that makes you want to buy it without stepping foot into the studio). Maybe not as well known, for those outside of Toronto, is how the studio came to be which is truly a remarkable story of perseverance, courage and strength.
Rachelle moved to New York City when she was 20 to pursue a career as a professional dancer. Two years later her dream was cut short abruptly with an injury and she found herself working in the A-list nightlife scene. It was there that she developed an addiction to hard drugs and alcohol and she knew that if she didn’t change the path she was on she wouldn’t make it to her 30th birthday. Through a series of events, she was able to turn her life around and did a complete 180 with a renewed mission in life to help others. In 2014, Chi Junky was born.
We love how the name Chi Junky was created as a way to change the negative connotation of the word addiction. That people can be addicted to something good (your Chi) and “To live a vibrant healthy lifestyle full of vitality everyday”.
It truly is a remarkable story and we love that not one but two of the people that go to Chi Junky contacted us to feature Rachelle. Read on to find out more about how she got the courage to change her life around, her best business advice and what she loves most about being an entrepreneur.
(Pink Tank Group): You talk openly about the story of how Chi Junky came to be. It is quite a remarkable story of perseverance, inner strength and courage. How did you get the strength to do a complete 180?
(Rachelle): The strength came from wanting something better for my life. I hit a major rock bottom and had the determination to do better for myself, it was not easy and there were so many days I didn't want to continue but I did. I have always had an innate drive that no matter how difficult my situation was I could find the desire to overcome whatever obstacle I was facing.
You need to find a purpose or a will to keep going that is big enough to pull you up in your darkest days.
All you need is a small amount of hope, faith and the courage to keep going when you don't want to and the rest will sort itself out.
(Pink Tank Group): If you talk to anyone that has been to your studio, they all mention how Chi Junky has created such an amazing community. How did that sense of community help when the pandemic hit?
(Rachelle): I cannot begin to explain just how powerful the Chi Junky community is, it is next level and I am beyond grateful for it. I can honestly say that without the strength of the community the studio would have closed down September 2020. So many people came to support in any way they could and it literally kept the studio afloat for 2020. So many people went above and beyond to help the studio and not a day goes by that I don't feel so much gratitude for these incredible people. The acts of kindness, support and generosity were so above and beyond, I still can't believe it. Without the community this studio would nothing.
(Pink Tank Group): Becoming an entrepreneur is no easy feat but does have so many wonderful outcomes. What has been the best outcome since starting Chi Junky?
(Rachelle): Entrepreneurship is by far the hardest thing I have ever done but I don't think I could do it any other way. The best outcome has been seeing what started off with teaching 4 people semi privates (most days no one would show up) in a room the size of a treatment room and to then watch it grow through lots of hard work into a successful 4000 sq ft yoga studio.
Building something from nothing on your own and watching it grow into something greater than your wildest dreams ...there really aren't any words to describe that feeling.
(Pink Tank Group): How important is social media to your business?
(Rachelle): Very important! It is one of the main ways to communicate with our community. Up until 2010 I never had any social media, but when I started my business it became essential. It is one of the fastest ways to get important information out and has really helped in connecting us to community for everything from studio updates to receiving valuable feedback before making studio changes.
(Pink Tank Group): I love how real your blog is and how you talk about the struggles related to owning a business that so many entrepreneurs face. How did leaving the city and moving into your cabin help your health and stress levels?
(Rachelle): I was always a big city girl growing up in downtown Toronto and then living in NYC for 10 years so when I decided to move full time to a 160sq ft tiny cabin off grid deep in the woods it was a big change.
It has been the best thing I have done for myself and I attribute so much of my healing to my country lifestyle.
The greatest advice I heard was that you cannot heal in the same place that made you sick. I still have lots of stress from the studio and work on the business daily but by changing my environment in nature I find I can handle my stress so much better. If things get too much I literally walk out the door and breath the fresh woods air or jump in the lake. I find I can create more work life balance now than when I lived in the city. When I have to go back to the city for work my anxiety increases and as soon as I get back into the woods I feel the stress melt and my nervous system calm down. I still have the same work load but it just hits different when you live deep in the woods, you learn to move at a slower pace and trust that it all gets down in due time.
(Pink Tank Group): What has been the best business advice that you have ever received?
(Rachelle): "It isn't about how many resources you have but how resourceful you are." I never had investors or much support when I started and I always thought if I only had X I could do so much better, for a long time I was very negative with what little I had to build my business but then I started to get really strategic and smart and focused more on being resourceful.
How you show up for your business will reflect how well the business is doing.
So if you are really negative and resentful of how hard it is to run your business it won't attract much success. Constantly focus on the positive, if one person showed up to class be grateful and continue to keep the faith it will always work out even when it seems like it won't, because trust me if you keep going it gets so much better! If you can make it through the first year you are ahead of the game, after 3 years you will start to feel like you have a better idea of what you are doing at year 5 maybe you start making some money. If you start a business you have to love what you do so much and be in it for the long game. It takes 10 years to look like an overnight success.
(Pink Tank Group): Do you have any advice for the next generation of business women?
(Rachelle): Know that being a female entrepreneur may be the hardest thing you do but it can also be the most rewarding. You know way more than you think and really learn to trust yourself. Most of the time you know the answers if you just get quiet, slow down and believe in yourself. Early on I spent so much money paying other experts to tell me what I already knew, I just didn't trust myself enough to believe in myself. Be ok with letting your business change to adapt to what your community wants not necessarily what you want. Never give up, even when it seems impossible and all the odds are against you there is always always a way. If you keep going through the most difficult times you will be rewarded with something greater. Never get too comfortable in your business, constantly study your market, always find new inspiration and ways to do it better. Being a female entrepreneur can be really lonely so align with other women running their own business, we speak the same language and finding those women will be a lifeline when you need it.
(Pink Tank Group): What do you think is one thing women can do more to support each other?
(Rachelle): Less worrying about competition, there is always enough for everyone. The more we can support each other the better we all have at being successful. It is hard enough being a female entrepreneur, there are so many odds against you and challenges that we need to support each other more than ever. The pandemic has been a beautiful opportunity to let down our guards as female studio owners, so many of us spoke with transparency to each other to help navigate through the dark these past 2 years.
It made it a little less scary knowing that we are not alone, that other women are fighting like hell for their business. Don't be afraid to reach out to each other it can only help.
