This Chi Junky studio review is part of our Class Action, FLEETSTREET’s workout review series. We get sweaty to give you the low-down on what the workouts are really like.
With a name like Chi Junky, I had no idea what to expect. Sure, lots of deep breathing. But with exercise and wellness trends, I thought it could go many ways. So, I signed up for Chi Pilates, a mat class. It seems every new studio in the city’s all about reformers, so I embraced the opportunity to take my Pilates practice back to basics with a core class on the floor.
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The founder and owner: Chi Junky’s Rachelle Wintzen
Owner Rachelle Wintzen, who is also a Lululemon ambassador, is open about her past. When her career ambitions of being a professional dancer in NYC ended, she ultimately became addicted to hard drugs and alcohol. However, when she met Gil Jacobs, she found her “chi” through food and yoga. She’s been quoted as saying she became a junky for chi.
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The studio: Chi Junky
Chi Junky celebrated 10 years in business in 2024, growing from a 100-square-foot space with semi-private classes into the 4,000-square-foot multi-level multi-practice studio in Leslieville that it is today.
It’s big, especially for Toronto standards. The two-studio facility also offers a relaxation lounge with couches and plush pillows. Plus, there’s an alkaline water tap (no need to fill your bottle before you get here). Plan your day accordingly, as there are no showers, but personal hygiene products are provided to freshen you up if you need them and don’t have your own in your bag. Same with props, like mats, blocks, towels, etc. It’s all provided. Know, though, if you’re more than five minutes late for class or miss it entirely there is a $15 surcharge.
No parking lot, but you can do metre parking nearby on Queen Street East. There is some limited free parking on McGee and Eastern streets. Just check the signs.
Its main flex, though, is music. Through live music events and Spotify playlists, the yoga studio looks to differentiate itself from other spots in the city. Of course, all instructors (worth their weight in spandex) will choose music to move you to the beat, but the live stuff at Chi Junky is very impressive – and it’s not just for sound baths but for full-on performances. You can also sign up for retreats, like its Winter Retreat in South Frontenac on February 14 to 16, from $895 to $1,795, depending on the room type you select.
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The class menu: Yoga, Pilates and more
The classes are described as “music forward,” meaning that the playlists determine the energy of the workout.
- Pause: A program to help you achieve that moment of pause through mental and physical stillness and slow, immersive tunes
- Play: Balance of moderate movement using strengthening and stretching exercises with tempo to suit the exertion.
- Push: High paced workout with loud music to match. Expect to sweat.
And even further, under these three classifications, you have 15 classes to choose from. Other timely specialized classes are added to the schedule, so check the MindBody app often to see what has been new on Chi Junky’s class menu.
| Class type | Class name | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Pause | Yin + Chill | Deep flexibility and stretching yin yoga class. |
| Zen Vibes Only: Sound Bath | A guided sound bath and posture class with soothing sounds of crystal bowls and other instruments. | |
| Zen Vibes Only: Reiki Restorative | Very slow yoga with individual reiki attunements during class. | |
| Zen Vibes Only: Sacred Activations | Guided postures for calmness and stillness to help with emotions and beliefs. | |
| The Release | Restorative postures paired with breathwork. | |
| Get Stretched | Hold stretches for three to five minutes using a yoga strap. | |
| The Magic Hour | Restorative and yin yoga methods as well as EFT (emotional freedom techniques) tapping, reiki and astrology. | |
| Play | Restorative Pilates | Slow movements to improve mobility and stability. |
| Chi Pilates | Also all about mobility and stabilization, but moves that improve strength, too. | |
| Soul Slow Flow | Vinyasa flow class with slow vibes. | |
| Chi Flow | A grounding class that focuses on breath with movement. | |
| ELDOA (elongation longitudinal osteoarticular decoaptation stretching) | A spine-focused class to build muscle to improve posture, reduce pain, prevent injuries, and reduce spinal pressure. | |
| Push | Sweat Flow | Advanced high-energy flow class. |
| Slay + Stretch | This half-half class starts with a vinyasa flow and ends with a yin sequence. | |
| Chi Revival | A mix of dance cardio, body weight strength training breathwork and meditation. (May not always be on the weekly schedule.) |
Wondering what to bring? Yourself. Chi Junky provides each spot with a five-millimetre Lululemon yoga mat, BYoga + Halfmoon props and towels. This is great if you’re going before or after work or are a tourist or visitor in Toronto.
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The workout – Chi Pilates
The website says this Pilates class is for those who don’t love regular Pilates. The vibe is chill and, of course, music-forward. Movements use the Pilates method but focus on mobility, stabilization and strength building. According to Chi Junky, this class is “guaranteed to spice up your movement routine.”
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We tried it
I expected a mat Pilates class that focussed on core, and sneaking glutes, legs, back, arms and chest in so I’d barely notice until the next day. And, of course, to end with hundreds. But I didn’t expect to do such micromovements that had me scrunching my toes to drag a towel along the floor for about 16 to 20 reps.
Another surprising move (for the life of me, I couldn’t find this one replicated online) had me holding a band in two hands (one facing up and the other downward), standing in what felt like a modified lunge, twisting and turning my core and back very, very slowly. I felt it in my spine, moving throughout the rotation.
It was like tai chi and power yoga had a baby, who had traits from auntie barre. It was called Pilates, but only a few movements, like hip bridges, felt like Pilates to me.
The class was pretty balanced in regard to age and genders. It didn’t really seem to lean to a specific demographic. Music seemed pretty neutral and low-key.
The instructor was super knowledgeable and walked through the whole point of every functional movement we did. While I wish more trainers had this type of background, I craved a bit more instruction, especially in moves that had me facing the floor or the back wall instead of the instructor’s demonstration. I did ask a form question after class as I was feeling it in my neck for front raises and press downs, which ended up being a longer conversation than I expected. I thought I would get a tweak, but I got an anatomy lesson.
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The verdict
As someone who deals with injuries, I really appreciated the focus on those muscles we push past with large strengthening movements in most workouts. Many of the moves at Chi Junky felt similar to what my physiotherapist, chiropractor and osteopath gave me. They weren’t targeting specific injuries that I knew of; the class just seemed to have us doing joint-healthy movements, which was very cool.
Even if you’re not dealing with any physical issues, this class is a good one to take. It’s like yoga without doing yoga. It’s nice and slow, with exercises that challenge the muscles in an unexpected way that could make you feel good.
If you want a Lagree- or Stott-type Pilates class, though, this isn’t it. Just go in with an open mind, and you may like how it contrasts with sitting at a desk (or on the couch).
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Chi Junky Yoga and Wellness Studio, chijunky.com, unlimited workouts for $250 a month; drop-in class for $34; 5 classes for $155; 10 classes for $300; first class three classes are $75; other packages including retreats are also available.