Today we’d like to introduce you to Janet Jones.
Janet, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
By Mid-Twenties I was an accomplished dancer, dance teacher, and even had my shot at entrepreneurship with the Jones Talent Agency. The industry took a big hit with the recession, and I began to question my dreams as I compared my life to those around me who had made different choices. All of us, as women, go through the same thing. We grow up with mixed messages about what we’re supposed to be and what will lead us to “happily ever after”. For a lot of us, we feel pressure to have this all figured out by 30. At 27, I made the decision to leave everything “dance” related behind in search of a more practical, “adult” way of life that would surely lead me to the happiness I was after. After leaving everything I was passionate for, I settled into a job in corporate America and a year later took on the role of motherhood. I didn’t dance for 4yrs.
What I found during that time was how easy it was to abandon yourself and how disconnected I felt from the roles I needed to play on the day to day. My past experiences as a performer felt both like a privilege and a curse. I knew what it felt like to feel the most alive while on stage & simultaneously knew what it felt like to feel invisible through this new life. The light I had inside was shut off as I spiraled into a deep depression. I often wondered how other women dealt with these kinds of feelings. Did they have them at all? Were they masters at hiding them? Or worse, did they think this was all life had to offer?
I found the strength & courage to get out of my depression thanks to my daughter. Vixen was born from the realization that most women live their lives playing roles that they don’t connect with because they’ve never had the chance to connect with themselves. Some of us had our light turned off along the way and others never had a chance to discover it. I felt strongly that my experiences as a performer shouldn’t be a privilege and should be available to all women. I felt that women could go to the gym and change what they didn’t like physically, but they didn’t have a place where they can improve both their physical and mental well-being. The Vixen Workout is a culmination of all my experiences as a dancer but most importantly my experiences as a woman.
Today the Vixen Workout is found nationwide and Internationally in Canada & Dominican Republic. Over 75,000 women (aka the #vixenarmy) have taken the workout. There are over 52K posts on Instagram using our #vixenarmy hashtag. We just opened our first stand-alone studio in Wynwood.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I created the Vixen Workout for my friends to have a place to disconnect and improve their health. The momentum and the quick growth of the business wasn’t something I had planned nor was I prepared for. There was a big learning curve in the beginning, but the challenges & mistakes provided the wisdom I needed to spearhead the company to its next chapter.
Additionally, I am a huge introvert. So being my “work persona” is exhausting for someone who needs significant alone time to recharge. I had to learn to be disciplined with carving out some time to recharge, which was challenging because I tend to be a workaholic.
Vixen Workout – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Vixen Workout is a dance fitness format that uses commercial choreography, killer music remixes, and stage lighting so you can experience yourself as a performer. (Basically, you get to pretend you’re opening for the VMA’s, and perform the moves you see by your favorite artists.) Our mission is to give a new edge to pop culture by merging dance, fashion, music, and fitness. Our classes create an environment where you can experience an emotional release, mind-body connection, and a sense of community while burning anywhere between 400 to over 1,000 calories! What we’re trying to say is, you can absolutely enjoy all the physical benefits of an effective workout while having an insane amount of fun and feeling like the most powerful version of yourself. Follow us at @VixenWorkout and use the hashtag #VIXENARMY to connect with our global army. Stay Hungry. Live Fierce.
What I’m most proud of is the thousands of women who have improved their lives and made lifetime friendships because of the Vixen Workout.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success for me is being able to do what I love while having the freedom to be present in my most important roles: mother & wife. My goals, however, become greater as I accomplish them. Where I am today, I could have never imagined for myself 5 years ago. Today we are an international brand and have over 150 instructors. My new goal is to go global and make the brand a household name.
Contact Info:
- Address: Vixen Workout
547 NW 28 Street
Miami, FL 33127 - Website: www.vixenworkout.com
- Phone: 786-344-6802
- Email: info@vixenworkout.com
- Instagram: vixenworkout
- Facebook: vixenworkout
- Twitter: vixenworkout
Image Credit:
Danielle Margherite
David Alvarez-Trick Productions
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
