VIXEN WORKOUT

I remember Janet saying, “Always find a spot in the mirror, because if you can’t look at yourself, how do you expect other people to look at you?” and that was it for me.

What made you join the Vixen Army? Throughout my entire life, I have struggled to find out who I am. In high school, although I was overweight, I participated in all my school events, was a part of the dance team and had a type of confidence I found myself yearning for in my adulthood. After having my third child, it was difficult to adjust and balance school, wifely duties and motherhood. I turned to food for comfort, and whether I was having a good day or a bad one, food became my go-to. During this time, I took minimal pictures and hated participating in anything that would require me to show myself to the world. In March 2016, a friend of mine told me to give Vixen a try. When I started Vixen, I was hiding in the back of the classroom and would die before I raised my hand as the new girl. As Shanut performed on that stage, she had this glow about her and she sparked the fire inside me once again. I left there unsure if I was going to survive to see another day, but was HOOKED! I found myself going every day! On one of those days, I remember Janet saying, “Always find a spot in the mirror, because if you can’t look at yourself, how do you expect other people to look at you?” and that was it for me. It has been seven months since I started Vixen, and I have lost a total of 45 pounds. Which is great! But it’s what I have gained that has me devoting my time to Vixen. I found that confidence again. I have found my inner goddess; the one that pushes me to be the best version of myself. I have learned that mistakes will happen, but in life you just can’t stop moving. Slowly, I began to feel comfortable in my own skin, and I’ve stopped thinking that beauty is only what we are supposed to look like. Losing the weight was a plus, but that is not what keeps me going back. As a full time mother, wife, and teacher, I look forward to distressing my life by walking through that door. I look forward to tapping into that long-lost confidence and letting myself show. Thanks to Vixen, I found ME again, and I am forever grateful and changed because of it. Name: Vicky Pino Age: 32 Occupation: Teacher (3^rd Grade) Kids: 3 (2 Girls and 1 boy) Favorite Cheat Meal: Pizza and chocolate Favorite Routine: Work A$AP Ferg Favorite Lipstick: Mac Flat Out Fabulous Favorite Pop star: Rihanna If you were a pop star, which one would it be? Beyonce Life Motto: "Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will."

"These classes are my therapy."

What made you join the Vixen Army? I have been attending Vixen for 3 years now; and over the past year and a half I have had the membership. These classes are my therapy. I am not only able to let go of all of my stresses and worries from the day and just feel the music, but I am also able to feel my body and soul come alive. The best part, which I never even expected to happen, was that after class I was able to reflect on all of those feelings. I began to notice that I was not living MY life. I recently made a few changes because I was feeling so deeply uncomfortable in my life; I knew that I had to do something.  I was living as an empty shell of myself for so long that I didn’t even realize how unhappy I was until I took my first Vixen class after making these changes. That was the best class of my life! I have taken charge of my life and I am living every day in the present and making sure that the daily decisions I make are true to ME and my son. I am 30 years old and feel as if I have just begun to live my life. I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for me. I will forever be grateful for Janet Jones, the Vixen Army and Ana with all of her little talks after class. Saying that this workout is inspirational is an understatement. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that I’ve lost 20 pounds and countless inches! Name? Tiffany Alexandra Machado Age? 30 Occupation? Administrative Coordinator for the Miami Dade County Office of Intergovernmental Affairs & Owner/ Creator of Wick & Co. Soy Candles Kids? I have one amazing 6 year old boy who goes by the name of Jerry Favorite Cheat Meal? I am not going to lie, most of my meals are cheat meals. I work out so I can eat whatever my little heart desires. But if I had to choose, the Chimi- Burrito from Latin House (with Vaca Frita)! Favorite Routine? That’s a tough one because I love so many of them; but I have to say the new Drunk in Love mix just gets me in the zone! I also LOVE LOVE LOVED the Dirty Diana routine we did for Michael Jackson’s birthday class. Bring that one back Janet! Favorite lipstick? Kat Von D Liquid Matte in Lolita is my go to Favorite popstar? I would have to say Michael Jackson, his music is timeless. If you were a popstar, which would it be? I honestly cannot think of one pop star that I would be. I have eclectic taste in music and I like certain things about all of them but none of them can fit the complexities that make up me. However, I can say that when I dance at Vixen I am a little bit Rihanna, with a dash of Bey a pinch of Nicki and a smidgeon of Iggy(…and somedays you’ll get a splash of Rick Ross too) Life Motto? “It is well with my soul” This phrase is calming, inspiring and spiritual all at the same time. And it has brought me much needed peace.  

 

I didn't really come to Vixen with a purpose, but I found one anyway.

What made you join the Vixen Army? I can probably sit here and tell you everything I've been through but it's easier to just tell you that I'm like a cat... I have 9 lives--not sure how many I have left though.                       In 2016 my life drastically changed at the beginning of the year,  and my whole world was upside down. I knew it was time for me to take back control of so many things, my health included. I came to the Vixen Workout one day just "for fun" and I literally have not stopped coming back since.  I really didn't come to Vixen with a purpose, but I found one anyway. It's become my little daily escape and in some ways my therapy. Once the music turns on and the lights are going, you have no choice but to keep up and focus on the moves.  For that one hour you really just forget about everything else that's going on in your life. Name: Vanessa Baez Age: 33 Kids? One furry little terrier named Lucky Favorite Cheat Meal? Cheese Fries or Ham Croquetas from Islas Canarias  Favorite Routine? "Ah Leke" and "So Sophisticated"  Favorite Lipstick? MAC Candy Yum Yum   Favorite Popstar? Britney Spears   If you were a Popstar, who would you be? A perfect combination of Rihanna and Nicki Minaj  Life Motto? Keep your head high and your middle finger higher.    [gallery ids="788,789,787" type="square"]  

Sooooo, you are thinking about becoming a Vixen Instructor. Yasss! We are excited you are thinking about joining the fam and we're sure you have tons of questions. We have made this Instructor Certification FAQ to answer any questions you may have.

Truly, more than any external transformation, I've evolved with an internal transformation because of Vixen. I'm always a jolly person cracking jokes and enjoying life, but I remember there was a time, where there were so many problems I was facing in my personal life, that I'd just drive and wait like 7 hours in the parking lot of body & soul because I had nowhere else to go. I'd literally just wait in my car waiting for Vixen to start. To go from that wait-time of contemplation, crying, and confusion to suddenly walk into a class full of just being able to let it all go and release it through movement, through bumping music loud enough to feel vibrations in my body made me feel alive again.. made me feel like nothing else mattered. That I was here at this moment and it was healing. Vixen has become my method of meditation cuz it's the only time where I can easily disconnect and be so live and present that it leaves me refreshed and just so happy and like a badass afterwards lol. More than anything, the reassurance that hey, life will throw curveballs but to be at your optimal state to handle those things, you NEED to absolutely take care of you, and that this is your outlet was like… FINALLY! I am my most authentic self in class because it's not about just putting in werk lol, it’s about letting loose and going so HAM in a judgement free zone that you sweat all that stress out. And because of that acceptance of myself, I bring that authenticity more and more outside those body & soul walls and really just try to live it IN my body and soul. Ever since I started these classes, Vixen has consistently been in my top 3 things to be grateful for in life. That last dance where we end with that Rihanna song usually puts me on the brink of tears, because the words in that song come to life at the moment and just mean so real. It puts you in the moment of look… we conquered another challenging workout and we ended with sweat and smiles on our faces. It’s a reminder that you can conquer anything but to do it with swag and your invisible crown because we are all queens and that’s all that truly matters in life. Thank you for Vixen. It means so much more to me than I could ever express. with love, Sonya ❤

Vixen partnered up with Propel Water this passed weekend in their CO:LABS event in NYC.    Vixen founder, Janet Jones (aka "The Bawse") lead the workout with dozens of fitness enthusiasts most of whom were new to the #Vixenarmy.  The theme for the weekend was #Madetomove and Propel did a great job in making sure everyone did just that.  Propel Co:Labs event was loads of fun and we are so excited to welcome the new members to the #Vixenarmy.  Check out some event pics below. [gallery ids="646,645,665,663,671,666,648,652,653,654,650,657,656,660,659,670,668" type="rectangular"]

I’ve never really liked Valentine’s Day. It’s not because I was traumatized after so many years of finding myself without a plus one on February 14. Although, Facebook can sure make you feel pathetic on that day if you’re riding solo! Nor is it the cheesy spa treatments, bad love notes, overpriced restaurant menus, and cheap chocolate. To be honest, what irritates me most about V-Day is the love thing. On Valentine’s Day, we’re encouraged to show love to people we care about, specifically a romantic partner. For those of us who don’t have a romantic partner at the time, it’s really easy to feel less than. Our insecurities about not feeling like enough are magnified during this time, obviously. Yet, as a member of the Vixen Army, we know that those insecurities are bullshit. A boyfriend, girlfriend, job, money, or even a Valentine’s gift is not going to mend the hole we sometimes feel inside. The outside validation we sometimes seek can only be satisfied by our own love. Logically, we understand that, right? For this reason, we are now told that self-love is the answer. Love yourself and all will be well. On the days we’re sad, all we have to do is give ourselves an internal hug and wha-la, we’re fixed! It all sounds so magical. But what if, we don’t know what love really is? What if, we don’t even know how to love ourselves? Then what? I didn’t grow up in a huggie family or in a I-love-you family. And although I was absolutely loved and shown love in different ways, it seems most often the examples I saw — and probably the examples you saw, too — were always tainted with human imperfection. Love came with expectations, judgments, and disappointments. So when it was time to love myself, I didn’t know where to start. First, I tried what Valentine’s Day tells us to do: fill the void with cheesy relationships, bad love notes, and cheap chocolate. When that didn’t work, I decided to search for my own definition of love. Eventually, I found a starting point for self-love. Love starts with faith. And not the religious kind we’re all so scared about. The faith that we are enough just they we are. The faith that we deserve all of our dreams. The faith that we are worthy of love. That’s where self-love starts. It starts with faith because, even if we can grasp the concept of love, the truth is we’re not sure if it’s for us. Having faith in love is a gesture that says to the universe, “Hmm, I’m not sure about this love thing. I’m not sure I even deserve it, but I’m willing to believe. I’m willing to trust you, anyway.” Faith, on its own, is an act of love. It is the gesture that opens our hearts to both the world and ourselves. Regardless of our circumstances this Valentine’s Day, there’s no greater gift we can give ourselves than faith. Faith in our dreams. Faith in our magical capabilities. Faith in our ability to love others and ourselves. We might not be there just yet, but we believe in ourselves. And that, my friend, is hot, sexy love.            

Vixen has tremendously helped me with my weight loss goals. Since starting in May 2013, I have lost almost 40 pounds. What I love most about the workout is how I feel when I am "performing." I am so many things to do many people and I love to take that one hour to just be me. I also love the woman that I have met and helping to support them on their various life journeys. Vixen has tremendously helped me with my weight loss goals. Since starting in May 2013, I have lost almost 40 pounds. What I love most about the workout is how I feel when I am "performing." I am so many things to do many people and I love to take that one hour to just be me. I also love the woman that I have met and helping to support them on their various life journeys.

  GlamSquad and Vixen Army commander, Janet Jones, got together to create the ultimate Vixen Glam look. GlamSquad is a new app-based beauty provider delivering professional and affordable beauty services to the home, office, hotel, or wherever you may be. We love them, with the touch of a couple buttons you've got a hairstylist and make up artists at your door ready to glam you up within an hour. Hello! GlamSquad visited our Body & Soul Miami location and prepped girls with what, we like to call, the "Vixen Glam" look. This look consists of a bold winged liner, please use waterproof liner, and a bold lip. We recommend you use a matte lipstick or lipgloss, cause with all that hair twirling, we don't want your hair sticking to your lips. Vixens arrived an hour earlier than our Monday night 8:30pm class, and got slammed up. Hair was curled, liner was touched, and one of the GlamSquad team members broke down the perfect winged liner look for the girls to try at home. The app is free, we say, "Why not download it?!" Thanks GlamSquad! [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iovarKFVh00&w=560&h=315]

The Vixen Army woke up early on Saturday January 9th to join Bianca and Ana at Body & Soul, in Coconut Grove, for our 90 min Calorie burn. We ask our Vixens to wear their calorie counters and prepare themselves for a real sweat. Ladies crowded Body & Soul on Saturday Jan 9th bringing along friends, co workers, Vixen friends, and of course, their calorie counters. The Vixen instructors rehearsed routines before the class was packed. It wasn't too quick after that, Ana and Bianca had the girls warming up with 35 booty pops! Yes, booty pops is a thing. Bianca knows how to keep the class energy up! You think she's small? This girl won't stop! Ana werkin' it with the girls. Booty Battle time! DJ Laz is blasted through those speakers and we're taking it way back to middle school. We are the Vixen Army! SUCCESS!! We received some client calorie counter shots after class, showing off how much they burned. Way to go girls! [gallery ids="601,602" type="rectangular"]