Meet Janet Jones. She is a former Miami Heat dancer, and the mastermind behind the Vixen Workout. The Vixen workout provides a unique experience that allows you the opportunity to feel like you are part of a live stage performance. Since 2013, the Vixen Workout has had over 80,000 participants, has over 100 certified instructors in 3 countries, and was named Racked National’s Best Workout of 2014. I spoke with Janet at her studio in Wynwood to learn more about her and the latest dance fitness class that has been catching fire across the country.

Janet, you are under the spotlight…

Who is Janet Jones?

Janet Jones is a mother, a wife, a daughter, a dance, a creator, a dreamer.

When did you consider yourself a success?

I still don’t. Success, I feel is determined by different stages of your life. For example, five years ago, success meant something different to me. Today, I’m absolutely blessed to be able to do what I love for a living. But once you start setting goals, and accomplishing them, you kind of have bigger dreams. So right now, what I’ve accomplished in the past five years, five years ago, I never would have imagined it would have been a possibility. But now, that I’m here, I want to set the bar even higher, and have bigger dreams.

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

It’s not really advice, but it was one of those moments that sticks with you. I remember I was twenty years old, and I was doing a dance gig in Toronto. And the director of the gig at the dinner, asked everyone what we wanted to be in five years, and if we were doing something right now that will take you to your end goal in five years. That made me  think, “Wow! Where am I right now?” I think everyone should have a clear view of what you want out of your life, and make sure that today, that you are doing something that is going to get you there. If not, adjust.

What keeps you awake at night? What drives you?

What drives me is really the responsibility of having the small success that I have, and when you see these women, and how you affect their lives so much. And as a human being, you have your hard days too, where it’s tough running a business, and juggling motherhood, and being a wife. You sometimes wonder, is this all worth it. But, you have your responsibility with this opportunity, to keep on going, knowing that what you do helps benefit people for the better.

What is your greatest guilty pleasure?

Pizza.

What is your favorite TV show?

Billions on Showtime.

What is the one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?

I’m a huge introvert. My public persona is not at all what I am in real life. I do love to dance, but only because it’s always been an escape for me. And when I’m not dancing, I like to be home reading books. So, you would think that I’m outgoing, and outspoken. No, when I was a child, I was painfully shy. And as an adult, I am less shy, but I’m very quiet. I’m a huge introvert!

Is there a quote that you live by?

Stay hungry.  Live fierce.

What are your success habits?

My success habits are…on a  daily basis, you are going to have different hurdles right. And I think that one thing that benefits me, is my ability to go into solution mode, instead of getting emotional. There is no hurdle that can affect me. Just keep swimming. There are a lot of dreamers out there, but you need to be a dreamer that does. If you have a vision, give that vision a date, to make yourself accountable. So, I’ll set a date, and think about what I need to do to get there. I plan all those steps and deadlines, until I get there.

How did you get started with the Vixen Workout?

It was’t anything that I did. I was never thinking it would be anything like this. I was never like I’m going to start a fitness company, and it’s going to be this. I was a dancer my entire life. And I gave it up, I went into corporate America. I got a family. I realized that most women don’t have an opportunity to experience feeling alive. Women are martyrs. They will go to work, come home and take care of everyone else, and they won’t take time for themselves. So, I wanted to make sure that everyone had the opportunity to feel like I do on stage, which is feeling alive.

I’ve read that you like women to wear wedge sneakers or heels to Vixen Workout?What do you like women to wear to Vixen Workout?

The whole thing is that women should feel a part of their own concert.  So part of the experience is them dressing up. And they will get more out of it, therefore burning more calories if they dress the part.

What can women expect when they attend a Vixen Workout?

A great time. Dancing to moves that they see on TV. And to just have a good time, let loose, to burn tons of calories without even knowing that they are doing it, because they are having fun. The workout is 60 minutes.

What’s next for Vixen Workout?

We’re gonna go global (chuckles). That’s the goal.

Was May 1st when you opened in Wynwood?

Well, we had our soft opening on May 1st. Our grand opening will be in June. But we’re open here.

Thank you very to Janet for answering all of my questions. I learned a lot about you, and wish you all the best with your future endeavors!

Be sure to experience her classes for yourself. Visit her Vixen Workout website, and maybe I’ll see you there! Lastly, in collaboration with Propel Water and Vixen Workout, you have a unique opportunity to experience a Vixen Workout with Janet Jones on May 16th for free! Learn more at Propel Water Website, by clicking here.

Have you ever done the Vixen Workout? Do you plan to try it?