A personal trainer with 30 years of experience working with women’s bodies has revealed how she sculpts them to perfection, and you don’t have to lift weights at the gym.
Vix Erber, or Bondi Vixen as she is known in her Bondi Beach community, got her start in the fitness industry in 1991, becoming one of the first people in Australia to complete her personal training certificate.
Now she owns and runs The study of the Vixletix methoda boutique strength, HIIT, Pilates, and yoga-infused personal and group training environment, which is steadily growing its client base following Covid-caused disruptions and lockdowns.
While every woman’s body is different and will respond to different training styles, Vix takes the approach of infusing high reps with light weights as it means their clients are less prone to injury and heavy joint loading.
“It’s also a much safer approach in my opinion and no matter what your body type is, this style will help you get toned without the bulk that tends to come with heavy lifting,” she told FEMAIL.
Vix Erber (pictured), or the Bondi Vixen as she is known in her Bondi Beach community, got her start in the fitness industry in 1991.
One of Vix’s exclusive workout classes, called SWEAT, involves the use of light weights and cardio in short intervals.
One of Vix’s exclusive workout classes, called SWEAT, involves the use of light weights and cardio in short intervals.
‘It’s the ultimate fat burner, strengthens and tones. He is an all-in triple threat,” he said.
For those ladies on a weight loss journey, the dedicated personal trainer recommends keeping structure as the most important part of the puzzle.
Keeping it simple by understanding how many calories you’re eating compared to what you’re using for the day is the only way to see the scale moving in a positive direction.
“Strength training is essential above all else to staying lean and strong, and if you train with weights, you’ve also tackled your cardio in one fell swoop,” Vix said.
‘If you don’t add a cardio element to your weight training, I always recommend jogging or walking on soft sand. You get more for your money in soft sand.
Vix, who is in her late 40s, teaches up to 16 classes a week and completes all personal training appointments at her gym.
“I got a job at Healthland Gym in Bondi Junction after I finished school and have worked ever since,” Vix previously said.
In the early 2000s, she rounded up a few girlfriends for “moms and boys” classes before taking her training to the beach in the form of boot camps, where the Bondi Vixen was born.
After testing the waters with a pop-up studio, which ‘went through the roof’ in enrollments, Vix finally landed a space in North Bondi, just a minute’s walk from the arena.
What are Vix’s four pillars of health and fitness?
The Vixletix Method Study Presented by Bondi Vixen
Authorize: We slow down the reps to focus on lifting heavier weights. With two classes, one tailored to the upper body and the other to the lower body, we prioritize defining and shaping muscle mass exactly where you want it.
Sculpt: Join us barefoot on the mat and get ready to lift, squeeze and crunch for a strong core and powerful glute with tight, targeted Pilates-inspired movements in decreasing intervals.
Sweat: HIIT, but not as you know it. Through bursts of high-intensity activity, our training becomes progressively more challenging. This dynamic circuit style workout results in full body cardiovascular conditioning.
Restore: In two styles, Yin and Flow Yoga, we offer remedial classes that help you feel relaxed, elongated, and centered. These slow paced sessions are a time to reflect and listen to your body as we move through the poses and feel our limits.
‘I had 30 strong women in my groups. We trained rain, hail or shine. Just five years ago boutique fitness was just getting started and I knew that was the direction I wanted to go,” she said.
After testing the waters with a pop-up studio, which ‘went through the roof’ in enrollments, Vix finally landed a space in North Bondi, just a minute’s walk from the arena.
While there are plenty of fitness offerings out there geared toward men and women in their 20s, Vix hoped their exercise method would appeal to the 35+ age group.
“The Vixletix Method is based on four pillars that I believe are crucial to a more consistent routine,” he said.
The first pillar, Empower, focuses on increasing lean muscle mass with strength training, which is important for bone density and the prevention of osteoporosis as we age.
“Young guys come in thinking they’ll gain weight with weights, but that’s not the case. In a women-only environment, you will only get the results that women require and want,” she said.
The next pillar is Sculpt, which is Vix’s version of ‘progressive’ Pilates training using elastic bands, sliders, and interval training.
It targets the glutes and core in equal measure for a targeted workout.
“The Vixletix Method is based on four pillars that I believe are crucial to a more consistent routine,” he said.
The studio also has on-site massage therapists, nutritionists and dieticians to ensure clients have a holistic approach to their health.
The last two are Sweat, which is multifunctional cardio and conditioning, and Restore, which is a chance to meditate and relax with yoga.
There are classes associated with each of these pillars to make it easy to choose from a wide variety each week.
The studio also has on-site massage therapists, nutritionists and dieticians to ensure clients have a holistic approach to their health.
‘You don’t have to go anywhere else. The best results are obtained when you go to a place, it is safer and more motivating”, said Vix.
Vix recommends four fitness sessions a week to see results, with three being the absolute minimum, and to make it a part of your lifestyle, rather than a chore that needs to be done every day.
You can find more about Vix and his studio at Instagram and her website.
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