Winnie Au has been a fulltime fitness instructor for many years, and now focuses on Yoga and Thai massage. Her challenging classes and concern for her students are well known. A native of Hong Kong, Winnie integrates the philosophies of Asia into her teaching, combined with her unique sense of humor.

Michelle AVA approaches movement as a healing art. With a Master’s degree in dance education, she has been a vital force in the Washington, D.C. dance and holistic community for over 3 decades. She has dedicated her work to fusing modern dance with yoga, meditation and spiritual practice to assist others in discovering their creative expression. Michelle is the founder of Joy of Motion dance center where she served as artistic director from 1976–1990.

Ladora Barnes has taught for City Fitness since its McPherson location, and has continued to teach for Fit Physique and City Fitness in Cleveland Park. Ladora is well-known for her energetic step classes, but also teaches a dynamic body sculpting class. She is a mother and grandmother who also works a full-time “day job.”

Vanessa Bilanceri has been practicing yoga since 2004. She has worked with young people through a variety of organizations, including St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School Summer Camp, Yoga Tales, Latin American Youth center and the Girl Scouts. Vanessa is a graduate of City Fitness’ very own Samayama Yoga Teacher training program and is a 200-hour registered Yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance. Aside from teaching yoga, Vanessa freelances in marketing and communications for a variety of nonprofit organizations and small businesses. She enjoys traveling and Latino culture.

Tom Brose—See Personal Trainers section >

Clarence “Skip” Butcher is certified as a personal trainer by the American Council on Exercise (ACE). He has received ACE Specialty Recognition-Strength Training and received a Specialty Training Certificate-Resistance Training from IDEA, the International Association of Fitness Professionals. Skip is certified as an aerobics instructor by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) and ACE and holds a AFAA Step Reebok certification. Involved in the fitness industry since 1988, he has presented master classes throughout the Washington Metropolitan area, Georgia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Lisa Clarke-Bell has been an instructor with Fit Physique since 1987. A former professional dancer with Jones-Haywood, she also owned her own dance studio. Lisa teaches fitness classes and master classes both at City Fitness and corporate sites. In addition to fitness, she bowls competitively and has raised 2 sons, one of which is a recent graduate of Hampton University.

Elie Cossa—See Personal Trainers section >

Christine Davis has studied yoga and West African dance since 1993. As a child, she was happiest stomping around the kitchen hitting a pan with a wooden spoon. As an adult, she continues with this love of rhythm and movement through the development of her dance-exercise class, AFRI-CArdio. Christine is an ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor and presently teaches adult and youth yoga classes in addition to her 9-year practice as a massage therapist. Special offer! $10 off a first massage for City Fitness staff and gym members. Visit her web site to learn more »

Arth-Tavia (Arthur) Devon-Majorome has been a fitness professional for 18 years and is an East Coast aerobics phenomenon. He is the first Dynamix Fresh Face Aerobics winner. Well known for his animated cutting-edge style. His ability to communicate and educate other professionals using humor, passion, and energy makes participants eager to learn and follow his lead. He has taught master classes for Fit Physique since 1992 and is currently the Director of the department of Labor Fitness Center in Washington, D.C.

Debby Feathers is a certified yoga and pilates instructor who teaches in the Washington, D.C. area. She has been practicing yoga for 7 years and is currently completing the 300-Hour Samayama Yoga Teacher Training Course. She has taught both yoga and pilates to Indian Health Service employees and at Fit Physique corporate wellness programs. Debby is very interested in seeing yoga classes incorporated into Tribal Wellness and Community Centers in the Native American community.

James Foulkes James Foulkes has been studying personal development since 1999. His diverse set of practices includes Yoga, Meditation, Chi Kung, Kung Fu and shamanic movement practices. He is also training in Cranial Sacral Therapy and Chinese Medicine. James enjoys finding parallels between these practices and feels the basis of them is unity, integration and wholeness. James grew up in England and has recently moved to Washington, after years of working within a corporate environment. His approach to yoga is based on the work of Vanda Scaravelli, an Italian/ American who studied with J Krishnamurti, BKS Iyengar and TKV Desikachar. Email James »

LeeAnne Graeub is a personable and inspiring fitness instructor/personal trainer with 17 years of teaching experience. Trained as an aerobics instructor by Donna Richardson (Fitness Pro—ESPN, Nike P.L.A.Y.), Lee Anne teaches a variety of workouts including step, low impact, muscle conditioning and circuit training. She has presented master classes and workshops in various cities along the East Coast and is AFAA certified.

Michael Gray brings 20 years of teaching experience to his classes and private small groups all over the Metro area. He is an ACE Certified Fitness Professional and specializes in Step formats, strengthening/core classes, as well as hybrid classes such as 20/20/20 (aerobics/strength/yoga). He also holds many certificates from Reebok, such as Step, Cycle, Flexible Strength and Gliders, and in addition is certified in Cardio Kick Box. He incorporates all this training/education into each and every class. Mike has also branched out within the wellness industry with a Master’s degree in Acupuncture and is licensed and maintains a private practice in Silver Spring, MD.

Charise Hoge is an accomplished dancer, teacher, therapist and author. She has a Master’s Degree in Dance Movement Therapy from NYU, and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Georgia. She is certified as a dance/movement therapist (ADTR), polarity practitioner (RPP), and SynergyYoga/ SynergyDance instructor. Based on her experience counseling other expatriates living in Thailand, she co-authored a book titled A Portable Identity: A Woman’s Guide to Maintaining a Sense of Self While Moving Overseas. She performs with the Ancient Rhythms Dance Troupe, and teaches SynergyYoga in the D.C. area.

Taj Johnson, Taiji and Qi Gong teacher, is Director of SkyValley Taiji. He is a Certified NACMAF (North American Chinese Martial Arts Federation) instructor, tournament judge, international gold medallist, and nationally ranked martial artist. He has been teaching classes in the DC Metro area since 1992. Taj is currently in his 16th year of personal study.

Lucinda LaRee—See Owners section >

Bhekaji (Becca) Lynch is registered as a 500-hour teacher by the Yoga Alliance. She is a certified Astanga yoga instructor and incorporates the essential elements of the Astanga tradition with the detail and alignment of the Iyengar tradition. She has been practicing and studying yoga since 1970. She found her passion when she discovered that asana and pranayama are methods to explore the true nature of the self. Bhekaji has studied with world-renowned teachers including Erich Schiffman, Jhonny Kest, David Swenson, Tim Miller and John Friend.

Nino Malong—See Personal Trainers section >

Safisha T. Mance has been a group fitness instructor since 1997 and is certified by AFAA. Her work experience includes teaching Step, Hi-low, Body Bar and Kick-boxing at City Fitness, Bally Total Fitness, The Fitness Company, Sport & Health, Gold’s Gym, L&T Fitness and Results the Gym. Safisha has also held the position of Group Fitness Coordinator for Sport & Health. Her certifications include: Bfit University, Q.I.T with Fit Physique and AFAA. Outside of the fitness industry, Safisha is the President and CEO of Mance & Associates, LLC, a full service meetings and special events management firm.

Jessica Morey began her yoga journey at the age of 9 practicing Bikram series with her sister. In college she practiced Power Yoga with Baron Baptiste and then traveled to India where she studied Ashtanga, Mysore style. Jessie completed her teacher training with Ana Forrest in 2002 and has been committed to Forrest style of yoga ever since, which focuses on breath, alignment and core strength. Her classes emphasize mindfulness, staying present during practice, and connecting deep breathing with movement in order to protect the body from injury. Jessie has also been practicing Vipassana and loving-kindness meditation for 14 years and brings these insights into her classes and teaching style.

Terence Arman Ollivierra, certified yoga instructor, has been a devoted student of yoga for the past 10 years. Constantly studying his discipline and dedication to practice has lead him beyond the mat into the more subtle transformative aspects of yoga practice. Terence’s life revolves around his practice and is commited to learning and sharing that which has been confirmed by his own experience.

Kimberlee (Kim) Ross started teaching low impact aerobics in 1987 by accident. “The instructor didn't show up and I was asked to help out for the day … I just started winging it.” Seventeen years later, she has been doing a similar style—there is no dancing, no real routine, just an intense, fun, workout. Since the inception of step in 1990, it has been primarily format that Kim teaches. While completing her graduate degree in Health/Fitness Management from American University during the summer of 1990, she taught all around DC for Fit Physique at corporate sites until she started working at the Department of Labor’s Fitness Center full time. Kim currently works in the Office of Safety and Health at DOL as a Safety Specialist but still has the passion for fitness and will continue to teach as long as there are people and good music.

Rex Samuell—See Personal Trainers section >

Dega Schembri—See Owners section >

Wendy Schwartz has developed her varied fitness skills since 1990, which stem from her love of teaching. As a domestic relations lawyer and owner of Wendy H. Schwartz and Associates, PLLC, her secret passion is sharing her devotion to, and knowledge of, exercise and fitness. Wendy teaches group health, step, hi-low, and weight training classes. She has been trained in Pilates and has been teaching mat classes since 1996 or so. Believing that Pilates has improved her stamina, increased her energy level, given her more flexibility, improved her muscle tone, strengthened her abdominals, and changed her overall appearance, Wendy is anxious to share this great workout with others.

Judith Shapiro has been teaching yoga for City Fitness on Sunday mornings for more than ten years. She teaches a dance-influenced flow style. She is registered with the Yoga Alliance at the 500-Hour Master Teacher level. She also teaches at American University’s School of International Service, where she directs the Global Environmental Politics program.

Sharon Squassoni is an Asthanga yoga teacher, an author, and a mother of two children. She has studied under David Ingalls and David Swenson among others. She has been teaching for City Fitness since 1998 and has also taught at corporate sites.

Penelope Taylor is a second generation yoga teacher whose studies include traditional Hatha, Bikram’s, Kripalu, Sivananda and Astanga. She is a certified massage therapist, stress therapist, and specialized kinesiologist in the field of whole brain integration. She draws from a varied background in classical and modern dance, Chinese five-element theory, energy medicine, and holistic health therapies. Penelope teaches yoga, meditation and self-healing for corporations, hospitals, yoga centers and of course Fit Physique in the Washington, D.C. area.

Vivian Thurman is a former professional dancer of theme parks, casino shows and national tours in the U.S. and Japan, and choreographer of football game halftime shows, theme parks and major conventions nationwide. She has been involved in the dance and fitness industries since 1989, having been certified in Pilates: The Method and Matwork by Physical Mind Institute; completed Polestar Education Pilates Matwork with Flex Ring and Foam Roller; and Allegro I, II, and III. Vivian is AFAA and CPR certified and is a member of IDEA. Her expertise include: jazz, latin, tribal, hip hop, “Swing & Jive,” and Heavy Hoops.

Donna Waks, RCST, LMT, CMA, is a nationally certified massage therapist, registered craniosacral therapist and movement educator with over twenty-five years of experience in the fields of health and fitness. She has served clients through her D.C. private practice since 1993, addressing a wide range of issues with athletes, those with acute or chronic illness, pre- and post-natal women, the elderly, and individuals dealing with day-to-day stress. Initially trained as a dancer, choreographer and athlete, Donna is also a certified Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analyst, and draws on her experience in Developmental Movement Patterns, Feldenkrais and Continuum movement techniques. Her Fluid Movement Classes explore movement fundamentals, spirals and other three-dimensional whole-body patterns in order to increase mobility and develop essential body connections.