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 Dega Schembri
Dega is co-owner of City Fitness Gym, a division of Fit Physique, Inc. She founded Fit Physique in 1983 for the purpose of providing on-site group fitness classes at corporate locations. In 1987 she opened the Fit Physique Aerobics Studio at 1500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, which received recognition from SELF Magazine as one of the top 50 exercise facilities in the nation! She is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, ACE Gold and ACSM Certified Fitness Instructor and AFAA Step Certified. She has been a consultant for AVIA, ACE and Reebok and served as Chairperson for the Workout For Hope AIDS Fundraiser for three years. Dega believes in being socially responsible and uses fitness to further that goal with such program as Pump-A-Can for the Needy, Share a Shoe Drive and various fundraisers for several non-profit organizations. She recently became a Sole Mate for Girls on the Run and City Fitness Gym was a sponsor for their last two races by raising money at the annual Fitness Fiesta raffle.
A well-known leader in fitness, Dega was recognized by Sports Focus Magazine as one of the “10 Women in Fitness Who Made a Difference.” She now regularly competes in Triathlons, winning first place in her age range in 2010. Sharing this new interest with others resulted in the founding of the City Fitness Triathlon Club. Dega began her career in fitness by teaching classes at lunch-time while working and going to school at George Washington University, ultimately earning a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology. As one of the very first aerobic instructors at GW, she realized the benefits of work-site fitness, which inspired her to begin Fit Physique, Inc. Fit Physique continues to run corporate site fitness at a variety of locations throughout the city. She feels very fortunate to have transitioned to co-ownership of City Fitness Gym in 1996, becoming the only woman-owned gym in Washington DC.
Her greatest achievement is being the proud parent of her 22 year old son. He was 7-1/2 years old when she adopted him. He is now a successful certified Child Development Associate working as a Teacher’s Aid at the Gan HaYeled Nursery School and is loved by all the children. They both treasure their annual family vacations in Chincoteague. Dega enjoys music, reading, biking, gardening, cooking, traveling and cherishes spending time with family and friends. Her guiding principle in life is “Always have a grateful heart.”
 Lucinda LaRee
Lucinda is co-owner of Fit Physique and City Fitness. She is ACE and AFAA certified, is a 500-Hour Master Teacher Registered with the Yoga Alliance, and has been teaching fitness for 20 years. She knew since her first Jazzercise class at the age of seventeen that she wanted to devote her life to fitness and pledged to be a fitness and diet consultant for “the Rich and Famous.” While teaching aerobics at Total Workout in Vista, California, Lucinda received her certification from The University of California-San Diego in Adult Fitness and Management. In 1983 she began working as a fitness trainer and instructor for the very exclusive health spa Cal-A-Vie in Vista, California.
In 1984 Lucinda moved to the east coast. While working at The Norwich Inn and Spa in Connecticut she was chosen as the lead trainer for the Sports Illustrated Super Shape-Up video series with supermodels Elle McPherson, Rachel Hunter and Cheryl Tiegs. From there she moved to Washington D.C. and began working for Dega Schembri and Fit Physique, Inc. as a private contractor. In addition to that she worked as Fitness Director for the Watergate Health Club and owned her own personal trainer business, Energy Flow.
Lucinda worked with the former owners of City Fitness to design the gym and worked there as manager and Fitness Class Director. From there she joined with Dega as a business partner in Fit Physique, Inc. and purchased City Fitness Gym. Fulfilling a long time goal, Lucinda created a successful yoga program that includes studio caliber classes at corporate sites and City Fitness Gym, and the Samayama Yoga Teacher Training Program.
Spending time with her 18-year old son occupies most of Lucinda’s free time. Her other sources of enjoyment are nature, gardening, hiking, journaling, having coffee and spending time with friends and loved ones, dancing and playing softball. Lucinda’s motto for life is, “Be kind, look for beauty in everything and everyone, and most of all be grateful!”
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