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 Dega Schembri
Dega is co-owner of Fit Physique and City Fitness. She founded Fit Physique in 1983 for the purpose of providing onsite group fitness classes at corporate locations. Dega is AFAA Step Certified and is an ACSM and ACE Gold Certified Fitness Instructor. She has been teaching group fitness classes for more than 22 years and 15 years ago began the Instructor Training Programs at Fit Physique. Within three years of opening her Aerobics Studio at 1500 Massachusetts Avenue, Fit Physique received recognition from SELF Magazine as one of the top 50 exercise facilities in the nation. She has been a consultant for ACE, AVIA and Reebok and served as chairperson for the Workout For Hope AIDS Fundraiser for three years. She believes in being socially responsible and uses fitness to further that goal. A well-known leader in fitness, Dega was recognized by Sports Focus Magazine as one of “10 Women in Fitness Who Made a Difference,” in the field of aerobics.
Dega began her career in fitness by teaching classes at lunchtime while working and going to school at George Washington University, ultimately earning a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology. As one of the first aerobics instructors at GW, she realized the benefits of work-site fitness, which inspired her to begin Fit Physique, Inc.
As the parent of a 14-year old son, Dega makes time to attend his hockey games, take him on in one-on-one basketball, and co-chair the PTO at his school. She also enjoys bike riding, reading, gardening, cooking and visiting her favorite summer vacation spot in Chincoteague. Her life motto is, “No guts, no glory.”
 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 11-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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