About Lolita San Miguel

She began her studies in body movement at the age of seven as a ballet student and went on to have a distinguished career in dance, starting at age 15 with companies such as the Slavenska Franklin Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet, later becoming a soloist with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet for ten years.

Lolita fell in love with the Pilates Method and apprenticed first with Carola Trier and later with Joseph and Clara Pilates, receiving her official certification directly from Joseph Pilates in 1967. A believer in continuous education, she also earned a certificate from Polestar Pilates in 2003.

In 1977, Lolita moved with her husband to Puerto Rico, where she founded Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico, serving as its Artistic Director for 26 years. In 2000, she founded Pilates y Más, Inc. She returned to the U.S. mainland in 2005 and went on to create her successful 160-hour Pilates Master Mentor Program, as well as producing eleven best-selling DVDs. In 2013, she launched her 500-hour Lolita’s Legacy Teacher Training Program, which has since expanded globally, with trainings held in Australia, South America, Central America, Puerto Rico, Japan, Scotland, Ukraine, Europe, and across the United States.

Ms. San Miguel is particularly proud of her initiatives to honor Joseph Pilates, both at his birthplace in Mönchengladbach, Germany, and at his resting place in Ferncliff Cemetery, New York. These efforts include the installation of a memorial plaque at his birthplace and the establishment of international biennial Pilates conferences — including the prestigious Pilates Heritage Congress in Mönchengladbach and, since 2016, an additional event in New York City.