My Enchanted Life: A Memoir

by Lolita San Miguel, Gordon Wright (Editor)

New York born and raised, Lolita San Miguel has spent much of her life living in her parents’ birthplace, La Isla del The Island of Enchantment. Puerto Rico’s abundant charm and allure surely became infused in her blood, for Lolita is a person who radiates vitality, grace, and sagacity. Her irrepressible and indefatigable energy and spirit have earned her a rich and var¬ied life—and one brimming with accomplishment. Lolita became a professional dancer at age sixteen and performed as a leading soloist with New York City’s Metropolitan Opera Ballet for ten years. There, she worked with and befriended many of the finest teachers, dancers, choreographers, opera singers, and musicians of the day. A knee injury led Lolita to a meeting with Joseph Pilates, creator of the body conditioning and rehabilitation program that bears his name. She eventually became one of only two people certified by the legendary man himself. As such, she is acknowledged as a Pilates Elder, of whom there are only two remaining. Returning to Puerto Rico, Lolita founded and directed Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico. During her twenty-seven years at the helm, the Company con¬tinually broke new ground, performing to acclaim across the United States and abroad. After resettling in South Florida, Lolita began mentoring Pilates instructors. She then honored her own mentor, Joseph Pilates, by organizing a memo¬rial-plaque ceremony at his birthplace in Mönchengladbach, Germany. Most recently, she established Lolita’s LegacyTM, a teacher-training program, to ensure that the healthful benefits of Pilates will continue to spread through¬out the world.Lolita San Miguel’s My Enchanted Life—a life full of initiative, enthusiasm, love, and giving—is rich in fascinating people and memorable experiences. It also includes great challenges and heartrending loss. The example Lolita has set throughout her life offers lessons that far surpass those found in the ballet class or the Pilates studio. Her story informs us how to remain posi¬tive and engaged while squeezing every last drop out of our time on Earth.

164 pages, Paperback

Published February 26, 2021