Pilates Unites Presents
Lolita's Legacy Symposium
An international gathering of Pilates teachers dedicated to deepening their understanding of the work of renowned Pilates elder Lolita San Miguel. This conference brings teachers from around the world together to study her method of Pilates through immersive workshops led by Lolita herself alongside distinguished master educators from the Lolita's Legacy program. The symposium is open to all Pilates teachers of any training/lineage.
An immersive gathering for Pilates teachers to deepen their understanding of the Method, expand their repertoire, and connect to the living lineage of Lolita San Miguel.
Lolita's Legacy Method Workshops
Learn directly from Lolita and her disciples through hands-on workshops deepening precision.
Repertoire & Progressions
Gain practical additions to your toolbox, including progressions, regressions, and nuanced variations.
Pedagogical Precision
Receive clear, actionable corrections and cueing upgrades rooted in the lineage.
Global Pilates Community
Build meaningful relationships with Pilates teachers from around the world.
Pilates Elder -
Lolita San Miguel
Lolita San Miguel is one of only two people ever officially certified by Joseph Pilates himself — a distinction that makes her among the most direct living links to the origins of the method. A former soloist with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, she discovered Pilates in 1958 through Carola Trier and went on to study directly under Joseph and Clara Pilates, earning her certification in 1967.
Over a career spanning more than six decades, Lolita has founded Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico, created the Master Mentor Program and Lolita's Legacy teacher training, and published her autobiography, My Enchanted Life. Her lifelong dedication to mentorship and preserving Joseph Pilates' original teachings continues to shape the global Pilates community today.
Pilates Reformer for Scoliosis
Scoliosis, in broad terms, refers to any lateral (side-to-side) curve of the spine. Scoliosis can create misalignments in the pelvis, vertebrae and rib cage. These misalignments are not selfcontained in specific muscle groups, but influence all movements from standing to sitting to lying down. A component of treatment for scoliosis includes exercises that strengthen weak core muscles and stretch the tight structures of the trunk. With the emphasis on core alignment and stabilization, asymmetrical movement patterns, and a holistic approach, this Pilates Scoliosis program is designed to improve body awareness and increase core fitness and function. The course addresses an in-depth approach to all aspects of the cause and treatment for scoliosis.
Meet The Symposium Presenters
A globally respected Pilates Master Teacher with over four decades of experience preserving classical Pilates while evolving it for today. Trained by Ron Fletcher in 1979, she founded Kathy Corey Pilates in 1984 and now serves as President of the International Pilates Heritage Congress in Germany.
Originally certified by PhysicalMind in 2007 Nichole completed Lolita's PMMP in 2012 and became a Lolita's Legacy educator that year. She is the owner of Pilates Unites studio in Miami and the owner/publisher of Inner Strength Publishing which printed the first biography of Joseph Pilates in English. She is the producer of this symposium and a devoted steward of the classical lineage.
A Second Generation teacher and Committee of Six member, Joakim has taught within Lolita's Legacy since 2016, bringing over 30 years of movement experience and a former military background to the Method. Joakim has presented at conferences around the world.
A two-time winner of Japan's top fitness industry award and Lolita's Legacy License Holder for Japan, Junko owns two studios and is devoted to sharing the classical method across Japan and internationally.
A former synchronized swimmer who represented the US in the French Open, Amber opened Precision Pilates of Spokane in 2004 and graduated with Group A of Lolita's Master Mentor Program in 2009. She represents Lolita Pilates internationally.
An Honors graduate of Purchase College's Conservatory of Dance, Danielle was certified under Romana Kryzanowska in 2002 and completed Lolita's Master Mentor Program in 2014. She owns PILATES LIFE studio — proud home of Lolita's Pilates Center.
Certified through Institute Pilates London, Katya studied with Lolita San Miguel and Mary Bowen. Founder of International Pilates University Fitness4You, she has trained teachers across six European countries.
A Pilates educator for over 22 years, Glaucia completed Lolita's Master Mentor Program and brings a background in physical therapy and structural integration. She is the director and co-producer of the documentary Tribute to Joseph Pilates, based in Brazil and teaching internationally.
Schedule
The Symposium is Round Robin Style - no need to choose your workshops - you get to take all of them!
Workshop Topics
In the Studio with Joseph Pilates: A Living Legacy by Lolita San Miguel
Preserve. And Evolve. This guiding philosophy has shaped the life and work of renowned Pilates Elder Lolita San Miguel throughout her extraordinary career.
In this special workshop, Lolita shares her personal journey into the world of Pilates, recounting how she met Joseph Pilates and came to study in his New York studio. As one of only two individuals ever officially certified by Joseph Pilates himself, she offers a rare firsthand perspective on his teaching, methods, and legacy.
Drawing from her experiences working directly with Joe, Lolita will demonstrate exercises he taught her while also sharing the thoughtful variations and adaptations she has developed over decades of teaching. Through stories, movement, and many years, Lolita offers a unique perspective on the enduring legacy of Joseph Pilates and the timeless principles that continue to inspire practitioners around the world through Lolita’s Legacy.
Postnatal Pilates: Restoring Strength, Function & Confidence by Glaucia Rocha
This workshop explores the unique needs of the postnatal body and provides practical strategies for safely guiding clients through recovery after pregnancy and childbirth. Topics include core and pelvic floor function, breathing mechanics, postural alignment, and progressive return to movement.
Using a fully equipped Pilates Studio Suite—including the Reformer with Tower, Wunda Chair, Ladder Barrel, Ped-o-Pul, and Spine Corrector—participants will learn exercises, modifications, and progressions that support healing while rebuilding strength, stability, and confidence.
Through hands-on instruction and practical application, instructors will gain the knowledge and tools to design safe, effective, and individualized postnatal Pilates programs that honor each client's recovery journey and promote long-term wellness.
Strong Hands, Strong Practice by Nichole L’vov
If the feet are the foundation to the body, then the hands are the gateway to the world. Drawing inspiration from Lolita’s vast repertoire of hand exercises, this workshop turns its attention to the often-overlooked area: the hands.
With the demands of technology, daily activities, and weight-bearing Pilates exercises, hand, wrist, and forearm dysfunction has become increasingly common in our clients.
This practical workshop is designed to deepen your understanding of hand, wrist and forearm function while exploring how healthy, resilient hands contribute to optimal movement and Pilates practice. Through anatomy, movement education, and hands-on practice, you’ll learn practical techniques to improve mobility, build strength, reduce tension, and enhance weight-bearing capacity.
Using hand and wrist-strengthening tools, therapy balls and targeted exercises- you’ll gain strategies that can be seamlessly integrated into both both private and group lessons. Leave with a practical toolkit to help clients develop stronger, healthier, and more resilient hands-supporting better movement in Pilates and everyday life.
Pilates for the Military: Strength, Resilience & Peak Performance by Joakim Valsinger
Explore how a targeted Pilates program can enhance performance, build resilience, and reduce injury risk in high-demand populations. Based on Joakim’s final research for the Lolita San Miguel Pilates Master Mentor Program, this workshop examines the application of Pilates within a military training context and its broader relevance to athletic and tactical environments.
Over an 8-week period, participants completed one hour of weekly matwork Pilates alongside standard military fitness testing, resulting in an average 39% improvement in push-up and sit-up performance.
This session breaks down the program design, assessment methods, and exercise progressions used in the study, providing practical tools you can immediately apply to performance-based training settings.
Modern Arm Work Progressions by Junko Sakurai
Due to the impact of modern lifestyles, many clients find exercises that place load on the arms challenging. Pilates includes a wide variety of arm series; however, success in these exercises does not come simply from strengthening the arms.
By understanding how the arms are connected to the center of the body and how movement is generated through this relationship, arm work can be progressed safely and effectively as a whole-body practice.
This workshop will explore:
- The essential anatomical knowledge required to successfully perform and teach the arm series
- How to approach exercises through appropriate progressions
By gaining understanding from both an anatomical and movement perspective, participants will be able to deliver more effective and meaningful classes for their clients.
Scapular Stability: Where Precision Begins by Amber Butler
Rooted in the teachings and lineage of Lolita San Miguel, this workshop invites teachers to take a closer look at one of the body’s most influential—and often overlooked—movement centers. Through the lens of Lolita’s approach to precision, awareness, and intelligent movement, we will explore how thoughtful scapular organization can transform whole-body movement, improve efficiency, and unlock greater potential within the Pilates repertoire.
Participants will leave with practical strategies, refined cueing techniques, and a deeper appreciation for the details that make meaningful movement possible—honoring the legacy of precision and purposeful teaching that continues to define the Pilates method.
The Space Between: The Art of Flow from Mat to Chair by Danielle Armstrong
This workshop invites teachers to explore the dynamic relationship between flow and control within the Pilates method through the lens of Lolita San Miguel’s repertoire. Drawing from Danielle studies with both Romana and Lolita, and through years of experience as a second-generation Pilates teacher and dancer, she examines how precision, intention, and embodied awareness create the foundation for seamless movement.
Through the exploration of the mat and chair repertoire, participants will discover how control creates freedom, how preparation supports fluidity, and how the spaces between movements can become opportunities for deeper connection, efficiency, and expression—honoring the precision and purposeful teaching that define the Pilates method.
Pilates Chair: Adapting the Movement Series for Pregnancy & Active Aging by Katya Smirnova
This workshop reviews the fundamental Pilates Chair movement series and explores practical adaptations for pregnancy and active aging. Emphasis is placed on safe modifications, appropriate progressions, and effective teaching strategies to support clients through these two important life stages.
Participants will learn how to adjust Lolita’s repertoire of chair exercises to accommodate changing biomechanics, balance considerations, and energy levels while maintaining the integrity of the Pilates method. Special attention will be given to building strength, stability, and confidence in a way that is both accessible and challenging.
Through guided practice and teaching application, instructors will leave with a clear framework for programming chair work that is safe, effective, and adaptable for diverse client needs.
NOTE: Speakers and workshops subject to change without notice. All attendees will be able to attend every workshop. No registration required.
Workshop themes include but are not limited to: Pilates for the Military, Tactile Cueing, Pilates Exercise Progressions, Lolita's Pre/Post Pilates, Post Natal Apparatus, Grow Your Chair Repertoire, Spinal Movements in Action, Hands to Toe: corrective hand and foot exercises
Gather. Connect.
Learn in sunny Miami!
The symposium will be held at the world-class Hilton Aventura Miami Hotel - a venue designed to welcome delegates from around the world with comfort, elegance, and ease. We have a dedicated room block with discount rates for our attendees. Please click link to book your accommodations and receive the discount.
Training in motion
Symposium Passes
Choose the your option and secure your spot.
Contact Us:
Email: info@lolitaslegacysymposium.com or nichole@pilatesunites.com
Call: +1-609-598-4686
Questions
What you need to know before you arrive.
Yes, this professional symposium welcomes instructors from all schools, backgrounds and experience level. Student teachers are also welcome. Workshops are designed to enhance knowledge and to experience the Method through the teachings of Lolita San Miguel. Beginners learn the fundamentals that matter. Advanced practitioners find the deep work they seek.
The conference venue is at the Hilton Aventura Miami Hotel. Some limited-capacity group rates are reserved. Find out more here. There are also other hotels within walking distance.
Every attendee receives a custom mat as part of their attendance ticket. The attendee swag bag will also include a notebook and pen for any info you want to remember. There is an expo featuring Pilates goods, clothing and other items relevant to Pilates enthusiasts. Don’t forget to bring a credit card for shopping! Wear layers since temperatures can vary in the hotel ballroom venue. The Saturday night cocktail reception features Salsa dancing to bring a little Miami to our weekend. So don’t forget your party clothes!
Two day pass holders get lunch and refreshments both days . Coffee/Tea stations will be available in the mornings and water stations will be available all day. Saturday night includes a cocktail reception with heavy appetizers and a two-hour open bar.