STOTT Pilates Training in Bali: Honest Review from A 2026 Trainee
Last Updated on October 21, 2026
Are you thinking about becoming a STOTT Certified Pilates Instructor?
I’ve just completed my one-month intensive training at Hotel Komune in Bali, one of the few STOTT host centers on the island, and it was a blast.
Not only because of the dream setting. Think free reformer classes every single morning, Balinese massages included in your package, and the best friendships formed during the training.
Of course, it doesn’t make sense for everyone to fly all the way to Bali for Pilates teacher training, but if you’re looking for an intensive experience combined with a bit of a holiday and lower training fees, it could be the option for you.
In this article, I’m reviewing the wonderful, deeply worthwhile Stott Pilates training in Bali so that if you’re considering it too, you get an honest, first-hand review.
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I’ve just launched a new Substack Newsletter all about Pilates and what it’s like to build a career as a brand new instructor. To start, I’ll share what I know best: anatomy and being an extreme Type A girly. You’ll find plenty of anatomy study tips, tools to help you manage your study and practice schedule, and so much more. Come say hi!
Which STOTT Intensive Courses Are Available at Hotel Komune?
In 2026, Hotel Komune hosted several STOTT intensive modules, including Functional Anatomy and Exercise Fundamentals, Intensive Mat-Plus (Level 1) and Advanced Matwork (Level 2), and Intensive Reformer (Level 1) and Advanced Reformer (Level 2), along with other shorter workshops.
One of the reasons why Hotel Komune is a great option for your training is that, in most cases, multiple courses are scheduled back-to-back. This allows you to complete them consecutively in the same location and with the same instructor.
This doesn’t happen often, and if you have to travel somewhere to complete your training, it just makes sense to do them all in one go.
Personally, I completed Functional Anatomy, Matwork Level 1, and Reformer Level 1 in one go, which is why my training lasted an entire month. Of course, you’re free to choose which courses to enroll in; there’s no obligation.
To understand which modules are available with STOTT Pilates and what Level 1 (Essential and Intermediate repertoire) and Level 2 (Advanced repertoire) actually mean, you can check my STOTT Pilates Training FAQs, where I answer all the key questions.
What’s Included in Your Package?
Completing your STOTT Pilates training in Bali (at Hotel Komune) means that all your training materials are included in the price. This covers all the printed manuals (which is not always the case if you’re training somewhere else) and digital materials accessible online.
The final package price includes your accommodation in a private room (and you can bring someone with you), daily breakfast and lunch, free reformer and yoga classes, a set number of Balinese massages depending on your training duration, and free access to all the facilities within the resort (sauna, cold-plunge, hot pool, lap pool, gym).
Breakfast is one of the best deals I’ve ever seen: you get a huge main dish, a fresh juice, and a hot beverage, and the kitchen staff is always happy to modify anything on the plate to make you happy.
Lunch is a buffet with plenty of savory options, fresh fruit, and healthy desserts prepared specifically for course participants at the resort’s Health Hub restaurant. Considering you only have a one-hour lunch break, it’s more than enough (unless you want to practice your exercises on a completely full stomach!).
What’s included may vary from year to year. Make your to always refer to the official Hotel Komune website for updated information.
Here’s What a Day at Komune Looks Like as A Trainee
- 10:30 am – 1:30 pm: Morning session. For the anatomy course, it’s mainly a lecture. For the Matwork and Reformer courses, it’s exercise demonstrations, personal practice, and practice teaching of all the exercises.
- 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: Lunch break at the Health Hub and free time.
- 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Afternoon session, continuing the work from the morning.
The rest of the day is free time, unless you’re given homework to complete.
Early mornings are yoga and reformer classes (and breakfast, of course, before heading to class)
The late afternoon is usually the time for a long walk along the famous black sand Keramas beach, a gym session, or some recovery time at the Health Hub recovery center with its stunning sauna, ice bath, and relaxing hot pool.
The evening is time for dinner, usually at the Beach Club restaurant.
Hotel Komune is a venue for weddings and birthday celebrations in Bali, so you’ll likely witness a fun party, a romantic proposal dinner, or even fireworks more than once a week. It’s definitely a fun place to be, even outside your training hours.
Sunday is the day off, no matter which training you take.
What Is the Price Compared to STOTT Pilates Training Elsewhere?
There are too many variables to give a single number: currency exchange rates, what’s included in each training package, location, accommodation costs, and flights.
STOTT trainings are an investment, period. Looking at tuition alone, you’re usually looking at around $1,000 for Anatomy, $2,000 for Matwork, and $3,000 for Reformer. Overall, I spent around $9,000 for the entire month (excluding flights, dinners, and personal expenses).
When you do the math, everything mentioned in the previous paragraph was covered (including all the perks and free daily reformer classes for a whole month!).
So while the total cost is significant (it is a resort, after all), it was entirely worth the investment.
Not just for the tropical setting, but because for an entire month, I had the space to pause everything else in life and focus 100% on Pilates and my own learning.
That complete immersion was the real value for me. Add in the chance to learn from an incredible instructor trainer and connect with like-minded classmates, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the entire experience.
Is the STOTT Pilates Training Intense?
I’d say it depends.
When it comes to mental demands, it’s about how much you know already, because the less familiar you are with the concepts, the harder your brain has to work to keep up.
Not only during the anatomy module, but also through the Matwork and Reformer: breathing patterns, choreography, using your voice to practice teaching, and your eyes to notice faulty alignments (that’s all part of the game).
If you’re already active and move every single day, you’ll probably feel the mental fatigue more than the physical. But if you spend most of your day at a desk and suddenly shift to moving for 5 hours a day, 6 days a week, your body will definitely feel it as well.
How do you avoid feeling mentally and physically overwhelmed?
Prepare, practice, and prepare again. I’ve put together a practical guide with my best tips to prep before your STOTT training starts, so you can use your time in class to improve your skills rather than trying to learn everything from scratch.
The STOTT Instructor Trainers at Hotel Komune
Hotel Komune is a host center, meaning that Merrithew trainers are sent to the hotel to deliver the course.
Now that I’ve completed my training, if I had to point to one of the reasons why it has been so worth it, it was my instructor trainer (IT).
The material covered during the course is the same, but the way it’s delivered depends entirely on your trainer. Rouxchelle deeply focused on practice teaching during the courses, which is the element I loved the most, and that, right after the training, made me feel confident enough to start teaching.
Moreover, with her personality and expertise as a former dancer and professional in the industry for over 20 years, she shared with us so much value beyond her duties as a STOTT trainer.
Over the past 2 years, Komune has hosted the same Instructor trainers, both exceptional (I asked around lol). Unfortunately, the IT may change depending on their availability, but all this to say that the IT delivering the course does matter.
Those years of additional experience within Merrithew and in the industry can truly make the difference. Do your research wherever you’re doing your training.
You can check which IT is delivering each course on Hotel Komune’s website.
What Happens After the Training?
This is one of the elements that confuses most trainees: after your STOTT Pilates training (no matter how long), you’re not certified. You’re simply STOTT-trained or a trainee.
After your training, there’s no exam scheduled. After the last day of your course, you have six full months to sit your exam, unless you enroll in another course.
So what about logging observation, physical review, and practice teaching hours?
The (only) disadvantage of having your STOTT training at Komune is that after the course is over, you have to leave, while if you’re completing the training next door, you can head back to observe, maybe practice for free (Reformer especially), and observe the resident trainer.
But you have other options:
- First of all, you can observe the resident certified STOTT instructor at Komune (that counts as observation hours). Moreover, you can log your observation hours watching videos on the Merrithew portal or of other STOTT-certified instructors; that counts.
- When it comes to practice teaching or physical review, you can rent a studio, practice at home, or teach family and friends. I’ve added some more options in my STOTT Pilates training guide.
5 Reasons to Have Your STOTT Pilates Teacher Training in Bali
If you still have doubts about the STOTT training at Komune, here are my five reasons:
- Bali and the Resort Setting: I’ll be honest, when thinking about how I wanted to train, comparing a sad, artificially lit studio in a European city to the lush natural surroundings visible through the massive windows of the bamboo Pilates studio at Komune, there was simply no contest.
- Full Pilates Immersion: Being able to pause everyday distractions and dedicate an entire month exclusively to Pilates education and practice played a massive role in my choice. I lived, breathed, and ate Pilates for a month, and that total immersion made everything stick.
- All-Inclusive Packages: Aside from dinners and extras, everything else was included in the package. Even though the final price seems high, it is truly worth the investment for the level of convenience and experience you receive.
- International Classmates and Instructors: I thrive in international settings, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll love it. Meeting new people, hearing diverse life stories, and learning from people from across the world gives you so much inspiration for your own journey. You leave with friends from every corner of the world.
- Holiday vs. Training Balance: The rhythm of the training lets you actually experience Bali, especially if it’s your first time visiting. It is the right compromise between the most amazing holiday with new friends and rigorous, highly focused training.
Practical Tips for Your STOTT Training in Bali
Things to do around Hotel Komune during your STOTT Pilates Training
Hotel Komune is located at Keramas Beach, about an hour from the airport in Denpasar.
I’ll be honest: the hotel feels a bit out of the way, and in terms of the immediate surroundings, there isn’t much else to do (though you’re paying for the resort, so you might as well spend your time there).
If you’re coming specifically for the training, that’s where your head should be (because it really is intense). However, there are plenty of opportunities to head out for a bit of a change of scenery (as long as you factor in the traffic):
- Dinner in Ubud: Ubud is only about 50 minutes to an hour from Keramas. If you want a different setting, it’s the best place to go for dinner or a post-class shopping session. There’s one thing they do exceptionally well in Bali: food. If you’re looking for the best spots, here is the full list of my favorite restaurants in Ubud from my time living there.
- Nature adventures: Having Sundays off is the perfect excuse to plan a longer day trip: a last-minute waterfall exploration, horseback riding through the rice fields, or a full day discovering local temples.
- Beach clubs & nightlife: Saturday night is the best time to bond with your classmates and head out. We went to Finns and Atlas in Canggu, as well as Savaya in Uluwatu (Ulu is more than 2 hours away, so be ready for the drive). Airbnbs are so affordable that you can easily book a room for the night and head back to Keramas the next day.
Bali isn’t massive, and if you’re willing to navigate the traffic and sacrifice a little bit of sleep while still showing up focused for class, there is plenty to explore.
That balance is exactly why this training setup works so well if you want to mix hard work with a real trip.
What to pack for your STOTT Pilates Training
- Grip socks for Reformer (reformer classes and/or Reformer Intensive Course): Grip socks are available at the resort, but it’s always better to pack them from home.
- Activewear, of course! That’s what you’ll wear most days, but don’t forget to bring a couple of cute outfits (even if you don’t plan to go out, you’ll go out anyway).
- Notebooks in case you like to write with pencils and pens (available at the resort) or an iPad/computer to take notes.
- Snacks: Pack some snacks; lunch is light, and you’ll end up hungry before dinner. There’s not much around in terms of minimarkets, so you’d better have your snacks with you.
- Sunscreen: SPF is expensive in Bali, so you’d better bring it from home.
Getting around Bali from Keramas
Grab and Gojek are not allowed to pick up clients in front of the hotel or along the village lane that leads to the resort (this area belongs to the local community drivers).
Practically speaking, you can walk along the lane all the way to the main road to call a Grab or Gojek. That’s allowed.
If you don’t mind spending a bit more, the hotel also offers private transportation. This can actually be convenient and cost-effective if you’re doing a one-way trip to Canggu or Uluwatu and there are eight of you, but it’s definitely less convenient if you’re heading to Ubud alone.
To get back to the hotel, Grab or Gojek is always your best bet; they can drop you off directly in the lobby without any issues.
Wifi & Internet Connection at Komune
The resort offers free Wi-Fi, of course; however, as often happens in Bali, it can easily disconnect, slow down, or simply not work in some areas of the resort (the toilets, for example!).
So it’s a good idea to have an eSIM as a backup, both for when you’re out on day trips or if the connection drops.
When I’m in Bali, I usually rely on Airalo; it’s been the best option for me, and I don’t have to spend much since they offer all kinds of data packages. For this trip, for example, I bought a smaller data plan since I had Wi-Fi available at the hotel most of the time.
You can purchase your eSIM with Airalo through this link.
That’s it for today’s article!
If you still have doubts about doing your STOTT Pilates teacher training in Bali, leave a comment, and I’ll get back to you. If you have already booked it or are about to, I’m so jealous; I would leave and do it all over again tomorrow.
And if you’re about to become a STOTT trainee or a trainee in general, you should know I’ve just launched a Substack newsletter all about Pilates.
Since I’m just starting out as an instructor, I’ll share what I know best: anatomy and being an extreme Type A girly. You’ll find plenty of anatomy study tips, tools to help you manage your study and practice schedule, and so much more. Come say hi!
