A short video of South Jakarta residents combining Pilates and padel has gone viral, sparking a wave of mixed reactions online.
The clip, posted by the account @hansdavidian on Saturday (27 September 2025), shows gym-goers performing their usual Pilates routines while holding padel rackets and bouncing tennis balls.
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The video, only 20 seconds long, carried the caption: “Today’s workout: Pilates + padel in one.” Within days, it had been viewed a million times on X, with hundreds of likes.
Reactions, however, have been far from unanimous. The original poster quipped, “Just when you thought South Jakarta residents couldn’t get any more annoying.” Others quickly piled in with comments ranging from bemusement to outright mockery.
One user criticised, “There are always entrepreneurial activities that pay their employees below the minimum wage.” Another added, “People from South Jakarta are so boring. Their lives are driven by trends. They’d be better off living in Bekasi.”
Some chose humour. “The padel rackets are just props, when they can do those movements with mosquito rackets,” one comment read. Others wondered what the new sport should be called, offering suggestions such as “Padelates? Piladel?”
Despite the sarcasm, the video also drew intrigue. The unusual combination looked strenuous enough to work up a sweat and sparked questions about whether this new hybrid could become the next fitness trend.
From Viral Video to Fitness Class
The viral moment has since been linked to a broader fitness trend. Across Jakarta, some instructors are beginning to promote “padelates”. It is a workout that merges Pilates’ focus on strength and flexibility with the cardio intensity of padel.
According to practitioners, padelates offers a structured routine. Sessions often start with Pilates-style warm-ups to activate core muscles, before transitioning into padel-based drills that include quick steps, jumps and racket strikes. To finish, participants return to the mat for a Pilates cool-down and stretching.
“This exercise is suitable for all ages, especially for those who want to maintain fitness without putting excessive stress on their joints,” said Jakarta-based instructor Dita Prameswari, as quoted by Radar Surabaya.
Supporters say the mix brings a fresh approach to fitness. It helps improve posture, coordination, and muscle balance, while reducing the risk of injury. By blending mindful Pilates movements with padel’s high-energy elements, padelates is designed to keep workouts engaging.
For gym-goers tired of conventional routines, this could be a welcome alternative. As one trainer explained, combining two distinct exercise styles not only keeps classes lively but also offers functional benefits.
Core stability from Pilates complements the quick reactions required in padel, making it a comprehensive workout.
Still, whether padelates will catch on beyond niche circles remains to be seen. For now, the trend is another example of South Jakarta’s reputation for turning fitness into lifestyle performance, for better or worse.
So, would you try bouncing a tennis ball on a racket while holding a Pilates pose?
