Pilates Meets Pistol Power In Groundbreaking Women’s-Only Shooting Class [WATCH]

A women-only fitness class in the Chicago suburb of Oak Forest, Illinois, is drawing attention online after combining Pilates workouts with firearm safety and shooting instruction, as reported by The New York Post.

The event, called “Pistols and Pilates,” was recently hosted at Eagle Sports Range and paired an hour-long Pilates class with a gun safety course and live range training. The class was attended by 24 women, ranging from their 20s to middle-aged participants.

The concept was created by Eagle Sports Range manager Aseel Halloub, who said the class was designed to help women feel more confident and informed about self-defense.

Illinois Range Offers ‘Pistols and Pilates’ Coursehttps://t.co/RtpgWbeKRh

— Bearing Arms (@BearingArmsCom) May 26, 2026

“In the gun world, you do have a lot of women who just want to protect themselves,’’ Halloub said.

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The event was co-hosted by Olive Pilates Studio owner Vivian Tadros, who said the class was also intended to challenge stereotypes surrounding both firearms and Pilates.

“Pilates has been known just to be for women, but men do it now – and guns are known for being men-only, but it shouldn’t be just one gender for each,” Tadros said.

The class started with an intensive mat Pilates session before transitioning into a two-hour firearm safety course led by range trainer Nora Elkhatib.

Participants practiced breathing, body control, grip positioning, and aiming techniques before moving to the firing range for live shooting drills using unloaded .22-caliber pistols during training exercises.

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“Our objective here isn’t to shoot anybody,” Elkhatib said. “It’s to protect ourselves. Us women are victims all the time.”

About half the women in attendance said they already had Illinois concealed-carry permits, although only a few owned firearms. Several participants said they had never fired a gun before attending the event.

The event highlighted two growing trends in the United States. Women have become one of the fastest-growing groups of gun owners in recent years.

According to Gallup polling cited in the report, around 20% of women have carried firearms since 2019, compared to 16% between 2013 and 2018.

Pilates participation has also grown across demographics nationwide, with participation reportedly increasing 40% since 2019.

Participants said the class offered an alternative to more traditional social outings while also giving women a chance to become more comfortable around firearms.

“It’s something different. It’s not doing the typical thing, [like] going to a bar,” said Sonia Mirnda, 40.

“I’m like, OK, I got [a gun permit] two years ago, so I’m going to try it out,’’ she added.

Mirnda said she initially attended because of the fitness aspect, but later viewed the event as something broader.

“We’re here for the Pilates class, but honestly, I think it’s also [about] self-awareness…as a woman, to protect yourself,” she said.

Jazmyne Worthy, a 25-year-old healthcare worker, said she already carries a pistol and attended the event to refresh her firearm knowledge.

“I live alone, so firearm safety is very important to me,” Worthy said.

Additionally, “I love Pilates,” she said with a laugh. “So this is the perfect mix.”

Worthy also responded to criticism surrounding the event.

“I don’t think it’s extreme at all, especially because I feel that more women need to be informed and educated on firearms, how to utilize them … so that they don’t have to feel like they need to rely on someone else to feel safe,” she said.

Halloub said the goal of the event was not to pressure anyone into participating in activities they did not support.

“Everyone should just respect everybody else’s opinions,” Halloub said.

“Some people are not into Pilates, and some people are not into guns – completely understand that. You don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with.’’

I took the first-of-its-kind ‘Pistols and Pilates’ class — and it left me sweating bullets https://t.co/MXR9JTzJsk pic.twitter.com/m04Zo2ZPTH

— New York Post (@nypost) May 26, 2026

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