By Sara Beth Williams–
A new fitness center has opened on Auburn Boulevard, with a unique twist.

Wild and Fly Fitness Bungee Studio recently opened in October near the former Theater in the Heights, which closed abruptly last year. 

Wild and Fly Fitness founder Wendy Fuentes confirmed a ribbon cutting took place on Nov. 7, which included a meet and greet with instructors and special offers. The fitness center previously had offered trial classes throughout the month of October, and Fuentes said some attendees for her classes came from as far as Davis.

Before the pandemic, Fuentes came across sling bungee fitness and traveled to Oklahoma to train and become certified. Sling bungee fitness is defined as a workout program that combines aerial acrobatics, suspension training, and resistance training.

Fuentes said the building and equipment have been revamped and retrofitted with safety in mind as her top priority. Bungee harnesses can hold individuals up to 300 pounds, Fuentes said.

According to the company’s website, the fitness studio uses the slogan “Experience fitness like never before.” The gym offers multiple classes in bungee fitness, yoga, circuit yoga, a rebound trampoline class, and infant and toddler classes.

The “Infant Baby and Me” and “Wild and Fly Tots” programs are designed for parent participation, according to the company’s website. Both programs focus on building the child’s creativity, motor skills, cognitive development, and social emotional skills through sensory play, active play, music and movement, and parental involvement.

Fuentes plans to offer Urbano dance classes in the future and said she’s seeking to attract youth and provide “a safe place” for the younger generation to come. Fuentes is currently seeking an Urbano dance instructor.

Fuentes also said the studio offers pelvic health fitness classes and other fitness classes for those who are over 40 years of age, which are designed to help both men and women who are experiencing less or limited range of motion due to age or recovering from injuries.

After becoming certified, while she began to develop the idea of opening a sling bungee fitness center in California, her two adult children suffered traumatic injuries that left lasting nerve damage and prevented them from walking for a time.

“I decided to create the wellness side of the business and add that second unit and focus on education and well-being,” Fuentes said, adding that she wanted to develop fitness classes that would address the “gaps in health care services” for people who are recovering from injuries.

Residents can book a spot for fitness classes in advance on the gym’s website.

Hours for the fitness center are listed as 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 5 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, and 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 5 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The center is closed on Sundays.

Wild and Fly Fitness is located at 8215 Auburn Blvd.