Big Falls — Big Sky Bungee offers a new option for those already popular to get active.
Owner and founder Melissa Hamm says her goal is to create an environment where exercise literally feels less scary and more uplifting.
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Big Sky Bungee brings a new twist to fitness in Great Falls.
She said: “Gyms are scary. I don’t like going into gyms and most people my age say the same thing. And I say, ‘How can I move?’ Everyone is talking about bungee. How can I do that?”
Hamm, an orthopedic nurse, recognizes the value of low-impact exercise, especially for those looking for a “softer” way to stay in shape. After seeing how popular bungee fitness was, she decided to bring it to Montana.
“I started researching and talking to more people, and the deeper I went, the more I realized I could do it. With their help, I was able to do it, get the supplies I needed, and find what I needed. The inspiration was that gyms were intimidating and we wanted to get our bodies moving.”
To make her vision a reality, Hamm and her crew drove to Utah to get bungee certified (Montana has no formal training program) and began planning to open a school locally.
Great Falls resident Acacia MacCallum said she wanted to try it. “I saw it on Facebook and I’m really interested in different types of fitness. I used to go to the gym a lot, and I have kids. I haven’t been to the gym in a while, so I thought it would be fun to start again.”
Classes incorporate strength training, cardio and aerial movements to build balance and endurance, while bungee cords provide a feeling of weightlessness, making exercise easier and more enjoyable for your joints.
“We’re really hoping that classes can be held by December, or at the latest by January. We’re going to be doing some control group classes starting today, and we’ll be inviting people to try them out to make sure the instructors are ready.”
Hamm believes bungee training could one day be used as a form of physical rehabilitation, allowing more people to regain strength and confidence through movement. For now, her main mission is to encourage the citizens of Great Falls to take the plunge.
Big Sky Bungy is located at 1020 Central Avenue. Click here to visit Facebook page.
