To build your body strength, you don't really have to slave away at the gym for several hours a day. Instead of confining yourself to lifting weights, try the adventurous sports of rock climbing.

Experience the thrill of rock climbers as they overcome obstacles and gain perseverance, discipline and strength of spirit and mind. Enjoy breathtaking sights at the top of a mountain. Soak in the serenity of catching the first rays of a sunrise or sunset, as you sit on the ledge of a cliff and allow a sense of triumph wash over you.

With the proper training and equipment, rock climbing is a relatively safe sport. For starters, try learning the art of rock climbing on a wall. The wall is a man-made device with hooks and crannies that simulate the environment of a rock wall. By using the wall, trainers can teach you how to use your arms and legs, how to properly use the ropes and how to rappel.

Climbing a wall or a rock may seem simple. Grab on to a protruding part, find a good footing and heave yourself up. But climbing involves careful calculation and strategy. It also involves alertness and a keen sense not just for your own safety but also for the safety of the other climbers. As you practice, you find your strengths and timing.

Most amateurs as well as the most experienced climbers have to depend on gear t to get them to the top. But some more adventurous climbers graduate free rock climbing. In this sport, climbers use equipment or gears as safety nets only. Climbers who indulge in this method claim that the freedom and the total reliance on their skills add more excitement and fulfillment to the sport. Of course safety is still a top priority even in free climbing, and the use of high-grade and quality-tested safety equipment is essential.