A former body builder has swapped her weight lifting gear for women's yoga clothing and claims the form of exercise helped her to overcome depression and a nervous breakdown.

Danielle Nicholls had trained as a body builder for ten years but the pressure of performing led to her becoming depressed and having a breakdown, the Western Mail reported.

Speaking to the newspaper, Ms Nicholls said: "When I won Miss Wales and Miss Fitness UK in 1994, that was the beginning of starting to see that I was not really happy in the sport but continuing to push myself."

During her depression Ms Nicholls turned to yoga.

"I never looked back," she said.

The former Miss Wales and Miss Fitness UK is now a yoga teacher with her own studio in Cardiff, according to the newspaper.

According to the NHS, practicing yoga is a good way to bring down general stress levels. It said exercise can improve mood, reduce anxiety and improve concentration as it has an effect on certain chemicals in the brain that affect mood and increase happiness. ADNFCR-2569-ID-19459941-ADNFCR

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