HMS Shipshape

08/09/2026

HMS Shipshape's Annual Macmillan Coffee Morning
📅 Saturday 26th September 2026
🕕 10:00am-12:00pm
📍 St Aubyn Arms Pub, Praze an Beeble
💷Cost is £5 donation to Macmillan Cancer Support for as much tea, coffee and cake until supplies run out!
Come and join us for some fabulous refreshments, a natter and chance to connect in the local community supporting Macmillan Cancer support, a charity that helps with a disease that sadly affects so many people 😘❤️
FEEL FREE TO SHARE AND LETS HELP AS A COMMUNITY TO MAKE IT A FABULOUS MORNING

07/09/2026

Before my Tuesday night dance classes start back tomorrow, it's important to address a few things.

Firstly for those of you that follow me and attend my classes, you are well aware that I have been on a transformational journey this past year which has resulted in changes in both my physical and mental health.

My personal growth and development isn't about setting standards that are attainable to that level within my HMS Shipshape and Inspiring Women Network Inspiring Women Network communities. It's more about keeping it real in sharing with you what my challenges have been, what's been holding me back, and what I am positive, passionate, and determined to achieve going forwards for myself but in helping others.

I want to keep sharing the strong and positive message in a realistic and healthy way by encouraging you all to stay focused in your own lane.

Don't worry about what others are doing and don't ever compare yourself to some content or folk that you see on social media. Remember that together we can do so much more and if anyone wants to have a chat or ask me questions about my health and fitness journey, I will be happy to help.

Motivation is key to it. You may not feel like showing up to class or thinking about dancing to certain songs, or wanting to be socialable with people. We have all these excuses or ideas for how we may be spending our time differently, putting off the inevitable. But you know 9 times out of 10, when you've been and done something for yourself, you'll be so glad you went.

Small steps lead to bigger pathways 😘❤ ###

28/08/2026

What an incredible community day! Full of love, laughter, joy, music and plenty of dancing!

I am always honoured to be asked each year to kickstart the annual Open Day with Captain Heidi HMS Shipshape dance workshop.

This Year was extra special celebrating 25 years of the fabulous Drym Valley Day Centre community with a 'jungle' inspired theme, and the incredible work and support that they provide adults with additional learning support needs.

Thanks to my dad Geoff James for his support and on social media duty with the videos and photos. Missed you today mum ###

28/08/2026

The origins behind Captain Heidi and HMS Shipshape.
11 years ago my dance fitness community business was created. It was very much based on the concept of Captain Birdseye and the many years as a child eating fish fingers 😊.
As my qualifications built, I wanted to tap into my previous primary school teaching role and develop a model for childrens fitness hence 'Captain Heidi' and the whole costume and cartoon concept.
For many years, each Summer, I am asked to kickstart the Drym Valley Day Centre Open Day by delivering a dance workshop for adults with additional learning needs.
Today marks 25 years of such an amazing but incredibly important provision with this year's theme being Jungle 😊.

25/08/2026

It's OK to move the goal posts. Sometimes you need to realign expectations because other things in life get in the way.
That's absolutely fine to do so long as you are clear with other people it affects, especially in business.
Also in the harder times it can be a measure of the trust and reputation you have built in your community.
Always stay true to yourself. Be clear with your intentions, readjust timeframes and goal posts if you have to, and make sure that you remain authentic in your communications.
Be grateful for the small wins and trust yourself more when other people believe in you. 🙏😘❤ ###

21/08/2026

This post is so important to me that I am posting it now incase anything happens to me overnight because of the message contained within it.

So I showed the two photos to one of my besties in my closest trust circle and their reply was "I totally believe you look great in both, but the changes in your body composition are significant. What you should be proud of is you have made these changes the right way, and not for the male gaze".

I couldn't have summed it up better myself. I have been documenting my journey not for attention or to bag myself a new man, but to help support and show others that you can make changes to your life both physically and emotionally if you really want to. It's not without commitment, dedication and for me some real soul searching, but for me at the moment it's being able to be strong both physically and mentally to support and be there for my family.

I'm well aware that life can change in a second and that's why I never take any day for granted and just keep on building on a continued better, healthier, happier life journey 🙏 ❤ ###

30/07/2026

Just over a year on the health and wellbeing journey. The goal was never fully about weight loss, although being 10KG (1 stone, 5Ilbs) lighter is really important for the longer term physical health benefits.
For me it's been almost reinventing myself from someone 12 months ago that felt lost, low self worth, and confidence.
The progress has been slow and steady as I don't believe that quick fixes help with long term change and investment. The crucial change for me has been the emotional wellbeing journey, recognising the importance and actually applying it of the nutrition as part of your self care routine.
I've also been enjoying solo coffee dates, walks out in nature and on the coast and an increased interest in reading.
I can't thank enough Rebecca Button at BB Health and Fitness for kickstarting the journey with me and now Blake Baker at Blake Baker Coaching who has added another dimension to my training programme, factoring in cross multidisciplinary work to support my aerial and gymnastic skills and providing that safe space to chat in sessions.
Finally to Katie Lea Fry and Laura Bentley at Alissium Aerial Arts for providing the space and support to creatively explore my enjoyment and passion for the aerial hoop.
Also the coaches and facilities at CrossFit Truro and Snap Fitness Truro
Every step of this process and the people involved, have helped me get to where I want to be today.
The question is just what comes next 🤔 ....
It's never to late to learn, grow and reinvent yourself 😘❤💪🤸‍♀️🙏 ###

22/06/2026

Now I have had the weekend to reflect and have started to unwind and relax at the start of my annual leave, I wanted to share my reflections of the Showcase event.
The week's build up did not go to plan for various reasons and I didn't have the restful and relaxing Friday evening before the show, yet somehow this experience was everything I imagined it to be and more.
I wanted to challenge myself by doing something different and to also represent both the physical and emotional wellbeing journey that I have been on since last Summer.
As I said before for years I felt that I had lost my spark and way a little bit and confidence felt like something you enviously witnessed in other folk.
This year I am determined to prove myself wrong and embrace new challenges and experiences.
Saturday after the months of endless intensive hard work, training and support of a wide team, I literally gave everything into that performance and let go emotionally to be truly me, powerful, passionate, strong, seductive, and determined to conquer life.
I want to say a huge thanks to my team. Katie and Laura at Alissium Aerial Arts, my current personal trainer Blake Baker, and crew at Truro CrossFit, Snap Fitness Truro, LA Pilates and Hotpod Yoga.
Also to the woman Rebecca Button that started this journey with me last year and helped show me that I had a body and spirit worth investing in again.
What's next 🤔 For now I'm not sure, but I know deep down that anythings possible 💪🙏❤😘
Black and white photos are taken by Katie at Garnet Studios.

20/06/2026

19/06/2026

Today I feel an internal shift and the dawn of a new era. Physically aswell as soulfully, I feel lighter.

I'm writing this post early as I'm in the wide awake club thinking and even dreaming at times about tomorrow's showcase and the challenge I have set myself.

So many of you assume that because I was a gymnast as a child and I have taught dance classes for over a decade, that I will smash it. Yes I have put in the hard work for well over 12 weeks now, but I am older and haven't performed a solo aerial hoop performance ever in public that at times is a bit like the balance beam with the risk of it going wrong, hence the nerves.

I wanted to do this because for so many years I have lòst my soul, my spark, and tomorrow is not just about conquering a personal goal. It's about representing others who face life's challenges, have experienced imposter syndrome, and low self confidence and worth to such scrutiny that they don't feel or see what other people see in themselves.

This experience has connected others within different communities and it's been a privilege when other people have shown an interest and their support.

So tomorrow this is for me in terms of confidence, authenticity, strength, grace, and beauty, but also doing it justice for my support team.

I just hope that I can deliver for months now, the practice and vision that I have been training for and combat those nerves.
🙏❤💪💃🤸‍♀️###