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Sefton Clarke

@seftonclarke

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Owner - The Art Of Strength PT Studio
High Performance Coach - Dutch National Ballet
Author - Strength & Conditioning for Dancers
Ex-soloist - HNB

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It’s your birthday….21!

The daughter that everyone wishes for but I am lucky enough to have….

Smart, funny, charismatic, charming & pretty. You’ve got it all!

From the day you were born to today and always, I’m your #1 fan!

Love you to the moon and beyond Cheeky!

Enjoy your very special day! xxx taken in Amsterdam, Netherlands by @seftonclarke

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4 months ago

Three days and A LOT of ground covered.

This week I held a 3-day mentorship.

We covered: pre-screening, testing protocols (individual and group), programming logic, exercise selection, programme design across the full developmental spectrum, from 12 and 13-year-old pre-professionals right through to company dancers, periodising a season and how to actually do it (it’s not what you think), prehab, rehab, coaching cues, coaching in general, and something that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough: retirement, and what the transition out of ballet really entails.

Three days isn’t long. But when the person in front of you is genuinely curious, asks the right questions, and isn’t afraid to challenge you, it goes quickly.

This work matters.
N always equals 1.
Dancers deserve coaches who understand them, their bodies, their minds, their culture, their pressures, and their careers, from first audition to last curtain call.

@pattybeijo , it was a pleasure.
Keep up the great work! taken in Amsterdam, Netherlands by @seftonclarke

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4 months ago

Another day, another workout, another small snippet of training with @joe_massarelli the morning after his first full run through of a killer ballet after almost 5 months off and almost 4 months since the rehab process began! 🔥

Progress progress progress. 💪

And yes the last video is older but i put it in because i forgot to film it today and Joey is such a badass at this even though he hates it 😂

#whoopwhoop #ballet #theartofstrength #strong #letskeepgoing taken in Amsterdam, Netherlands by @seftonclarke

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5 months ago

Whether you’re new to training or not

From rehab to athletic performance

We’ve got you covered, here at;

The Art Of Strength

#theartofstrength #personaltraining #personaltrainer #coach #wellness taken in Amsterdam, Netherlands by @seftonclarke

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6 months ago

This is a nutrition talk I’ve been wanting to put together for a while, and now, I’ve finally managed to.

Whether you’re mid-season, heading into a heavy performance block, or just want to understand your body a little better, this one’s for you.

In it, we cover:

• Energy availability
• Macronutrients
• Fueling for different types of days,
• Post-performance recovery,
• Relative Energy Deficiency in Dance, RED-D
• And more

All with one goal in mind:

Helping you perform at your best, and stay there.

This talk was originally created for dancers in a professional company however, it can also be applied to pre-professional dancers and athletes.

If you’re an athlete, you might know RED-D as RED-S, Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport. It’s a different context but the same underlying principles.

Click the link in my bio.

Enjoy! taken in Amsterdam, Netherlands by @seftonclarke

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7 months ago

Last year was quite the year in many many ways.
Sometimes a merry go round
Sometimes a roller coaster
Sometimes I wanted to get off
Sometimes I didnt

The highs
My daughter started her second year at uni, found an apartment, joined an association and is thriving.
Business is going well,
I have the best clients any trainer could ask for,
I brought on a new trainer,
And became a certified mental coach.

The lows
Three funerals within 6 months, a good friend, my fav uncle and Hans van Manen.

Then
My mum was diagnosed with cancer and subsequently operated.

Losing these three figures and then my mums diagnosis all in such a short time left me breathless and empty, I just couldn’t come up for air.

So yes it’s been a lot, to say the least

I’ve been holding off writing this as we were waiting for the outcome of my mums procedure and we can now say that the surgery was successful, she’s clear! Just chemo & radiation therapy as its protocol, so yay!

A great way to start this year

Taking it all in, gaining some insight and perspective after these events, has changed me in a way and this will sound strange but it’s the realization that I’m now the adult in the room. I’ve finally grown up. it’s a bittersweet realization however I find it reassuring and exceptionally profound. It’s a moment of awareness that I am going to relish.

Anyhoo, now for my resolution.

Which is;
Enjoy the little things, the small mundane everyday things that we take for granted,
Grabbing a coffee
Feeling the rain on your skin
Going for a walk in the morning sun
A smiling stranger
The big things are great and should definitely be celebrated but they are short lived, life goes on and it’s within those small things that it does.

We aren’t on this planet long enough to truly be afraid, and fear can actually be a great motivator come to think of it,
But we’re also not on this planet long enough to do stupid shit.

So enjoy the little things, whether its spending time reading a book, having a drink with friends, laughing at a meme, or just simply being able to breathe in the fresh air, it’s all quite remarkable, so cherish it, smile and make the most of it because

La Vita e Bella! by @seftonclarke

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9 months ago

You’ve seen my life unfold before your eyes, and my story will be one of many others that are similar and I feel so honoured and privileged to have been a part of that.

You were there at the beginning of my career
You were there at my wedding
You were there at the end of my career, (the last piece I ever danced on stage was one of yours).

I’m so glad I got to give back to you and help you.
Those precious moments in my gym.
Those little talks meant the world to me
Your famous biceps pose will always be remembered, especially the left arm :)

The things that you have seen, from the Second World War right through to the present.

You leave a legacy here, now and always.
You inspired
You cultivated
You got the dancer(s) to do more, to be more, to go further
Most, if not all, would like to be part of something greater
You gave us that opportunity
You changed the landscape of dance

You were….Hans van Manen

A history,
Your story,
Is a story that will never be forgotten.

Rest in peace, dear Hans. by @seftonclarke

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10 months ago

Whoop whoop 🎉

Mr. @sjoerdhermens has been interning with me for the last few months, asking great questions, bringing amazing energy, and quietly finishing top of his class in his PT certification @miloeducation 😏💪

Before stepping into the gym world, Sjoerd was a professional dancer, (isn’t that a coincidence😉), so he knows exactly what it means to move well, train smart, and perform under pressure.

He’s now officially part of The Art of Strength team and has space for new clients! 💥

If you’ve been thinking about returning to training or getting started, look no further!

Strength, sweat, and a bit of artistry in a 1:1 or 2:1 setting in your very own private studio🕺🔥

No waiting for equipment,
No having to reserve a spot with your towel
No mystery sweat patches (cause it’ll be yours)

Let’s get you moving 🚀

#TheArtOfStrength #AmsterdamFitness #PersonalTrainerAmsterdam #StrengthTrainingAmsterdam #DancerStrength #TrainLikeADancer #DanceConditioning #StrongerDancers #PrivateTraining #121Training #SmallGroupTraining #MoveBetter #StrongerEveryDay #NewTrainerAlert #GetStronger taken in Amsterdam, Netherlands by @seftonclarke

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a year ago

Minimal space. Maximum impact.
Every piece of equipment in this photo is 🔥

Chosen with purpose, not excess.

I do have more space saving toys but I thought this photo encapsulates how much you can do with so little.

@freakathlete.co @kneesovertoesguy @atgequipment
#MinimalSpaceMaximumImpact #IntentionalTraining #StrengthDoneRight #theartofstrength by @seftonclarke

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a year ago

49…..and still trying to be Spiderman! 🙆‍♂️

#theartofstrength #fit #49

photo: @reiniervanderaart taken in Amsterdam, Netherlands by @seftonclarke

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a year ago

What Lies Beneath

This year marks two major milestones: The Art of Strength personal training studio turns five, and I step into my fifth decade. To meet my goals within my set timeframe, I’ve established key markers to hit before my birthday.

Therefore the merry month of March has been dedicated to two crucial areas—finances and health. This quarter, I’ve invested in new courses, equipment, and personal development. But just as I invest in my business, I must invest in my health because leading by example matters.
Practice what you preach, right?

For me, that includes regular health check-ups, particularly blood work. I firmly believe that if you’re 35 or older, yearly check-ups should be non-negotiable. You can feel perfectly fine while your hormones are quietly plotting mischief.

My results are generally good, but there’s always room for improvement. I won’t share everything, but I’ve posted a small glimpse of what I monitor annually.

I’ll reiterate; If you haven’t had your blood work done this year, do it. It may not be as thrilling as a mystery novel, but it’s far more useful.

With the time left before my birthday, I’m curious to see how much I can optimize my markers through diet, lifestyle tweaks, and strategic supplementation. People often focus on turning 50, but I believe 49 is much more significant as it marks the official entry into one’s fifth decade and my goal is to enter this new chapter in the best possible shape.

There’s no rush (my motto this year) in growing older it is of course, inevitable, but it can be done with grace, dignity, and a little effort.

Well… that, or I’ll have to sell my soul……again.

#Fitness #Motivation #Health #Wellness #fit #fun #TheArtOfStrength #FitAfter40 taken in Amsterdam, Netherlands by @seftonclarke

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2 years ago

Behind the wings it’s not just ballet training! So I keep also learning from @seftonclarke former soloist now strength coach of The Dutch National Ballet also co-author with @mattwyon of the book Strength and conditioning for dancers ⬅️ Link in bio

#balletdancer #balletclass #balletlife #balletteacher by @seftonclarke

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2 years ago