Owner of Suffolk Clinic: Ari Marsden

Ari Marsden was born in New Zealand, raised in Oxford, and then studied and lived in the Midlands for six years before moving back to Oxford. Coming from a large family, there was always a focus on caring for and looking out for each other. 

Ari’s father is a doctor, and his mother is a nurse, creating an environment centred around caring for others. This upbringing inspired Ari to pursue a career as a sports therapist. 

Ari loves traveling, playing rugby, and staying active. On weekends, he enjoys getting away in a camper van, heading to the coast to surf, or going hiking and enjoying outdoor adventures. 

The journey to becoming a sports therapist began with Ari’s grandmother. When she moved back in with the family, her decreasing mobility became noticeable. Helping her move around the house and building her strength became Ari’s main goal, even before starting formal studies. This experience ignited a passion for improving others’ lifestyles and set Ari on the career path to be a sports therapy specialist. 

The clinic was founded in 1986 by Roger Beresford. He brought Ari into the clinic after graduation, and after a year, he started managing it. He is now owner of Suffolk Clinic, taking over form Roger. 

Originally, the clinic was an acupuncture clinic. When Ari joined, it expanded into a multidisciplinary practice to better serve patients’ needs. While his focus is mainly sports-based, the clinic also brought in physiotherapists, osteopaths, and other sports therapists. Additionally, complementary therapies like reflexology are offered. 

The drive to run this clinic comes from a desire to support the community. People from all walks of life, whether they have physically demanding jobs or work at a desk, can struggle with pain and other issues. The goal is to help the community by getting people back to the activities they love, whether it’s being active, playing with their children or grandchildren, spending time with family, or gardening. The focus is on identifying individual goals and helping people achieve them!