Mark Pietsch, who runs Logical Lifestyles on the corner of Rankin and Battye Streets, knows first hand just how tough life can be. His mum died when he was six and he grew up the hard way, becoming what he describes as a bad person without a great deal of selfconsciousness.
Mark damaged his back at 17 and over the pursuing 12 months put on a lot of weight as a result of the medication and his mental state. But he had the inner strength to work his way through the problems, both physical and psychological, and at one stage shed 78 kilos weight in just over seven months.
So when he met a street kid doing it rough, living by the seat of his pants by breaking and entering to feed himself, Mark didn’t hesitate in opening up and offering the chance for the young guy to turn his life around. The result is that he’s become a youth worker for some 60 kids and runs a gym that he prefers to think of as not really a gym at all.
“Many people, especially young people, see gyms as intimidating places that make them uncomfortable,” said Mark. “I prefer to see Logical Lifestyles as a place where people can be more relaxed and talk about things as well as doing the physical bit.”
These days he divides his life between three passions: caring for his group of young people; being involved with the Generocity Church; and running Logical Lifestyles as a business that can help him pursue his other goals.