D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
February
2008
Fitting In
Pedro Iniguez has gone from new citizen to owner of a growing fitness, physical therapy and salon empire.
By Ted Lynn
The building with the turquoise roof on the southwest corner of Pope Street and Hwy. 180 in Silver City was an auto-repair shop before it was remodeled into a restaurant, and now remodeled again into a human-body repair shop. As you enter the west doors, you see a wide variety of strength and cardio exercise equipment being used by men and women of all ages and abilities. Turn right, walk past the juice bar, and one of the double doors swings open, held by a smiling man, whose loose sweats fail to conceal an athlete's physique.
 |
Pedro Iniguez believes in exercising,
even while on his computer at the office in Iniguez Physical Therapy
and Fitness Center. |
"Good morning," he says. "I'm Pedro. Are you ready?" he asks the nervous newcomer.
More equipment surrounds you as you step into the room — apparatus designed to provide therapeutic exercise to strengthen muscles and improve range of motion. To the right, a young man runs on a treadmill supported by a harness for stability and safety.
The walls are lined with posters of the human body, its muscles, bones and joints. Pedro explains your particular problem, pointing to a muscle group that needs strengthening, then shows how to perform the needed exercises. As you strain through various routines you've been assigned, you hear his gentle voice saying, "just 10 more," "five more," and then "good job." The encouragement comes from Pedro Iniguez, the co-owner of Iniguez Physical Therapy and Fitness Center in Silver City.
This is one of three businesses he's launched with his wife, Kathleen, all related to fitness and wellness. The couple now owns a second physical therapy and fitness center in Bayard, as well as Belleza Salon and Tanning in Silver City.
Pedro Iniguez has traveled a long distance — geographically, culturally and educationally — since his birth. More than three decades ago, his parents, Santiago and Guadalupe Iniguez, left their small children with relatives and ventured forth to "El Norte" from their home in Trojes Michuacn, Mexico, to work as farm hands along the west coast of the US. They eventually earned their "green cards" by working hard and obeying all legal requirements. As legal resident aliens, they traveled from job to job, ultimately earning enough to pay for their children — Pedro, his older brother and three girls — to join them.
After years of moving along with the crops, the family settled in Connell, Wash., to work at the Lamb Weston potato-processing plant, and the children had a permanent home where they could attend school year-round. Their family continued to grow until they had eight boys and three girls in their home.
"Since the beginning," says Pedro, "our parents encouraged us to pursue our education, saying that they didn't have anything to give except love. However, if we continued learning, we could achieve whatever we wanted. Our first obstacle was to learn English, no small matter as many of our classmates taught us words we shouldn't use. It was a while before we understood what some of those words really meant, and stopped using them," he adds with a smile. Now he not only speaks fluent English, but also fluent "physiotherapy."
Ever since those early years, the Iniguez siblings have taken their parents' words to heart. All 11 earned high-school diplomas and are US citizens; so far, eight have been awarded college degrees, and four went on to earn advanced degrees.
Pedro still remembers the early days down in Mexico, when he was five years old, staying with his relatives. "My older brother, Uriel, and I were taken to the corn fields and worked from sunup to dusk. Since we were small, our relatives thought it was easy for us to bend the corn plants so the oxen and a metal blade could scrape dirt between the rows. It was back breaking, even for us." That's but a memory now.
After becoming a US citizen and graduating from high school, Pedro continued his education and was awarded a Bachelor of Science in microbiology from Eastern Washington University. He then earned a Master of Science in physical therapy from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore. He went on to work in Hillsborough, Ore., eventually transferring to Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, Wash., in September 1992 to continue learning the skills needed for his specialty.
In 1993, a young woman named Kathleen Zamora from Arenas Valley, NM, stepped into his life. She began work for her uncle, Salvador Beltran, in Pasco, Wash., after earning a master's degree in counseling from Western New Mexico University.
"I met him on a blind date," Kathleen recalls, "and was impressed with his intelligence, thoughtfulness and ethics. We hit it off right away."
Their love flourished, and they decided to marry in Silver City, on Dec. 17, 1994. The young couple then returned to Washington, but a year later Kathleen persuaded Pedro to move to Silver City so they could raise their children near her parents, Tom and Jennie, who still live in Arenas Valley. The next year, Pedro and Kathleen launched their first business in Hudson Plaza, Iniguez Physical Therapy.
"It's rewarding to have people come to me for therapy, and leave weeks later feeling better, moving better," Pedro says. "When you come to our facility we give you the personal attention you need, even if you think we're being hard on you. Everything we do is for the benefit of our customers."
Three years later they were able to obtain the financing from AmBank, through the assistance of Martin Rael, and from Kathleen's parents, to purchase the former restaurant property on the corner of Pope Street and Hwy. 180, across from Sears. They expanded their business to the current Iniguez Physical Therapy and Fitness Center with all the necessary exercise equipment. "I also appreciate the encouragement and savvy guidance I received from Harry Paxton of the Small Business Development Center, too," Pedro adds.
Many patients who've received physical therapy at the facility join the fitness center to continue their rehab or to maintain good health. "After my shoulder injury and therapy," says client Richard Lawyer, "I return three times a week to keep my joints flexible with range of motion exercises. I always feel welcome when I come in the door, and the equipment is just what I need."
Says Pedro, "Maintaining fitness is a key to mental as well as physical well-being. I even work on my computer while sitting on an exercise ball, to give my core muscles a workout during the day. Everyone ought to try this."
In 2000, they opened the second Iniguez Physical Therapy and Fitness Center in Bayard to serve the mining community. Then on July 4 of last year they opened their third business, Belleza Salon and Tanning, in the former Silver Heights Nursery facility, across the street from their first venture.
"I'm really fortunate," Pedro reflects, "to have parents who stressed the education that they weren't able to have, so that I could enjoy the best that America has to offer, and to contribute to my community and country."
Iniguez Physical Therapy and Fitness Center, 1310 N. Pope St., Silver City,
388-0430. Iniguez Physical Therapy and Fitness Center, 609 Central Ave., Bayard, 537-1000. Belleza Salon and Tanning, 1309 N. Pope St., Silver City, 388-2900.
Ted Lynn is a veteran freelance writer who lives in Silver City.
[captions]
The extended Iniguez family flanked by their parents, Santiago and Guadalupe. Top row, Moises, left, Simon, Emilio, Jose and Ricardo. Middle row, Santiago (father), Uriel, Jesus, Pedro and Guadalupe (mother). Front, Alexia, Erlinda and Martina.
Pedro Iniguez believes in exercising, even while on his computer at the office in Iniguez Physical Therapy and Fitness Center.
Kathleen and Pedro Iniguez with their children, twins Isaiah and Illian, 6, and Isaac, 10.