I am thrilled to write this article introducing myself. My name is Zila (my full name is Fazila). After 50 years in Toronto, Canada and 25 years of practicing privacy and cybersecurity law, I was ready for something different. I moved to California and still keep one foot in the legal world – I respect the discipline, and it’s part of who I am – but a year ago, I started to feel the pull for something more creative, embodied, and expansive. It was about a deep desire to stretch in a new direction.
Ironically, that’s when I discovered the Stretch-eze®!
I came across the Stretch-eze at Pilates Energetix, a thoughtful studio in Rancho Mirage, California known for its use of sensory feedback tools that help clients tune in and move with intention. The studio’s approach is deeply personalized, and the Stretch-eze immediately stood out to me. It offered something I hadn’t experienced before—a gentle yet powerful way to feel supported, find alignment, and truly connect with my body.
Movement had already become an essential part of my life. After a 20-year yoga practice, I decided to get certified as a yoga instructor to deepen my own practice – after years of working in a highly intellectual, high-stakes environment, I needed something that brought me back into my body. Eventually, that personal journey evolved into a desire to teach and share what I had learned.
And when I discovered Stretch-eze, it felt like a natural extension of that same path. It helps people access their bodies with more ease, confidence, and support. Whether someone is recovering from injury, building strength, or simply trying to move with more awareness, the Stretch-eze creates the conditions for real connection.
Curious to learn more, I followed the thread and eventually discovered the incredible story behind the Stretch-eze. It was created by Kimberly Dye, a dance therapist and Pilates instructor whose work blended movement, therapy, and deep listening to the body. Her vision was elegant and effective – creating a tool that offers just enough resistance to invite awareness, control, and empowerment.
The more I learned, the more I felt drawn to the heart of it all. This wasn’t just a product – it was a practice, a philosophy. And I realized I didn’t just want to use the Stretch-eze – I wanted to help carry it forward.
So, I bought the business.
It was a leap, yes – but also a natural extension of who I am. Law taught me how to think critically, communicate clearly, and hold complex systems. But movement reminds me to feel, to listen, and to be in my body. With Stretch-eze, I get to bridge both worlds: running a business with clarity and strategy, while also helping people reconnect with themselves in the most human way possible – through movement.
Today, I’m honored to carry on Kimberly Dye’s legacy, support the community she built, and invite more people into this work. Stretch-eze offers more than physical support—it gives people permission to slow down, feel safe in their bodies, and stretch into their own next chapters.
So here I am: lawyer-turned-entrepreneur, bridging two worlds I care deeply about. And honestly? I’ve never felt more aligned.