From Cybersecurity Law to Wellness Entrepreneurship: Fazila Moosa on Acquiring Stretch-eze and Building a Nervous System Support Brand

After 25 years practicing cybersecurity and privacy law, including founding PRIVATECH Consulting and serving as a recognized Privacy by Design Ambassador, Fazila (Zila) Moosa made an unexpected pivot: she acquired Stretch-eze®, the original resistance loop trusted by movement professionals since the 1980s.

But this wasn't a random career shift. Zila is also a certified yoga teacher and breathwork facilitator who experienced firsthand how the Stretch-eze band created alignment, ease, and nervous system regulation in ways nothing else had. When the brand's creator was ready to retire, Zila saw an opportunity to combine her business expertise with her passion for embodied wellness.

Now as President of Stretch-eze, she's modernizing the 40-year-old brand while preserving what makes it special: its ability to bridge fitness, somatics, and nervous system care. In this conversation, Zila shares what drew her to acquire a legacy wellness product, what she's learned navigating the crowded recovery market, and her advice for women entering wellness entrepreneurship, especially those making the leap from traditional careers into founder roles.

Acquiring a Legacy Wellness Brand

Stretch-eze has been around since the 1980s as the original stretch strap. What drew you to acquire this particular brand in summer 2025? Walk us through what you saw in Stretch-eze that made it the right opportunity - whether it was the product's loyal following, untapped market potential, or something else entirely. What's your vision for where you're taking the brand?

Stretch-eze wasn’t just a business opportunity; it was a felt experience for me. I purchased the company because I deeply believe in the value of this sensory feedback tool for nervous system regulation and movement support. The first time I used it, my own body felt stronger, more connected, and unexpectedly free. It gave me access to alignment and ease in a way nothing else had, and I knew there was something special there.

After practicing cybersecurity law for 25 years, I was ready to leave the stress of privacy breaches to embrace a major life transition with a focus on wellness. I had just completed yoga and breathwork certifications, and I was exploring how movement, breath, and somatic work could support people in ways that go far beyond fitness. So when I learned that the creator of the Stretch-eze was ready to retire — and was struggling with inventory and the operational side — it felt like the perfect convergence: a product I loved, my business experience that could serve the brand, a community that already valued it, and an opportunity to carry a brilliant creation into its next chapter.

My vision moving forward is to elevate the Stretch-eze from “a great movement prop” to a truly recognized nervous-system support tool — something that bridges fitness, somatics, and nervous system regulation. I want to expand distribution globally, bring more science-informed resources to instructors, educators and therapists, and modernize educational support for the product so it can reach people who are hungry for grounded, embodied tools that actually work.

Building in the Wellness Product Space

Now that you're several months into ownership, what have you learned about the wellness product industry? How are you thinking about product development, reaching your customers (physical therapists, athletes, everyday wellness seekers), and competing in an increasingly crowded flexibility/recovery market? What's working, and what's been more challenging than expected?

Several months into owning the Stretch-eze business, I’ve learned that the wellness product space is both crowded and opportunity-rich. The flexibility and recovery market is full of quick-fix tools, but there’s a real need for products that support nervous-system health, somatic awareness, and cue proper alignment during movement — that’s exactly where the Stretch-eze stands apart.

One key insight is that people aren’t just buying products anymore — they’re buying experiences, education, and trust. Physical therapists want tools that integrate seamlessly into treatment. Athletes want performance support without extra complexity. Everyday movers want something intuitive that feels good. And all of them want to understand why it works.  

In terms of product development, the focus isn’t on adding more features…the Stretch-eze works because of its simplicity. It’s about going deeper: expanding education, strengthening the Stretch-eze community, and offering options that meet people where they are. Reaching customers has been about showing the value through education — short demos, follow-along sequences, and practical guidance help people experience the benefits immediately. We’re also excited to be participating in wellness events and tradeshows in 2026 – more people need to step into the into the Stretch-eze to feel its magic. 

What’s working is authentic storytelling and community engagement; the loyal Stretch-eze audience has been incredibly supportive of our evolution. The biggest challenge has been managing operational complexity, in particular, getting the Stretch-eze to those who have experienced and love the band worldwide. International shipping costs and navigating customs/duties is our reality until we gain a strong global network of distributors.

Overall, the Stretch-eze clearly occupies a unique space between fitness, recovery, and nervous-system care — and my goal is to help more people experience its calming, strengthening, and connecting benefits firsthand. 

Advice for Women Entering Wellness Entrepreneurship

The wellness industry is booming, but it's also highly competitive and can be capital-intensive. What advice would you give to women looking to launch or acquire wellness brands? What do you wish you'd known before diving into the wellness space, and what's been the most rewarding part of building Stretch-eze so far?

My advice to women entering wellness entrepreneurship is to lead with curiosity and lived experience. The wellness industry is crowded and can be capital-intensive, but the most successful brands are those rooted in authenticity — products or services that you personally believe in and understand deeply. For me, owning Stretch-eze combines my own experience of its benefits with my desire to help others feel stronger, calmer, and more connected in their bodies. That passion carries you through the challenges. It often helps me when things get stressful to step into a Stretch-eze shoulder-foot wrap, close my eyes and remember that I am in service to this product.

So much of wellness entrepreneurship is education and community-building. Unlike many other industries, you can’t just sell a product; you need to help people understand why it works and guide them in experiencing its value. Educating new users about why a soft, stretchy band is such a powerful tool takes time, requires patience (not easy for me!), and consistent engagement.

The most rewarding part of building Stretch-eze has been witnessing that “aha” moment — when someone finally feels the calm, strength, or alignment the band creates. It’s also been deeply gratifying to nurture the existing loyal community while introducing the product to new audiences who may not have known a tool like this existed.

For women stepping into this space, I’d say: trust your intuition, focus on real value, get clear on your strengths as well as how your past experience serves you now, and be ready to educate and connect. When you combine authenticity, clarity, and patience, you’ll be rewarded with immense personal growth and also carve out a meaningful place in a competitive market.

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