stretching
Extending your muscles
Stretching is the act of extending muscles, limbs, or materials to their full length or beyond their resting state.
People stretch before exercise to warm up or after sitting to relieve stiffness: I do ten minutes of stretching every morning.
Stretching also describes extending something to cover more area or time: stretching the budget, stretching the truth.
The word implies pulling something toward its limits without quite breaking it.
Pre-activity preparation
- cooldownGradual intensity reduction
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
- musclesContractile body tissue
- hamstringsRear thigh muscles
quadriceps · limbering · loosening · reaching · bending · elongating · extending · pulling
Able to stretch, rebounds
- pliableCapable of bending easily
- suppleFlexing without damage
- malleableCapable of being shaped
- ductileAble to deform permanently
springy · tensile · spandex · rubber · fabric · latex · nylon · lycra
Controlled movement exercise method
- calisthenicsEquipment-free resistance exercises
- aerobicsHeart-strengthening group exercises
- fitnessGood physical shape
- gymnasticsAthletic discipline of controlled movement
rehabilitation · physiotherapy · conditioning · training · workout · athletics · yoga · recovery
Increasing in reach
- lengtheningIncreasing in extent
- wideningIncreasing in extent
- broadeningIncreasing in extent
- elongationIncrease in length
spreading · enlargement · extension · dilation · amplification · reaching · spanning · unfurling
Yoga body position
- vinyasaBreath-synchronized yoga movements
- hathaPhysical yoga discipline
- pranayamaYogic breath control technique
- savasanaSupine relaxation posture
lotus · namaste · flow · breathwork · flexibility · mat · studio · instructor
Becoming bent or twisted
- twistingRotating with distortion
- deformingAltering original shape
- skewingCausing asymmetrical distortion
- contortingTwisting into unnatural shapes
bending · misshaping · overextending · straining · distending · reshaping
Releasing coiled tension
- looseningReducing tightness or tension
- decompressionReduction of pressure
- soothingReducing distress or discomfort
- de-stressReduce mental tension
easing · melting · softening · calm · repose · restfulness · gentle · restorative
Overstating for effect
- embellishingAdding decorative details
- overreachingExceeding proper limits
- thinSmall in diameter
- budgetPlan for spending
resources · patience · credulity · truth · boundaries · imagination · dollar · paycheck
warmup
Pre-activity preparation
- cooldownGradual intensity reduction
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
- musclesContractile body tissue
hamstrings · quadriceps · limbering · loosening · reaching · bending · elongating · extending · pulling · lengthening
elastic
Able to stretch, rebounds
ductile · springy · tensile · spandex · rubber · fabric · latex · nylon · lycra · give
pilates
Controlled movement exercise method
- calisthenicsEquipment-free resistance exercises
- aerobicsHeart-strengthening group exercises
- fitnessGood physical shape
gymnastics · rehabilitation · physiotherapy · conditioning · training · workout · athletics · yoga · recovery · strengthening
extending
Increasing in reach
- lengtheningIncreasing in extent
- wideningIncreasing in extent
- broadeningIncreasing in extent
elongation · spreading · enlargement · extension · dilation · amplification · reaching · spanning · unfurling · opening
asana
Yoga body position
- vinyasaBreath-synchronized yoga movements
- hathaPhysical yoga discipline
- pranayamaYogic breath control technique
savasana · lotus · namaste · flow · breathwork · flexibility · mat · studio · instructor
warping
Becoming bent or twisted
- twistingRotating with distortion
- deformingAltering original shape
- skewingCausing asymmetrical distortion
contorting · bending · misshaping · overextending · straining · distending · reshaping
unwinding
Releasing coiled tension
- looseningReducing tightness or tension
- decompressionReduction of pressure
- soothingReducing distress or discomfort
de-stress · easing · melting · softening · calm · repose · restfulness · gentle · restorative · bedtime
exaggerating
Overstating for effect
- embellishingAdding decorative details
- overreachingExceeding proper limits
- thinSmall in diameter
budget · resources · patience · credulity · truth · boundaries · imagination · dollar · paycheck · deadline
- daily lifewaking up, sleeping, eating, drinking, cooking
- exercisespush-ups, pull-ups, squats, lunges, cable row
- group activitiesgroup games, voting, protest, group dance, group project
- morning routinewaking up, alarm, breakfast, shower, tea
- physical activityexercise, running, walking, swimming, cycling
- Fitness termsdumbbells, barbells, bench press, squats, deadlifts
stretchingcontracting
Reducing in volume
shrinking · compressing · condensing · squeezing · constricting
stretchingcontracting
Reducing in volume
tensing · flexing · tightening · clenching · cramping
stretchingabridging
Making shorter, less complete
shortening · condensing · compressing · abridgment · summarizing
- stretching outExtending in length
- stretching the truthExaggerating while claiming honesty
- stretching one's wingsExpanding personal boundaries
- stretching exercisesMovements to improve flexibility
- stretching dollarsMaximizing purchasing power
- stretching routinePlanned series of limbering exercises