3 Principles of The Science of Stretching For maximum flexibility benefits, follow these three key principles of the Science of Stretching: WET NOODLE Your muscles stretch best when fully relaxed, imagine your body like a wet noodle. BREATHE TO RELAX Breathe in through your nose to the count of four and out through your mouth for eight. This will help turn off your body’s myotatic stretch reflex. TIME UNDER PASSIVE TENSION Spend 2-5 minutes, passively stretching, to illicit change in your body.