Speaking Simply About the Body: Making Sense of the Terminology Used in the Wellness World

Words like embodiment, somatics, trauma-informed, nervous system regulation and integration are everywhere in wellness spaces. They are used with care and often carry deep meaning for those who’ve studied or worked in these fields. But for someone new, they can feel confusing, vague or a little overwhelming.

Most people come to wellness practices because they are looking for relief, support, or a way to feel more grounded. They do not usually arrive with a background in psychology or therapeutic language. When the words we use feel too abstract, it can create distance instead of connection.

These practices are meant to help people feel more at home in their bodies and the way we speak should support that. Clear, simple language allows people to settle into their experience, rather than step outside of it trying to understand what’s being said.

This piece is not about rejecting meaningful words. It’s about making them feel human, useful and real. Because when people understand what we mean, they are more likely to feel safe, included and empowered in their practice.

What We Really Mean When We Say “Embodiment”

Embodiment is one of those words that gets used a lot in wellness, especially in spaces that involve movement or touch. At its heart, it means being present in your body. Not thinking about your body or evaluating it, but actually feeling it from the inside. For many people, that kind of presence is unfamiliar as we are often taught to override discomfort, to perform, or to stay in our heads.

In practice, embodiment is simple but powerful. It might be felt in a moment of breath awareness during meditation. It might be the sensation of your feet on the floor while dancing or the warmth of a therapist’s hands during a massage. These moments don’t need to be explained, they need to be noticed.

Somatics: Feeling from the Inside Out

Somatics sounds technical, but it’s actually quite intuitive. It refers to a way of relating to your body that starts with sensation. Instead of focusing on how something looks from the outside, it invites you to pay attention to what it feels like inside.

This might mean moving in a way that follows your breath, or pausing in a stretch because your body asks for stillness. It might be letting a spontaneous movement happen, or adjusting your posture to feel more supported. Somatic approaches don’t impose a shape or goal, they help people to build trust in their own bodily signals.

Nervous System Regulation Without the Jargon

Nervous system regulation is often talked about in wellness circles, but it can sound like a clinical or even intimidating term. What it really points to is balance.

The nervous system’s job is to manage and coordinate everything your body does, from controlling your heart rate to helping you react to stress and recover from it. It plays a central role in how we experience the world, both physically and emotionally, and helps maintain balance within our body. When our nervous system is regulated, we feel calm but awake, settled but present. We can respond to life instead of just reacting.

Many wellness practices support this kind of regulation, not by controlling the body, but by offering it space to unwind. Breathing practices, stillness, rhythmic movement and safe touch all help.

What Trauma-Informed Really Means

Trauma-informed is another term that carries weight but can be unclear. It doesn't mean that a practitioner or teacher is treating trauma specifically in a class, it means they are aware that people carry stories and experiences in their bodies.

A trauma-informed approach avoids pressure and is about choice, pacing, and respect by letting the person in the room stay in charge of their experience. It welcomes questions, boundaries, and the need to go slowly. It says, “you’re allowed to feel what you feel,” and “you don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for.”

That kind of environment supports healthy recovery and enjoyable practice, whether someone is explicitly working with trauma or simply looking for a safe place to rest.

The Idea of Integration

Integration is often used to describe how people make sense of something after it happens. In wellness spaces, it’s about what happens after a powerful session, a class, or a deep emotional shift. But, the word can sound lofty.

Put more simply, integration means giving yourself time to digest. It means not rushing away from a moment of insight, or ignoring the softness that comes after release. It means letting things land, slowly and quietly, so your body and mind have the opportunity to adjust.

Giving meaning to Grounding

Grounding is another term that’s often used in bodywork and healing practices, but what does it mean? Grounding is simply the act of bringing yourself into the present moment, reconnecting with your body, and stabilising your energy. It could involve feeling your feet on the ground, taking slow, deep breaths, or even focusing on the sensation of your body touching the floor. Grounding helps you become more connected to your surroundings, providing a sense of stability and calm, especially when you're feeling overwhelmed or anxious. It’s about reconnecting with your body and finding balance amidst the chaos.

WHAT DOES “Holding Space“ ACTUALLY MEAN?

In practices like yoga or massage, “holding space” refers to the act of being present with someone, by offering them emotional and physical support without judgment or expectation. It’s about creating a safe environment where people can express themselves and move freely. Whether it’s a yoga teacher offering silence after a practice or a massage therapist listening attentively to your needs, holding space is about offering presence and support while allowing space for personal expression and release.

Flow State: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU’RE FULLY PRESENT

Flow state refers to that feeling when you’re fully immersed in an activity and time seems to disappear. In movement practices like dance, yoga, or even meditation, flow state happens when you’re so absorbed in the present moment that nothing else matters. It’s when your body moves effortlessly and your mind feels clear and focused. Reaching a flow state can be incredibly rewarding because it provides a break from the constant noise of everyday life.

Why Language Matters

People don’t come to wellness spaces to learn a new vocabulary, although these words might naturally become a part of their language. Generally, they come to reconnect, rest, move, breathe and FEEL. If we want those experiences to be truly welcoming, the words we use should invite people in.

We can still use terms like embodiment or somatic if we want to, but we don’t need to lead with them. We can explain them in a way that keeps people grounded in their experience. When we do this, these practices becomes more accessible to everyone.