Most people say fine and mean too hard. Here is what the words actually mean on our table.
Every therapist here is told to ask twice about pressure, and almost everybody answers fine both times. Then they get off the table sore and never book again, and we never find out why.
So here is our own vocabulary, written down. Light means the hand moves over the muscle and warms it. Medium means the muscle moves under the hand. Firm means you are aware of it and can still breathe normally. Anything past that is not stronger, it is just painful, and pain makes a muscle tighten, which is the opposite of what you came for.
You can change your answer halfway through. Say ease off on the shoulders, keep it firm on the back, and you will get exactly that. Nobody is offended. A therapist who has spent an hour hurting somebody who was too polite to speak has wasted their afternoon as well as your money.
One more thing. If a spot makes you flinch, that spot is not a knot to be conquered. Say so and we will work around it and come back to it lightly at the end.