What to Tell Your Montreal Massage Therapist Before Your First Appointment
Booking your first massage can feel exciting—but it can also come with questions, especially if you've had uncomfortable or judgmental experiences in wellness or healthcare spaces before.
At All Bodies Montreal, you shouldn't have to explain or defend your body before receiving care. Your massage therapist's job is to listen, adapt the session to your needs, and help you feel comfortable.
Whether you're a first-time massage client, someone returning after a long break, or you're looking for a plus size or fat-friendly massage therapist in Montreal, here are some things you may want to tell your massage therapist before your appointment.
1. Tell Them What You Want From Your Massage
The most important thing to communicate is what you'd like to get out of your session.
Are you looking for:
Relaxation and stress relief?
Relief from neck or shoulder tension?
Help with sore muscles?
A gentle, calming experience?
Firmer pressure?
Focus on a particular area?
A combination of relaxation and therapeutic work?
There isn't a "right" reason to get a massage. You don't need to have an injury or a specific physical problem to deserve massage therapy.
If you're not sure what you need, that's okay, too. Your massage therapist can talk through your options with you.
2. Let Them Know About Areas You Don't Want Touched
You are always allowed to have boundaries around touch. At All Bodies Montreal, we are trauma informed and will ask you what feels safe and what doesn’t feel safe to touch.
Before your massage, let your therapist know if there are areas you'd prefer they avoid. You can also change your mind during the appointment.
For example, you might say:
"I'd rather not have my abdomen worked on."
Or:
"I'd like to skip my feet today."
You don't need to provide a reason or apologize for having boundaries.
A good massage experience should involve ongoing communication and consent—not pressure to accept techniques or areas of work that don't feel right for you.
3. Talk About Positioning and Comfort
Massage isn't one-size-fits-all. Your body may feel more comfortable in certain positions, and your massage therapist can adapt the session accordingly.
If lying on your stomach isn't comfortable, tell your therapist. You may prefer to spend more time on your side, back, or seated, depending on the type of massage you're receiving.
You can also ask for:
Extra bolsters or pillows
Different positioning
Additional support for your knees, hips, neck, or other areas
A break to change positions
Adjustments to the massage table
If you're a plus size client, you may have had previous experiences where a practitioner treated your body as an inconvenience or assumed that one standard setup would work for everyone.
An All Bodies Montreal, we are an inclusive massage studio that expects bodies to come in many different shapes and sizes and we are prepared to adapt.
4. Tell Them About Your Preferred Pressure
"Deep tissue" doesn't necessarily mean "as much pressure as possible," and lighter pressure doesn't mean you're doing massage incorrectly.
Your preferred pressure can also vary depending on the body area, your stress level, or even the day.
Whatever body you have, we are prepared to help you get the relaxation and rest you need at All Bodies Montreal. Reach out to book you massage today!
