Gangnam body treatment for back tension: Clermont Monde

Clermont Monde in Cheongdam, a manual back treatment for lower-back and shoulder-blade tension

My lower back has been feeling stiff often lately, and the pain around my shoulder blades was especially bothering me, so I went to Cheongdam for a back treatment :) The place I visited this time was Clermont Monde (끌레르몽드), an aesthetic spa in Cheongdam. I was even more excited because it checks your skin and body condition that day and provides one-to-one customized care, haha.

The address is 43 Dosan-daero 92-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is open 11:00–19:30 on Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:00–21:30 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and 11:00–18:00 on Saturdays. It is regularly closed on Sundays, and valet parking is available, but I recommend checking whether parking is available before you visit 🚘

A red-brick house-like exterior and a space with large windows

From the moment I first arrived, it felt a little different from a typical aesthetic spa. The exterior has the feel of a red-brick house, with ivy growing alongside it, so it felt a little like visiting someone’s home—really comfortable. 🌿🌱💆🏻♀️

You need to go up the stairs to reach the spa!

As soon as I went inside, I saw the space with its large windows. I loved how the lush greenery outside was visible just as it was. It had the clean feel you expect from an aesthetic spa, but was also cozy overall—a place where you could relax comfortably—so I already felt a little calmer before the treatment, haha.

I arrived a little before my appointment and waited briefly. When I rang the bell by the entrance, the practitioner came down to guide me :) I liked that it felt calm from the start, without any bustling crowds.

There was also an area on one side where you could take an InBody body-composition measurement. For anyone receiving body care regularly, it seemed useful for tracking body composition and changes over time.

Member and non-member prices, plus the pre-treatment preparation space

Clermont Monde applies different prices for members and non-members. So rather than trying it once or twice and stopping, I think a membership would be better if you are planning ongoing skin or body care!! Especially with back or body care, it seems better to receive treatment consistently according to your body’s condition rather than just once. If you are thinking of going regularly, a membership could be a good option too :)

I changed clothes before the treatment, and there is a separate powder room on the first floor. I changed into comfortable clothes for the treatment and got ready there. 🙂

There was a sink, along with mouthwash, brushes, towels, and other necessities. It was set up so you could freshen up easily before and after the treatment, and it felt thoughtfully prepared, haha 👍🏻

My approximately 60-minute manual back treatment in a private room

After changing, I went up to the treatment room. The rooms were upstairs, and there were about three or four of them, each set up as a private room, so you could receive treatment privately. There was also a separate shower area, which I liked because you could finish up cleanly after a back treatment. 🫧🤍

The treatment room had soft lighting and an overall cozy atmosphere, so it was nice to lie down and relax :) The treatment I received that day was a manual back treatment, lasting about 60 minutes in total. For about 50 minutes, the practitioner worked carefully by hand, then finished with about 10 minutes of warming treatment.

Before the treatment began, they first checked my body condition. They looked at my pelvis and lower back in particular, because I told them that I normally have lower-back pain and often feel stiffness around my shoulder blades. After feeling my body directly, the practitioner said my lower-back area was quite slack. 🥹 It seemed connected to the discomfort I usually feel, so I liked that they examined my condition carefully before starting. 👍🏻

From scalp gua sha to manual work along the back fascia

Rather than starting on my back right away, they first worked on releasing my scalp. They used gua sha, a scraping massage tool, on my scalp, and it felt so refreshing and relieving, haha. I do not usually get such thorough scalp care, and having my scalp released before the back treatment made it feel like my tension was easing too. 🫠💛

Then the manual back treatment began in earnest. They carefully released the fascia along my back while checking each tense area. It was not simply a hard-pressure massage; it felt like they found the knotted areas and worked them out. Since my lower back and shoulder blades often feel stiff, having those areas treated intensively felt noticeably relieving!!!

Because it was a 60-minute hands-on treatment, they checked my condition throughout and adjusted the pressure, giving my whole back plenty of attention. Personally, I think it would suit people looking for a massage in Cheongdam-dong who want careful manual treatment with enough time, rather than something quick and rushed 👍🏻

How it felt after finishing with the warming dome

After the manual back treatment, I finished with about 10 minutes in the warming dome. After being thoroughly worked on by hand first, ending with warmth made my body feel pleasantly languid and comfortable, haha.

Since my lower back and shoulder-blade area often feel stiff, I liked that this was not simply skin care; they checked my condition directly and proceeded accordingly. From scalp gua sha through manual treatment and warming treatment, I could simply lie down and rest comfortably the whole time, haha.

If you are looking for private skin or body care in Cheongdam-dong, or want thorough body care while preparing for a wedding, this may also be worth considering when looking into wedding care in Gangnam. 🩵 And if, like me, you have been looking for a Cheongdam-dong massage because your shoulders, back, or lower back often feel stiff, I recommend trying Clermont Monde’s one-to-one customized care 🤍