UHY alumni spotlight: Maria Ensabella
We’re proud of all our alumni and love hearing where their journeys have taken them, especially those who’ve ventured beyond traditional paths to make a significant impact in their chosen field. Maria Ensabella’s career journey from a senior manager in our London office to the founder of LondonCryo, a pioneering wellness clinic, is an inspiring example of how professional experience, entrepreneurial spirit and personal passion can combine to create something trailblazing.
Setting the foundations for success
Maria joined UHY in 2008 as an assistant manager in our London turnaround and recovery team. Known for her energy and dedication, she quickly progressed through the ranks to senior manager.
Her time at UHY saw Maria involved in various assignments across industries such as football, media, hospitality, retail and property development. She says: “Having a business background has helped immensely. The training I had at UHY and my exposure to the many different industries and clients has helped me develop into who I am. I have seen what makes a successful business and also know what can cause failures – and importantly how to get over them.”
This foundation proved invaluable when Maria decided to pivot her career in a totally different direction.
It was the combination of Maria’s entrepreneurial spirit and passion for health and fitness that saw her identify a niche gap in the market for cryotherapy.
While trying to keep up her six-day a week training habit, Maria noticed she wasn’t recovering as quickly and was more susceptible to injury as she entered her late thirties. During a visit to New York City, Maria gave whole body cryotherapy a try - a three-minute treatment that exposes the body to temperatures of -140ºC, triggering a brief ‘fight or flight’ response, stimulating circulation, oxygenation and endorphin release. She tried cryotherapy again in Sydney and Melbourne and found that she felt fantastic.
Upon returning home to London, Maria noticed a lack of opportunity to continue with the treatment. Fascinated by the physical and mental benefits and wanting to be able to add cryotherapy to her life, she took the decision to seize the opportunity. “When I tried cryotherapy in New York and again in Sydney, I felt an instant uplift, both physically and mentally. I knew this was something special – something London was missing.”
Leaving her job at UHY, Maria’s mission was to make whole body cryotherapy accessible to Londoners. She went about undertaking the necessary training and qualifications, as well as exploring cryotherapy practices in New York, Sydney, Melbourne and Dubai, taking something
away from each to help establish her space in the city of London.
This resulted in the birth of LondonCryo on 1 March 2017, the first whole body cryotherapy clinic in London. Over the years, LondonCryo has expanded significantly, with two new locations in Belgravia and St John’s Wood. The business quickly grew a loyal client base, including many high-performance athletes, celebrities and wellness enthusiasts, and a broadened menu of treatments such as CryoSlimming, infrared sauna, lymphatic drainage, IV therapy and facial rejuvenation.
Now recognised as one of the world’s leading authorities on wellness and whole-body cryotherapy, Maria has spoken at industry events across the UK and abroad, appeared in numerous interviews and launched her own podcast series, ‘Reinventing Cool’, where she explores performance, recovery and mindset with athletes and thought leaders. She continues to research global innovations in health and recovery, bringing those insights back to her business.
Maria is also the co-author of the recently published book, ‘Reinventing Cool: How to Make COLD Your Best Ally Against Inflammation, Pain, and Aging.’ The book offers a practical, experience-based guide to understanding and safely using cryotherapy as a powerful tool for enhancing health, recovery and overall wellbeing. As a marathon runner and advocate for sustainable wellness, Maria also gives back by raising funds for charities. “Wellness isn’t just about fitness – it’s about recovery, mindset and longevity. Cryotherapy has the potential to be life-enhancing for so many people, and I want to be part of that journey for them.”
As a marathon runner and advocate for sustainable wellness, Maria also gives back by raising funds for charities.
“Wellness isn’t just about fitness – it’s about recovery, mindset and longevity. Cryotherapy has the potential to be life-enhancing for so many people, and I want to be part of that journey for them.”
Maria credits her time at UHY with providing a strong foundation in business strategy, financial management and resilience. From cash flow forecasting and cost modelling to compliance and people management, she was able to hit the ground running when it came to running her own business.
“I often think back to the turnaround projects I worked on at UHY – they taught me to stay calm in uncertainty, identify root causes and plan proactively. That mindset has helped me immensely in building LondonCryo. Having access to the knowledge and experience of the partners I worked for at UHY has really made a big impact on my life as a boss as well. “Leading with vision and passion, Maria continues to expand her brand and explore partnerships that push the boundaries of innovation in health and wellbeing and we are very proud that UHY played a small part in her journey.
Listen to Maria's podcast Reinventing Cool on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
Follow Maria on Instagram: @londoncryo
Reinventing Cool Book: Purchase here
A UHY alumni case study: Maria Ensabella