Diary of the voice of Boo

When I was three my voice was heard around the world. Now I want the world to see what I've been up to since then. Enjoy :) IG: @Yoga_Boo Titter: @MaryBooGibbs

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How the heck are you doing?! Any plans to head to Florida and do some hooping on the country's best beaches :P the UP IN FLAMES crew would LOVE to see your stuff live, I'd be willing to bet!

Oo what's up in flames? Would love to check them out!

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Pass this along to marshal mathers! It's my dream to meet him!

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So was that new video of the two women kissing, you and another person? If so, good for you! :D

Haha that was me and my ex boyfriend. You could probably tell why he is now my ex.. xD thanks for the laugh though

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So, school happened and tumblr didn't. But I got all A's (well an 89.9% on bio so almost) on my midterms so it was worth it!

In further news, I started yoga teacher training through CorePower. It will be an eight week journey. 

In my first yoga teach training class today I learned how yoga has impacted, healed, and changed so many beautiful people. I cannot wait until I am able to teach something so powerful. 

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TheScoliosisDiaries - a video series I made to help anyone considering surgery :)

First day in the hospital!

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Ten Vertebral Spinal Fusion and How Yoga Saved My Life

It all started in seventh grade when they conducted a physical exam for scoliosis during my PE class. We formed a line in the locker room and each waited our turn to step into the office. One by one each girl would enter the room and come out with a smile on her face, with no further concern. When it was my turn I expected the same result. When the door closed behind me the two women told me to remove my shirt and bend forward with my hands touched together. I waited for their approval but only silence was returned. One of their hands slid up my spine and then a hand was placed on either side of my back. 

As I put my shirt back on one woman said, “Take this form to your mom. If anything it’s very minor but it wouldn’t hurt to get a follow up appointment.”

Well now I thought it was “minor” and did not want to bring much attention to it since I was a gymnast at the time. Naturally, the slip disappeared in the depths of my bag and wasn’t uncovered until a couple months later, when I casually gave it to my mom. Being a mom of an only child, she freaked out quite a bit and next thing I new I was being seen by a specialist, told I needed to get an x-ray done before further question.

The curve started out very small but they intended on tracking it every six months to observe the progression. It started to take off pretty rapidly after a few appointments, making around a six-degree increase each time. To try and correct it before it got any worse, I was fitted for a hard plastic turtle-shell-of-a-brace that I was supposed to wear at least twelve hours a day. I wasn’t as persistent with wearing the brace as I should have been, but either way no improvement was being made.

By the time surgery was brought into questions I was at a 47-degree curve with a constant sharp pain in my upper right back that prevented me from sitting in one place for too long. A lot of patients who decide to undergo surgery have a much more severe curve but my pain was enough of a reason to go under the knife for me. Plus, the doctor informed me that the degree could continue to grow throughout my life and I would rather go through the surgery when I’m younger and more likely to make a full recovery than to wait.

The surgery was scheduled for December 20, 2012 and I would have to stay in the hospital for six days, so yes… over Christmas. Because the curve stretched throughout such a long portion of my spine they determined they were going to need twenty screws and two ten inch rods to fix the problem.  

As the day came I was never really nervous… nor was I nervous in the waiting room for surgery. I was 100% confident that this was the right thing to do and even though I was told the procedure might not fix the pain I had a good feeling that it was going to. As they laid me out on the table and put the mask full of happy gas over my nose I told them I didn’t think I was going to fall asleep because I was too awake. Next thing I know I wake up loopy off painkillers with tubes coming out of every opening and IVs attached to each arm.

The next six days were pretty fun, as fun as it could be having Christmas in a hospital. We blew up a blue rubber glove for the star topper to the mini tree we got for the room and the nurses dressed like elves (I was at a children’s hospital.) They brought dogs into the rooms to cheer up the patients and a pillowcase full of goodies on Christmas morning. I still have the quilt I got from that gift bag.

When I was released from the hospital I was bed ridden for a month and had to use a wheel chair if I did need to get around. For anyone getting surgery I recommend renting a hospital bed for your room so you can easily get in and out and adjust yourself to the perfect position. The hospital bed I got was definitely a life savor for me.

Being as active as I am normally, I hated lying around for so long. As soon as I could stand up by myself I stood in mountain pose, stretched my arms above my head, and leaned over to each side creating a very slight side stretch. Every day I would practice small stretches like this and when I started feeling a little better I started working out with resistance bands. My main goals were strength and flexibility. I never read anywhere how to go about doing this so I really had to listen to what my body wanted and especially what it didn’t. I started attending yoga classes, informing my teachers of my situation so they knew I couldn’t push myself too hard. They were all amazed at how much range I had, how far I could twist, and the speed I started to pick up inversions.

With a ten inch rod in my spine very little of it is actually capable of mobility but with my constant stretching and yoga early on after the procedure I was able to maximize the flexibility.

Today I’m proud to say I still remain very active. I am an avid hoop dancer, yogi, and recently picked up aerial silks. I have no doubt that my current success is all thanks to the amazing healing powers of yoga. :)

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First day of classes of the second semester today

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Hey!!! I just wanted to ask you for confirmation, but.... was Boo's real name in the movie also Mary?

I'm really not sure to be honest. The internet might have created this myth because my name is Mary or it could have been part of the story line.. Either way she is never refereed to as "Mary" in the movie so I just know her as Boo :)

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You have a beautiful soul, let's be friends! :)

Thank you so much ❤️ If switching schools seven times taught me anything it's that I love meeting new people

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Have you watched Monsters Inc. much in the years since it came out? Is it weird to hear your own voice?

I try to space out the times I watch it so I don't get too sick of it.. I can't even tell you the last time I watched it but it is fun to gather up my friends, watch it, and laugh about how that's my voice haha

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All the phases my hair has gone through since freshman year of high school!

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Me awhile ago, back when I had dreads, visiting this Sully statue at Pixar Animation Studios!

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Boo hula hoop dancing to "Manifesto II" by Nahko Bear and Medicine for the People

In this video I had just downsized my hoop to a 30" polypro and I'm not 100% confident with it here, but hoop dancing is one of my passions, I hope you guys enjoy <3

hula hoop dancing to "Manifesto II" by Nahko Bear and Medicine for the People

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Heyyy would it be possible to have a comparison of you as a three yr old and boo? Did the animators base it on you in any way?

From the beginning her basic features like hair/eye color were decided on since they were trying to achieve a more "ethnic" character. Originally Boo was supposed to be around twelve years old. Now, this would have completely changed the story line of the movie as she would have been able to tell the monsters what her name was. They looked to the team working on the movie, my dad being one of them, for daughters that would come in and do scratch dialogue and they could sketch to get down natural movements. My dad volunteered his three year old, me, and it took off from there. They realized Boo shouldn't be able to talk at all and her being a toddler would produce a much more lovable storyline. Besides her age, Boo had pigtails because of me because I would always show up to the studio with pigtails in my hair and that's always how they would sketch me. 

:)

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I love fan art! Thank you so much NoobTheLoser for making me the best hippo drawing ever! Love the quote <3

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Twitter

Just made my account! you can follow me @MaryBooGibbs I'm new to twitter though so I'm still figuring it out...