In a certain fairy tale forest there lived a young bee named Zhenya. He was very fond of physical exercise. With his friend the wind, he would do his morning exercises, and during the day he would fly about a lot, developing his agility and endurance.
I want to be the strongest, stronger than the wind!
He would say firmly. But Zhenya was still small and in competitions with the wind he would lose. Having fun, the breeze would either carry him to the neighbouring meadow or lift him to the top of a curly birch tree.
I'm still stronger than you! It's me, I'm the fastest!
Zhenya once shouted angrily at the wind.
Me! Me! Me!
The wind blew a bit stronger than usual and the young bee flew off to the magical land of "Yakalkа". In this country everything seemed ordinary at first glance, but as soon as you spoke to someone, you would feel the difference.
Seeing a bearded beetle, Zhenya, like a well-mannered boy, greeted him:
Good day, my good fellow, could you tell me where I've ended up?
This is my home, I'm in charge here. I built myself this little house on a pine tree. I'm very hardworking, I…
Zhenya flew away from the boastful beetle and met a beautiful butterfly:
Dear butterfly, good day, please tell me, what sort of country is this?
Hello, young bee! Yes, I'm lovely, I'm beautiful, I've been flying here for a month and I don't notice anyone except myself, I have such colourful little wings, I flutter them so gracefully in the air? I…
Without listening to the end, Zhenya flew on, but everyone he met along the way boasted about themselves: the ant about his intelligence, the mosquito about his voice, the ladybird about her spots on her wings, even the worm boasted about his crawling ability.
By the end of the day Zhenya's head was spinning: "Everyone here talks, and no one listens to anyone. How can I find out where I am and how to get home?" — with such thoughts the young bee fell asleep, using a plantain leaf as a pillow.
This leaf was also magical. In his sleep, it told Zhenya that it had lived in the land of Yakalkа for 100 years, and that this is where conceited creatures who like to say "me" end up. To escape from here, you must not say the word "I" even once for three days and perform three good deeds.
In the morning Zhenya was woken by a cry:
I want a new toy, I want sweet pollen, give it to me!
A young bee was kicking his legs capriciously.
Why are you making such a fuss? Get it yourself, there are plenty of flowers, they're full of nectar. And if you don't work, you'll turn into a drone!
Zhenya asked him.
I can't!
Why?
Because I'm Prince Venya, I'm special, I…
That's enough, that's enough, your majesty. I know one magical trick, if you do it, you won't even notice how satisfied you'll become.
How's that?
Like this, repeat after me:
One stomp, two clap,
Three bend down, and turn around!
Squat down, give me your hand!
Two jumps,
By the puddle,
And off we go!
I'm flying!!! I haven't done this in so long! What's this trick called?
Venya cried out joyfully and cheerfully, spinning above the flowers.
Exercise!
Wow! I'll do exercise every day!
Wonderful!
All day long Zhenya and Venya flew races and enjoyed delicious nectar. In the evening Venya invited his friend to stay the night at his hive.
On the second day, after waking up, the friends did their exercises and flew to the fragrant meadow. Under a daisy someone sneezed:
Bless you!
The friends wished in unison.
Thank you, I think I'm about to get ill, I feel my throat is sore.
A caterpillar peeked out from behind a flower.
Breathing exercises might help you, my friend the wind taught me how to do them.
What sort of exercises?
You breathe in deeply through your nose, hold your breath, and then exhale slowly through your nose or sharply through your mouth, you can alternate. Let's try:
We breathe in the scent of flowers,
Feel the sweetness in our throat.
And we blow on a leaf
Like a gentle breeze.
Great! I feel relief.
Said the caterpillar.
You can also do breathing exercises while moving, the wind brought it from China, it's called qigong. The main thing here is maintaining harmony of body and spirit. You need to breathe with your "belly" — when you inhale, puff out your belly, your chest stays still, when you exhale, deflate your belly. Your back should be straight, movements smooth, just like your breathing.
Zhenya showed the breathing exercise "Waves" by raising his arms parallel with palms facing down, and bending his knees slightly as he lowered his arms. Venya and the caterpillar repeated, with their legs spread wide:
All is calm, the waves sleep.
We'll wake up those friends.
One wave — we raise our hands
Lower them,
Exhale to the clouds.
Two waves, it's higher,
Exhale, quiet as mice.
Three we raise up high,
Breathe in and out —
Deeply.
After some time, other inhabitants of the fairy tale land began to join them. Amazingly, no one said "me", everyone really liked the qigong breathing exercises. They waved their arms smoothly, sometimes bringing them together, sometimes spreading them out to the sides, making a rainbow above their heads, sometimes playing an accordion in front of their chests, while breathing deeply in time with the movement. So another day passed.
On the third day, friends Zhenya and Venya, flying around the meadow, saw a very sad ground beetle.
Why are you so sad?
The friends asked.
I don't know why I'm sad?
Let's play a game.
Zhenya suggested.
How?
I suggest a circle dance game called "Garland".
And Zhenya explained the rules: in the centre is the chaser, everyone else stands around him and says the words:
"One flower, two flower, → Raise your left hand, lower it; do the same with your right
Together we'll weave a garland. → Rotate your arms in front of your chest
It's very sad to be alone, → Hold hands, lead the circle dance
Together we play this game.
Let's send the garland on the waves, → Standing in the circle dance, each child takes turns raising their hands
Flowers to the river, we run.
One, two, three – catch.
After these words the friends ran off, and the ground beetle chased them.
To such a merry activity, the inhabitants of Yakalkа began to gather again. Everyone wanted to join the circle dance, and they were accepted on the condition that they wouldn't say "me".
One circle dance can't be done alone!
Zhenya would explain. The wind flew past and saw how the inhabitants of the land of Yakalkа were having fun.
Who's playing here?
The wind asked.
We are! We're having so much fun!
The friends answered in unison and the evil spell was broken.
From that day on, the country was called the Land of Friendship. And Zhenya was able to return home. He continued to do physical exercise and became strong and agile, but he never again was arrogant or said "me". Zhenya often visited his friends, flying to the Land of Friendship with a gentle breeze.
