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 flew about a great deal, 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. The breeze, having fun, would either carry him off 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 harder than usual and the young bee flew off to the magical land of "Yakálka". In this land 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 dear fellow, could you tell me where I have ended up?
This is my home, I am in charge here. I built myself this little house on a pine tree. I am very hard-working, I…
Zhenya flew away from the boastful beetle and met a beautiful butterfly:
Dear butterfly, good day, please tell me, what sort of land is this?
Hello, young bee! Yes, I am lovely, I am beautiful, I have been flying here for a month and I notice no one but 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 on his way boasted about themselves: the ant about his intelligence, the mosquito about his voice, the ladybird about her spots on her wings, and 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, placing a plantain leaf under his head.
This leaf too was magical. In his sleep, it told Zhenya that it had lived in the land of Yakálka for 100 years, and that boastful creatures who liked to say "me" ended up here. To escape from here, he needed to go three days without saying the word "me" once, and to 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!
The young bee whined, kicking his legs capriciously.
Why are you making such a fuss? Get it yourself, there are plenty of flowers, they are full of nectar. And if you don't work, you will turn into a drone!
Zhenya asked him.
I can't!
Why?
Because I am Prince Venya, I am 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 become.
How is that?
Like this, repeat after me:
One stamp, 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 is 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 about racing each other, and enjoyed delicious nectar. In the evening Venya invited his friend to stay the night with him in his hive.
On the second day, after waking up, the friends did their exercises and flew off 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 peeped 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 breathe out slowly through your nose or sharply through your mouth, you can alternate. Let's try:
We breathe in the scent of flowers,
We feel the sweetness in our throat.
And we blow on a leaf
Like a gentle breeze.
Splendid! I feel relief.
Said the caterpillar.
You can also do breathing exercises whilst moving, the wind brought it from China, it's called tai chi. The main thing here is maintaining harmony of body and spirit. You need to breathe with your "belly" — when you breathe in, puff out your belly, keep your chest still, when you breathe out, deflate your belly. Your back should be straight, movements smooth, just like your breathing.
Zhenya demonstrated 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 apart:
All is calm, the waves sleep.
We will wake those lads.
One wave — we raised our arms
We lowered them,
Breathe out into the clouds.
Two waves, it's higher,
We breathe out, quiet as mice.
Three we raised high,
Breathe in and breathe out —
Deeply.
After a while, other inhabitants of the fairy-tale land began to join them. Remarkably, no one boasted, everyone really enjoyed the tai chi breathing exercises. They waved their arms smoothly, now bringing them together, now spreading them out to the sides, making a rainbow above their heads, now playing an accordion in front of their chests, whilst 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, all the others stand around him, and say the words:
"One flower, two flower, → Raise your left hand, lower it; do the same with your right
Together we will 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 the game.
We'll send the garland down the stream, → Standing in the circle dance, each child in turn raises their hands
Flowers to the river, we must run.
One, two, three – catch!
After these words the friends ran off, and the ground beetle chased them.
To this merry activity, the inhabitants of Yakálka began to gather again. Everyone wanted to join the circle dance, and they were accepted on the condition that they would not boast.
One circle dance cannot be done alone!
Zhenya explained. The wind flew past and saw how the inhabitants of the land of Yakálka were having fun.
Who is playing here?
Asked the wind.
We are! We're having such fun!
The friends answered in unison and the evil spell was broken.
From that time on, the land came to be called the Friendly Land. And Zhenya was able to return home. He continued to do physical exercise and became strong and agile, but he never again boasted or was arrogant. Zhenya often visited his friends, arriving in the Friendly Land with a gentle breeze.
