The beginning and development of life

The three months of spring are called the period of the beginning and development of life.
The breaths of Heaven and Earth are prepared to give birth; thus everything is developing and flourishing.
After a night of sleep people should get up early in the morning; they should walk briskly around the yard; they should loosen their hair and slow down their body movements; by these means they can fulfill their wish to live healthfully.
During this period one's body should be encouraged to live and not be killed; one should give to it freely and not take away from it; one should reward it and not punish it.
All this is in harmony with the breath of Spring and all this is the method for the protection of one's life.

From The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, translated by Ilza Veith (Berkeley, 1966).