The word "YOGA" is drawn from its sanskrit root "yuj" which means to integrate, harmonise, conjoin and to get hold of . It means getting control of our lives, integrating all aspects of it - harmonising our bodies with our minds, spirits and society.

Laughter is not in its turn drawn from Yoga, but is an essential part of it. There are various types and forms of laughter that are not yogic, but the majority are directly connected with the principles and maxims of yoga - some are in fact  yogic exercises taught through the ages as hasya yoga (the branch of yoga dealing with laughter)

Pranayama - is an important yogic exercise which involves deep and rapid breathing. It has been liberally introduced between laughteryoga  sessions as a pause and to increase lung capacity. This basic and important yogic exercise is further used as the underlying foundation of the hearty laughter pose in laughteryoga , where the arms are raised up to the sky  and a cycle of rapid inhalation/exhalation ensues.

Kapalbhati - is a famous yogic exercise which entails contraction of the throat and palate muscles and entails a jerky and rythmic movement of the diaphragm to expel air in a series of bursts. This is precisely the foundation of the HO-HO HA-HA-HA exercise between each laughteryoga session , used as both a warm up exercise and to charge the atmosphere with cheer and festivity.

Bhastrika & swash shuddhi - are similar yogic exercises used to clean the respiratory passages in forceful jerks of breathing and the rythmic contraction of lung and throat muscles - the very same muscles and actions used in laughteryoga  per the HO-HO HA-HA-HA exercise and various other playful laughters.

Talasana - is the yogic stretching of arms and exercising the neck and shoulders  whilst taking a deep breath. This is used in the  laughteryoga cry-laugh and various other laughter poses and exercises.

Simha mudra - is the famous lion laughter of laughteryoga  which entails keeping the eyes wide open, fully extending the tongue and roaring like a lion.

Bhamri is the yogic posture connecting the mind with the body. With eyes closed, ears plugged shut with the fingertips and a "mmmmmmmmmmm" sound is uttered to resonate throughout the body. This is practiced in laughteryoga via the humming bee exercise.

The YOGA JOURNAL, America's most respected and widely read YOGA magazine, has featured laughteryoga and recognised it as per http://www.laughteryoga.org/pictures/InNews/138.pdf which has amplified further on the yoga connection.