What practice controls the vital and psychic energy through breathing?

Pranayama is the practice specifically focused on regulating vital and psychic energy through the control of breath. The term itself combines two Sanskrit words: "prana," meaning life force or vital energy, and "ayama," which translates to control or extension.

In pranayama, various techniques are employed to manipulate the breath, including inhalation, exhalation, and retention of breath, which have profound effects on the body, mind, and spirit. This practice is considered a bridge between the physical aspects of yoga, embodied in asanas, and the meditative states that follow. By controlling the breath, practitioners enhance their ability to focus, calm the mind, and cultivate energy, leading to deeper states of consciousness and connectedness.

The other practices mentioned serve different purposes. Asana relates primarily to the physical postures of yoga, Ujjayi is a specific style of breathing that can be used within pranayama, and Drishti refers to a gazing point that helps with focus during practice. Thus, while all these elements are important to yoga, it is pranayama that is the key practice for controlling vital and psychic energy through breath.