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@Kotishka
The initial part of my meditation is becoming aware of tension and relaxing, letting go. Exactly right, becoming aware, helps the softening.

In a sense, the mind/emotions too can tighten around ideas, feelings and chatter. Again by being attentive, we also find the process of leaving them to be, is part of acceptance and releasing...

I’ve noticed that when I meditate, my left shoulder rises. Uff... what a release it is when I become aware and simply let it relax. These days, I sometimes allow the tension to stay. When you pay attention to it, it tends to soften on its own. So much unnecessary suffering—poor posture most of the time, right? Others aren’t always as fortunate to be able to quickly bring relief to it.

Exercise is my way to listen to the body. I have found an interest in Tai Chi and Qi Qong. But I find myself a bit too shy to practice with others... haha

My experience with prayer, I say short ones before meditation sessions, meals and going to bed and I've had periods in my practice where I'd spend 30-40 minutes daily saying set prayers more than meditation.

I think they take affect in the mind, slowly adjusting motivation and outlook. Something like how doing anything else on the regular might. The Dalai Lama says something regarding prayer about how its important to pay attention to the words and take them in otherwise you might as well just play a tape recorder.

For example, my meditation prayer that I recite 3 times is "Until enlightenment I take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. Through the merits of this practice may I free my mind from greed, hatred and ignorance so I may be of benefit to beings". I got into Buddhism just to sort my own stuff out, and I still search for peace and insight for personal reasons. But when I think about any spiritual qualities I may possess its almost always in relation to how it can be of benefit to those I come into contact with in my life.