First, you should be able to visualize your breath at a normal breathing rate; give it a colour, make it visible to your mind's eye. I imagine this would be easier for smokers, since they're used to actually seeing their exhales during a cigarette break. Recalling the last time you were outside when it was really cold should suffice. Observe these visualizations (for both your inhales and exhales) for a few breaths to get warmed up - this is a mental exercise, after all.
Just like a smoker directing their smoke up and away from themselves, imagine the inverse; directing your "smoke" [inhale] to whatever muscle needs a little extra stretching attention. Usually you'll be able to feel the tightness in the muscle, use that as your visualized inhale's end-point. If the tension isn't as prominent, or the specific muscle is smaller or a little hidden, there's no shame in looking up anatomy posters for a little visual assistance.
Aside from asana practice, I also like to use this visualization technique when I'm receiving a massage (from myself, lets be realistic here). It seems like it makes the massage go deeper into the tissue; maybe it's just psychosomatic since there's clearly more attention there, either way is fine with me.
Another amazing way I've noticed it's helped me in day-to-day life is when I bend over, reach for something, or twist slightly; if I feel a little pinch (my body saying, "ABORT ACTION! INCOMING INJURY!"), I'll visualize my breath going towards that pinch, and my body will intuitively move the way it needs to, to avoid that possible injury.
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