How should we do Tawbah? Is it like how we make Dua? Do we have to praise Allah and send salutations upon the Prophet (s) and then ask Allah for forgiveness?
Yes but that is the recommended acts before any supplication to praise Allah (SWT) then salute Muhammad and his Progeny, the pray for our Imam Al-Mahdi (AS), then for your parents and believers, then to pray for yourself.
But the most important condition of Tawbah is to:
1. To really repent the sinful act and,
2. To firmly decide not to do it again,
3. Immediately returning the rights of others if the sin involved rights of others. No Tawbah can be granted with out these conditions which are obligatory and compulsory.
It is very important to seek the Waseela of the Prophet (SAWA) and Ahlul Bayt (AS) in getting our supplication and Tawbah accepted by Allah, as we read in Quran Sura 4, Verse 64 (Had they when they did wrong, come to you, and begged Allah for forgiveness, and the Prophet prayed for their forgiveness, they should have found Allah accepting their repentance and Merciful). No doubt, when the Prophet is no more among Muslims,BT heir real successors Ahlul Bayt are in his place.
Wassalam.