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Paschima means back or waist. Tana is stretch. In this asana we stretch the entire back and waist. So the asana is called Pashchimottsasana

This asana stretches the hamstring muscles and improves the flexibility of spine and hip joints. Stimulates the nerves of the spinal column by stretching the spine. It tones and massages the entire abdominal and pelvic region and stimulates glands, kidneys and liver. Improves digestion. It helps remove excess weight in the abdominal area.

Sit on the floor, legs together. Stretch forward, place the palms on the floor, by the sides of the hips. Pressing both the palms on the floor, lift the buttocks and push them back. Come down to let your buttocks touch the floor so as to make your back straight. Keep the face relaxed, breathe naturally and maintain a smile on the face.
Inhale and slowly raise the hands from the sides till they reach a vertical position.
Keep palms facing the front and both the arms parallel to each other. Stretch hands up and so stretch the spine.
As you exhale slowly, bend forward by maintaining the stretch of the hands. After full forward bend, catch the big toes between the thumb and the index fingers, without bending at the knees and pull up the knee cap. (If it is difficult to catch the toes due to less flexibility, catch the legs wherever possible, but only with and after proper stretching.)
Once you catch your toes or legs, bend the elbows and bend the neck. Take the forehead near the knees.
Maintain final position for a while. Inhale and raise both the hands, make your back straight and stretch hands again.
Exhale and slowly take the hands down. Come to the initial sitting position.

After holding the toes, extend the spine, push the chest forward and lift the chin up. Make the back concave.

Please remember that no practice can be adequately learned from a book, written instructions. The guidelines given in the web pages are intended to give you an introduction to different yogic postures. However, it is advised to practice the asanas under the guidance of a Guru or a qualified yoga instructor.