Backbending poses are powerful reminders that you have to open your heart to be fearless. So why are these asanas so scary for so many yoga practitioners? Acknowledging that you need do some mental/spiritual homework before making peace with backbends is an important part of learning to love this aspect of your practice. The next step is to start exploring the physical movement in a non-threatening way.
King Pigeon is super challenging asana and it took me a very long time to master. It requires hips, hamstrings, knees, shoulders flexibility. Plus, balance, concentration, and stillness.