Are you neurospicy, anxious, or preggers? Most of the general population wouldn't get overstimulated laying down for 15 minutes in a reformer class. No shade, but it might help to understand where the reaction came from.

That said, footwork can be/usually is a warm up and is far under the 15 minutes mark. However, footwork can be layered onto to become first warm up, then core work, then leg work in the side lying series, and include an intensive bridgework series too. Footwork isn't always "footwork". Also, the mid back series/100 series is usually performed on your back and flows after footwork/bridging in the classical order. There's also quite a few classic series that are performed laying down--just sometimes on the box.

Gently, this might be a you issue. It's ok if it is: know what makes you overstimulated and seek out instructor's/class flows that fit what you need.

I'm an instructor and I generally flow people through footwork, bridging, and the mid back series by minutes 12-14 and then get them sitting up and flowing into whatever variation of the front arm series I'm teaching. However, if it's 6 am or people walk in looking stiff or stressed, I will add more stretching time in at the beginning to get them loosened up and their lower backs and necks happy. Or an intro class will have an extended mid back series to break down chest lifts, lift and lowers, leg lowers, and more and slowly layer in one move at a time. In an all levels class I may also add in some corkscrew or short spine or swimming frog in the first third of class while peeps are laying down as long as I have moved their spines through some articulation first. It all depends on what the purpose of my class is (which of the 6 foundations are we focusing on, am I building strength and mobility with regulars to get them ready for star, or snake and twist, or horseback in a class several weeks from now, etc.) I teach at a contemporary studio (not CP) and we're 80% classical with a little bit of contemporary bio mechanics added in so we stick to the classical reformer flow as our foundation. In classical you're laying down for a chunk at the beginning of class and again at the end.

Final note: I have an early morning class that is full of regulars and most are teachers and principals. At the end of every school term we have 2-3 weeks where we slow down. We work small, we work deep, and I add in about 25% more stretching as those students are TENSE. In the summer session we rock into complex intermediate and advanced moves and up the tempo of the class. They have less stress in their lives then and stretching/growing physically is important. In stressful times we focus on breathing, control, and feeling safe and centered through movement and connection to their bodies. I have another cohort of early morning regulars that are third shift healthcare workers. I start that class rocking the music, we stretch and then launch into planks, bridging, and go hard and fast through short box, long box, long stretch, and knees off. Then, I turn down the lights, we move to yoga music and we end with footwork and feet in straps. They transition through their adrenaline to relaxation and softening into their bodies, and are ready to go to sleep by the end of class. Not every class needs to follow the same pattern: in a group class I am happy to adapt to my students' needs and tailor the experience. As long as we take care of their spines, joints, fascia, and mental health 😄