Quick Answer: Reformer spring settings aren’t standardized across exercises — more springs mean more resistance and more carriage stability, while fewer springs mean less resistance but more core control required, and beginners are often defaulted into settings meant for stability rather than for their actual strength level.

If every reformer class leaves you gripping the handles and gritting your teeth through exercises that instructors describe as “gentle,” the spring setting is a more likely culprit than your fitness level.

Why does spring count matter so much on a reformer?

Springs control both the resistance you’re pushing or pulling against and how stable the carriage feels underneath you — more springs make the carriage harder to move but also easier to balance on, while fewer springs make movements lighter but demand more core control to keep the carriage steady.

This is counterintuitive for most beginners, who assume fewer springs always means an easier exercise — in reality, a lightly sprung carriage on an exercise like footwork can feel wobblier and harder to control than a heavier one.

How do you know if you’re on the wrong setting?

Shaking through an exercise that’s supposed to feel controlled, or feeling like the carriage is running away from you, are both signs the spring setting doesn’t match the exercise or your current strength.

On the other end, an exercise that feels suspiciously easy with zero challenge to your stabilizing muscles usually means too many springs are propping up the movement for you.

Myth vs Fact: Reformer Spring Settings

Myth: fewer springs always means a harder workout. Fact: fewer springs can mean less resistance but more instability, which is a different kind of difficulty, not necessarily a greater one.

Myth: beginners should always start on heavy springs for safety. Fact: heavy springs add carriage stability but can also mask poor form by doing more of the work — a moderate setting that still asks for real control is usually more appropriate.

What should a beginner actually ask their instructor?

Asking directly whether the spring setting for a given exercise is meant to build strength or provide stability helps a beginner understand what they’re actually training in that moment.

Most studios are happy to adjust springs mid-class for a beginner who’s struggling — this is normal and expected, not a sign of falling behind the rest of the class.

FAQ: Reformer Spring Settings Questions, Answered

Do all reformers use the same spring numbering?

No — spring color and tension vary by brand and model, so a “2 springs” setting on one machine isn’t identical to another; asking your specific studio’s convention is worth doing early.

Should spring settings change within a single class?

Yes, most classes intentionally vary springs across exercises since some movements need heavy support and others need light resistance for control work.

Is it normal to need lighter springs than the person next to you?

Completely normal — spring needs depend on limb length, core strength, and experience, not just general fitness level.

TL;DR:

• Spring count affects both resistance and carriage stability, not just difficulty
• Fewer springs isn’t automatically easier — it can demand more core control
• Shaking or losing control of the carriage usually signals a mismatched setting
• Asking an instructor to adjust springs mid-class is normal, not a setback

Before blaming your fitness level for a brutal reformer class, check whether the spring setting was ever actually right for you in the first place.