This week we are featuring a special and quite amazing individual, Mrs. Claus and her very robust North Pole Zumba program. Mrs. Claus is a licensed Zumba instructor, teaching dozens of classes each week during her off-season. Mrs. Claus is a major dance enthusiast and loves the heart-pounding rhythm of Zumba Fitness, which has changed her life both physically and emotionally.

Q. Where or how did North Pole Zumba get started?

A. Zumba was created in the 1990s, when aerobics instructor Beto Perez incorporated traditional Latin salsa and meringue music into his aerobics classes. Santa was delivering presents in Colombia that same year and came back with a VHS tape of Beto's Zumba class that was left with some cookies. Once I saw the moves and heard the music I modified it to include Christmas music and bells. The rest was history: "North Pole Zumba!"

Q. Mrs. Claus, what makes North Pole Zumba such a great workout for you and the elves?

A. North Pole Zumba is unlike any other workout because of just that. It's NOT a workout. It's all about moving and grooving, hip rotating, booty shaking, fist pumping, feet stomping to world rhythms. Up here at the North Pole we know a lot about world rhythm and it's constantly changing. So does my Zumba routines and it never grows old. The elves love it!

Q. Why do you put a big focus on fitness at the North Pole workshop?

A. It's all about movement, endurance and quickness. Once I started getting Santa's elves in shape, their productivity shot up and the one thing about healthy fit elves is they become extremely happy and jolly elves! It also keeps them out of the egg nog ...

Q. What type of workout are you getting with North Pole Zumba? We know it is a huge aerobic workout but does it tone or build muscle strength?

A. North Pole Zumba is a high intensity cardio workout. Many see weight loss in their waists and after my team eats all my cookies it's a blessing to work them off. Since North Pole Zumba incorporates twisting, arm pumping and shaking of the hips it really tones up both upper body and lower body very nicely.

Q. In your classes, do the elves and Santa need to know how to dance, sync up, and match the beat? It seems like it would be a bit intimidating if you have two left feet.

A. As an instructor, I love seeing how different elves interpret what I am doing up front. Everyone will do a salsa differently. Everyone will pump their fists a different way. That's the beauty of North Pole Zumba. There's no right foot or left foot, there's no right or wrong. Just move. Oh, and Santa does not show up to my classes as often as I would like him to.

Q. Are there different forms of North Pole Zumba?

A. Yes, there are several types of North Pole Zumba formats - traditional, which is all about dancing and moving your hips. We also have a slower form for our older elves and Santa, which keeps things toned down a bit ... less wiggle and shake. We have AtomicZumba for the kids, which is off the hook! North Pole Zumba Toning uses weights and heavy bells to increase the muscle toning for our hardcore group. We even have North Pole AquaZumba in our swimming pool at the workshop, but we don't heat the pool so turnout is usually low.

Q. How would you compare North Pole Zumba with P90, Crossfit or other high intensity workouts?

A. North Pole Zumba simply can't be compared to other workout regiments. P90X, Insanity, Crossfit, etc. are all sort of challenging but those workouts are for lightweights when compared to North Pole Zumba. It is a rock-your-world dance party of the highest order.

Q. What is the one thing you would like our readers to know about North Pole Zumba, health and fitness?

A. After I had started North Pole Zumba with my team, their health and happiness improved. My one wish for all your readers is to be healthy and happy, so eat healthy whole foods, work out and be active every day, plus dance every day like you're surrounded by crazy happy elves!

Thank you Mrs. Claus for your very informative answers.

Judd Jones is a director for the Hagadone Corporation.