Many of you know Kai as the handsome devil working the Mila Earth booth in Squamish, Langley, and Whistler.
But that’s only part of who he is.
Monday to Friday, Kai is a carpenter. And carpenters often end up doing the work no one else wants to do.
Some days he comes home after shoveling under house foundations for hours, digging trenches or hauling beams. It’s hard physical work — the kind that tests your body every single day.
And yet at 50 years old, he’s still doing it.
But there’s something most people don’t know.
Back in 2004, a specialist told Kai that within five years he would likely need back surgery and spinal fusion.
For someone whose life and work depend on physical strength, that’s a terrifying thing to hear.
But that surgery never happened.
The Trip That Changed Everything
Not long after that diagnosis, we traveled to Asia.
That trip became the beginning of a long journey of learning — about gut health, recovery, movement, and minerals.
Kai began exploring ways to support his body differently. Instead of resigning himself to surgery, he focused on strengthening his body, learning how to move better, and understanding how recovery actually works.
Magnesium eventually became part of that story.
Why Mila Earth Exists
Kai and I have always approached health as partners.
We experiment.
We learn.
We try things ourselves before recommending them to anyone else.
And the truth is, Mila Earth almost never existed.
Kai was the one who kept encouraging — or rather insisting — that I share the products I was making.
Like me, he felt the difference when using magnesium regularly.
But if it had been up to me, I probably would have just kept making it for myself and our family.
Kai saw something bigger.
He believed that if it helped us, it might help others too.
And he kept pushing me to share it.
Kai’s Magnesium Routine
Kai’s routine is actually very simple.
He takes a magnesium bath almost every night.
His favorite magnesium body butter used to be Sweetgrass & Sandalwood, although recently he says it might actually be Grinch Butter — which also doubles as a deodorant.
When it comes to magnesium oil, he often uses it in his water as an electrolyte, while saving the butters and baths for recovery before bed.
Of course every body is different.
The goal is always to find what works for you.
Kai also gets magnesium in the shower because our shampoo and conditioner contain magnesium as well.
However you use magnesium, the important thing is that it feels good and supports your body.
The Carpenter’s Recovery Kit
Kai keeps a few essentials in his truck.
Neck Candy and DMSO are always nearby for tight muscles and achy joints after long days on the job.
Construction work demands a lot from the body, and small recovery habits can make a big difference.
Whatever he’s doing seems to be working.
Because he’s still digging holes, lifting beams, and showing up every day.
Supporting Our Men
I share Kai’s story because we talk a lot about wellness for women — but our men need support too.
They work hard.
They carry a lot physically and mentally.
Recovery matters.
Taking care of their bodies matters.
Honoring Our Roots
Kai is also what makes our company Indigenous-owned.
He is part Scottish, English, and Squamish.
He was born in Williams Lake, and his grandmother grew up on the reserve in what is now North Vancouver.
It’s important to us to acknowledge ancestry and the knowledge passed down through generations.
We believe we can learn from many traditions and cultures, and we remain grateful for the wisdom they share.
Still Showing Up
The doctor once predicted Kai would need spinal fusion surgery within five years.
That was twenty years ago.
Today he’s still working, still moving, and still supporting his body in ways that work for him.
And he’s still the one reminding me that sometimes the most important ideas — like sharing magnesium with the world — begin with someone who quietly believes in you.