What happens when Chess and Spirituality meet? Madara Golsta’s life-changing decision
We always hear about making calculated and precise moves on the chessboard. But sometimes, the most important moves are made off the board. These moves get us control over the game of life. They might lead to discoveries that we never anticipated! Madara Golsta, a chess player from Latvia has a story that reveals how powerful these off-board moves can be. From competing in prestigious tournaments to discovering the power of spirituality, her path took an unexpected turn. She stepped away from her chess dreams to embark on a journey of yoga and meditation. This biggest change has brought clarity and strength to her life. Read on to learn how she redefined success by making a big move within. Photo: Madara Golsta
The move many chess players overlook: Inner Peace
The Chess Olympiad is a stage where countless stories unfold. There are tales of players struggling to find their spot on the team, while some would be of the struggle to reach the venue. Some stories speak of the lack of support in their country, and some express gratitude for the support they received. Some would be there to fight for a win and some would be there to fight for exposure. There are stories that will make your heart smile, and some will make you cry. The Olympiad has seen it all!
During our Olympiad coverage, we witnessed many of these ‘Tales’. However, there is one story that began with the Olympiad but took a completely unexpected turn. This is the story of Madara Golsta, a chess player from Latvia.
Her story began just like many players’ journeys do. She started playing chess at a very young age with her twin sister, Ramona. Playing chess at their grandfather’s place every other week was like a ritual for them. Chess became the heart of their visits! Soon when they turned eight, they were enrolled in the Riga Chess School. They were one of the brightest students who were showing rapid improvements. That made their coach make the right decision to place them in an advanced group. After about 1.5 years of joining the school, Madara competed in her first international tournament in Dubai - the World Youth Chess Championship. As expected, she kept participating in many World and European Youth Championships for the following years.
As her participation in tournaments continued, her chess dreams grew clearer. One key moment in her journey was the opportunity to work with Latvia’s renowned Grandmaster, Edvins Kengis. This happened when she was competing in the U-16 Chess Olympiad in Turkey. She traveled to Mumbai with him in 2019 for a tournament to represent her country. Later that year, she got a place in the Latvian Women’s Chess Team Championship in Georgia. Then came the Women’s Grand Swiss in 2021 wherein she was one of fifty selected participants. All paths seemed to lead toward one dream of hers: representing Latvia at the Olympiad.
She achieved this dream in a bittersweet way. She had to win a game against her sister to get the Olympiad seat. But just like every great story, hers took an unexpected turn. Her dream of playing in the Olympiad was within reach, but something changed. She was drawn to a new path. Her new path would lead her away from the chessboard, towards a journey of inner transformation.
During this period, Madara was regularly watching Sadhguru’s videos and also completed the Inner Engineering program. While many people turn to spirituality after experiencing hardship, Madara chose this path simply to explore something deeper. She applied and got selected for the seven-month Sadhanapada program at the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore. She immersed herself in their advanced programs like Bhava Spandana, Shoonya, and Samyama for a year. She was further drawn to the classical Hatha Yoga practices. Even though her father initially had doubts about her going for this intense program, she could not ignore her inner calling. As her commitment to the program grew stronger, her family eventually supported her decision.
While chess is extraordinarily logical and precise, and in many ways, it was all I had known as a kid, my inner transformation belied this logic. To me, it didn’t make sense. But it coexists beautifully. – Madara’s opinion on Chess and Spirituality
Madara also got the opportunity to teach chess to the kids at the Isha Foundation School. When she returned to her country, she resumed playing chess after a two-year gap. This break from chess, and the time she had spent caring for her inner well-being, gave her a new perspective on life. She wants every chess player should consider yoga and meditation as she personally has seen the benefits of it. These practices brought balance, clarity, and strength to her life both on and off the board. Her experience taught her that true success comes from inner peace and self-awareness.
After the training, Madara stayed in India to get some teaching experience. Currently, she stays in Latvia where she organizes various Yoga Retreats. She has conducted a few Classical Hatha Yoga retreats in Kurzeme and is also planning to organize several workshops this month. She loves it when people take an interest in their own development.
Coming home and seeing an interest in yoga and meditation fills me with joy. - Madara
It’s beautiful to see how things happen by accident. Madara discovered that even the simplest things can feel profound with awareness. She believes that if we can find a moment of stillness and bliss, it will bring beauty to our lives.
It is my wish that every chess player would try meditation and hatha yoga as it would have profound benefits for them both personally and professionally. – Madara’s message to all chess players
Many of us start with a linear path toward our dreams. We set our goals, work hard, and expect that one day we will reach the finish line that we always imagined. But sometimes, life has other plans! Our journey becomes less about fulfilling a set goal and more about finding what really matters to us. Madara’s story teaches us that just like chess, we should make every move with purpose and sometimes it’s about the move we make within ourselves!