How it all Started
I’m Megan Bettis and fell in love with travel the summer I was 13, on an exchange program in France. That was the summer I discovered how much your world expands when you step into another culture, language, and way of living. It was also where I met couscous and nutella, which changed my life in a different way.
I've been teaching movement for over 20 years and leading international retreats since 2017. What I kept noticing was that most wellness retreats had become financially out of reach, and the ones that were affordable had started cutting corners on the things that actually matter. Quality venues. Real cultural experiences. Good food. A group small enough that you actually get to know each other.
I founded Compass Yoga in 2023 to fix that. Thoughtfully designed, high-quality retreats without the inflated price tags and the pretentious energy. Every retreat is rooted in yoga's eight-limbed path and open to every body, every background, and every level. No detox plans. No overhyped wellness trends. Just intentional movement, genuine connection, and some of the world's most unforgettable destinations.
The thing guests talk about most when they come home isn't the yoga or even the destination. It's the people they met (or the food). That's what I'm most proud of.
four C’s of compass
Culture. Rooted in ancient wisdom and inspired by the modern world. We honor yoga’s lineage while celebrating global traditions, connection, and curiosity. Each retreat is an opportunity to learn from the world, not just travel through it.
Community. The heart of Compass Yoga is the people who show up. We create spaces where belonging feels natural and everyone is seen, supported, and free to be themselves.
Connection. Through movement, mindfulness, and adventure, we return to what truly matters. We reconnect to ourselves, to one another, and to the moment right in front of us.
Creativity. Yoga is a practice of exploration. We embrace curiosity, expression, and play on and off the mat, encouraging every traveler to move and live with authenticity.
Our Collaborators
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Megan Bettis
FOUNDER, HOST, & YOGA
Peru, Morocco, Costa Rica, Portugal, Italy
IG: @megareenaMegan is a ballet and yoga instructor (E-RYT 500) through Yoga Alliance, with an emphasis in Ayurveda. She started Compass to bring together people interested in learning about new places and cultures, great food, and genuine connection. She’s chasing the same thing she hopes her guests find: community, connection, and a little bit of adventure.
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Ashley Humston
PHOTOGRAPHER
Peru
IG: @ashleyhumston_photos
Ashley is based in Athens, GA, and has been drawn to photography for most of her life. She began photographing flowers and plants before expanding her repertoire to landscapes, portraits, events, and–most notably–wildlife photography. Ashley’s goal with photography is to seal in time stories and feelings and emotions that can be revisited anytime to take you back to that moment. -
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Yasmin Newman
PHOTOGRAHER
Morocco, Italy
IG: @thevibephotographylr
Yasmin is a Chicago-based photographer drawn to capturing movement, emotion, and presence. With roots in dance and performance, she’s inspired by the way the body expresses what words can’t, especially in spaces of healing, freedom, and connection. Her work is defined by rich color and an intimate, storytelling style, preserving the moments you feel just as much as you see. -
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Nicole Boddington
CO-HOST & FITNESS
Portugal
IG: @missboddingtonNicole is an ACE-certified fitness instructor based in Northwest Arkansas with more than 10 years of experience, mostly in high-intensity interval training. After years of being a cardio queen, she is in her strength-training era focusing on building muscle, improving stability and mobility and training for the ultimate goal— living a long and healthy life.
