Among non-hasidim, the Mesillat Yesharim condemned ascetic practices which led to weakening of the body, while still recommending that pious individuals moderate their material consumption in order to avoid developing bad character traits.
Among non-Hasidic Jews, the Mesillat Yesharim discouraged extreme self-denial, which could lead to physical weakness, while still advocating for pious individuals to practice restraint in their consumption of worldly goods to prevent the development of undesirable habits.